Every parent eagerly waits to hear their children's words.
What is delayed speech in children?
It is a type of communication disorder that a child may suffer from.
This problem means that children's abilities to speak or understand language develop at a slower rate than most children of the same age.
These children have difficulty expressing themselves or understanding others.
When does concern about delayed speech in children begin?
Concern about delayed speech in children begins when the child is delayed in linguistic development compared to children of the same age.
Symptoms of delayed speech in children of different ages
6 months old
- The child cannot use eye contact.
- They don't look at you when you call their names.
- Don't look at things when you talk about them.
By 12 months
- He does not babble any letters such as, Daddaddaddada.
- Does not use any signals such as waving “goodbye” or shaking the head to say “no.”
- Doesn't respond to his name.
- He somehow doesn't communicate when he needs help with something.
At 15 months old
- Does not understand and respond to words such as “no” and “higher.”
- He doesn't say any words.
- When you ask him where something is, he doesn't point to it.
- He doesn't point out interesting things as if to say, "Look at that!"
At the age of one and a half years
- Doesn't understand simple commands like "don't touch."
- He does not use at least 20 single words such as “mam” or “above.”
- He does not respond with a word or gesture to any question directed at him, such as, “What is this?” or “Where are your shoes?”
- Inability to point to two or three main parts of the body such as the head, nose, eyes and feet.
At the age of two years
- Say less than 100 words.
- He does not constantly put two words together, such as “Daddy went out” or “Drink water.”
- Does not imitate actions or words
- Does not interact with toys, such as feeding the doll or having the man drive a toy car.
By 30 months
- One of the symptoms of delayed speech in children aged two and a half years is that they say less than 300 words.
- Does not use action words such as “play,” “eat,” or “fall.”
- Some adult grammar is not used, such as “two children” and “a sleeping dog.”
From 3 to 4 years
- Doesn't ask questions 3 years ago.
- Does not use sentences (for example, “I don't want to” or “My toy is broken”) before three years.
- He cannot tell a simple story four or five years ago.
When any of these symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor;
Learn about: What are the causes of children's teeth falling out?
What are the causes of delayed speech in children?
There are many reasons for delayed speech in children.
Hearing problems
An individual's sense of hearing is an integral part of speech.
An inability to hear can lead to delayed speech in children.
Autism
Although not all children with autism have language delays, autism often affects communication.
In most cases, communication and social interactions are lifelong problems for individuals with autism, but early intervention therapy or occupational therapy for children can help significantly improve their condition.
Weakness in the mouth
There are some problems in the mouth that may delay speech, such as problems with the tongue or palate (roof of the mouth) or a short frenulum (the fold under the tongue) that can limit tongue movement.
Many children with delayed speech have oral motor problems.
Neurological problems
Some neurological problems can affect the muscles needed to speak, such as:
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular atrophy
- and traumatic brain injuries
Psychological and social problems
Psychological and social problems can cause delayed speech.
كيفية تشخيص تأخر النطق عند الاطفال؟
If you notice any symptoms of delayed speech in your child, you should consult a speech-language pathologist immediately.
He or she may help you figure out whether there's a delay as he or she checks your child's speech and language skills, performs specific tests and looks for milestones in speech and language development.
The language specialist checks the following:
- What your child understands (called receptive language).
- What your child can say (called expressive language).
- Voice development and speech clarity.
- Your child's oral motor status (how the mouth, tongue, palate, etc. work together in speech as well as eating and swallowing).
After diagnosis, the specialist can determine whether your child needs treatment or not and what treatment is appropriate for him.
What is the treatment for delayed speech in children?
Treatment depends on the child's age and the reason for the delay.
Among the activities he may do with your child are the following:
- Learn to relax and enjoy communication through play.
- Use games, books, objects or pictures to help develop language.
- Ask your child to do learning activities, worksheets or practices.
- Have your child practice asking and answering questions.
The role of the father and mother in treating delayed speech in children
The role of the father and mother is very essential in treating delayed speech in their child. Which includes the following:
- Talk to the child, sing to him, and encourage him to imitate sounds and gestures.
- Reading aloud to your child, choose age-appropriate paper books or picture books that encourage the child to look while naming the pictures.
- Use everyday situations, such as naming existing foods, explaining what you are doing while cooking a meal or cleaning the room.
- Respond to all of your child's questions.
In conclusion, it is clear to us that children’s speech indicates their proper growth and development.
If you feel that your child is late in speaking, do not hesitate Book your consultation now at Children's center.
Frequently asked questions
When is a child considered late in speech?
In general, a child is considered late in speech if he does not reach the linguistic development expected at his age, taking into account the wide range of normal range and differences between children.
Indicators that indicate delayed speech in children, depending on age, include the following:
- One year old, does not use any meaningful words, does not respond to sounds or names.
- One and a half years old, uses less than 6 meaningful words, difficulty understanding simple instructions.
- Age 2 years, does not form two-word sentences, uses very few words.
- 3 years old, difficulty forming simple sentences, slurred speech that is difficult to understand.
- 4 years old, unable to tell a simple story and form complex sentences.
At what age does a child begin to speak?
One year is usually the average age at which children pronounce the first word clearly, taking into account differences between children in the timing of pronunciation.
Is it normal for a child to not speak at the age of four?
No, it is not normal for a child not to speak at the age of four. A child at this age should be able to form complex sentences, tell a simple story, and be able to use understandable language to communicate with others.
If your child does not speak until the age of four, you should consult a pediatrician or speech pathologist to evaluate his condition and find out the reason for the delay.
What types of vitamins help treat delayed speech in children?
Children should get enough vitamins and minerals to support cognitive function and nerve health.
Vitamin deficiency can cause speech problems.
Important vitamins in treating delayed speech in children include the following: –
- فيتامين (ب12).
- Folinic acid.
- Omega 3 fatty acids.
- Creatine.
- Vitamin D.
- Iron.
- فيتامين سي.
- Veniamin A.
- الماغنسيوم.
- الزنك.
- Vitamin E.
When does a child need to go to a speech pathologist?
Your child may need to go to a speech-language pathologist if he suffers from the following: –
- Aphasia, where your two-year-old child may be unable to pronounce 50 words.
- Speech disorders.
- Expressive language disorders.
- Difficulties in reading and writing.
- Swallowing disorders.
- Delay in growth.
Are there foods that are beneficial for delayed speech?
Yes, as food plays an important role in the growth stage, and therefore you must pay attention to your child’s diet to help treat speech delay, such as: –
- Fish, such as salmon.
- Flax seeds.
- soybean.
- البيض.
- Dark green leafy vegetables.
- Bread.
- المكسرات.
- Spinach.
- Tomatoes.
- Dairy products.
- Yogurt.
- Beans.
- Peas.
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