Parents often ask: Is it worth worrying if a child does not speak at all or has a small vocabulary? At what age is it normal, and when should you raise the alarm and seek medical advice?
You can often hear the opinion that if a child does not talk before the age of 3, it is the norm. Indeed, development, including speech development, is individual for each child, but you should not wait until your child is 5 years old to seek help. It is important to know exactly what to pay attention to in speech development and when to go to the doctors. In the early stages, problems of delayed speech development lend themselves well to correction. With the right technique, your child can quickly catch up with his or her peers.
The main stages in the development of the speech function
Delayed speech development is a fairly common problem. The causes may lie not only in neurological or physiological changes but also be connected with the negative influence of external factors, improper upbringing.
To understand if there is a real problem, you need to know about the basic stages of speech development in babies:
- From 0 to 1 year old. At this stage, most children use up to 10 simple words. They respond to their name and requests, understand simple sentences, wave "bye".
- 12 to 18 months. At this age, the child can explain what he or she wants with simple words. In addition, children begin to copy the words of adults, use gestures when talking.
- From 18 months to 2 years old. At 2 years old, the child has more than 50 words in his vocabulary. He successfully formulates simple 2-3 word sentences. The child can say his name and how old he is.
- From 2 to 3 years old. A child's vocabulary at age 3 is about 200 words. At this age, a child can not only name objects but also give them a simple characteristic (small-big, red-blue, etc.). Also, children can already tell simple poems or finish lines when read by adults and sing children's songs.
The main causes of delayed speech development
Most often, a child does not speak because of physiological or mental health problems. These can be health problems such as:
- hearing loss due to congenital defects or infections;
- hearing impairment due to congenital defects or transferred infections;
- short frenulum or other disorders that complicate the pronunciation of sounds;
- general developmental delay;
- autism spectrum disorders;
- cerebral palsy;
- hypertonicity or hypotonicity, etc.
Often the causes of delayed speech development lie in everyday factors. One of the most common factors is the use of gadgets before the age of 3. A smartphone in the hands of a baby gives parents freedom but does not have a positive impact on development. Gadgets cannot replace live communication, which contributes to the formation of active speech.
Constantly turned on the TV or a monitor in a child's room that is constantly showing cartoons has a similar effect. These factors, along with neuroinflammation, can also cause problems with sleep and eating, anger outbursts, and other disorders.
Speech developmental delays can also be caused by improper use of a pacifier. This accessory can be used when a baby is falling asleep or needs to be soothed, but not during wakefulness. If your baby wants to say something, he won't be able to do so because his mouth is full. At 2.5-3 years, the baby should do without a pacifier but wean it gradually, without stress.
Only a doctor can determine why a child does not talk. This often requires a comprehensive examination, which helps to confirm or deny the presence of physical or mental disabilities.
When do I need to see a doctor?
A three-year-old child is often misunderstood by outsiders, but you should notice a tendency for speech to improve. If this is the case, your child will be able to speak well by the time he or she is 4 years old. Don't put off going to the doctor if your child:
- does not respond to his name;
- does not react to your speech in any way (as if he does not hear);
- does not make eye contact during a conversation;
- does not want to play with toys;
- does not play role-playing games;
- does not repeat the actions of adults;
- prefers to play alone;
- does not want to have contact with other people;
- not smiling back, etc.
If there is a suspicion of speech impairment, parents need to know what to do. In such a situation, it is better to immediately contact a specialist. Early diagnosis, correction, and treatment give quick results of recovery.
How can I help my child talk?
Successful treatment of delayed speech development depends largely on the professionalism of the neurologist, neuropsychologist, and other specialists. Equally important is the active participation of parents in this process. Use the following recommendations to help your child speak more quickly:
- Talk to your child all the time. Talking helps to get rid of speech problems faster. Tell your child something, ask questions, and have a dialogue. Say the words slowly, so that they are understandable.
- Always listen carefully to your child, don't interrupt him or her until he or she has finished his or her thought. If you don't understand something, ask him or her again.
- Try to play with your child more often (ball, dolls, cubes, other games). Communication is an essential part of the play.
- Read fairy tales and poems, and watching cartoons should be kept to a minimum. You can also sing children's songs and learn them with your child.
- Encourage communication with peers. If your child speaks with mistakes, he will feel more confident among his peers, and verbal communication will be well developed.
- Some metabolic disorders can lead to delayed speech and need special treatment.
And be sure to follow the doctor's recommendations. They may vary depending on the individual characteristics of the little patient and the causes of delayed speech development. The main thing is not to ignore the problem, because, at an early age, it is easier to correct.
If you notice any abnormalities in your baby's speech development, contact the Vivere Clinic. Our specialists work closely together, looking for the cause of the problem, and then selecting modern methods of treatment and correction with proven effectiveness.
If your child is completely speechless, have a Check-Up "Let's Start Talking", which includes all the necessary laboratory tests and a consultation with a Vivere Clinic specialist.
