Learning that our child has a speech delay is one of many parents’ worst nightmares. We can’t help but feel this way as we constantly worry about our little sweethearts’ development, right? Even before we set eyes on them, we’re already concerned about how they’re doing inside the womb.
That’s why we mums have regular prenatal check-ups and take the necessary precautions and supplements to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Then, when our new bundle of joy is in our arms, we cherish that little soul and do everything we can to ensure that nothing unpleasant happens to him or her.
As the baby grows, we go for weekly and monthly baby check-ups to see how they’re doing and if they’re growing normally. Yes, I completely understand! Having given birth to three fantastic little musketeers, it felt like an accomplishment every time I saw their growth chart of length measurement and head circumference increased!
Until the nurses and doctors started asking, “How many words can your child say?”
I began to have doubts and wondered, “Oh no, has my child been speaking enough?” Because, you know, I always feel like they’re still my babies, and I never thought they needed to know a certain number of words at a certain age—I’m just glad my baby can say, ‘Mama’ and ‘Papa’!
Nonetheless, that’s no reason to dismiss the possibility that something might be wrong if your child’s speech isn’t up to par with the average. So, let’s delve right into the issue…
What’s Considered as ‘Speech Delay’?
According to familydoctor.org, a speech and language delay is ‘when a child isn’t developing speech and language at an expected rate’. This means that a child is unable to say the average number of words for his or her age.
In my case, it was at my third child’s 18-month appointment that I realised she could only say a few words and couldn’t seem to imitate what we said. I wasn’t thinking much about it at the time, but the worry soon began to creep in—especially when the doctor linked speech delay to autism.
It got me thinking not only about my child’s speech issues but also the possibility that my sweet little angel could have autism. However, when the doctor handed me my daughter’s appointment with a specialist, I had this gut feeling that it wasn’t something serious (Note: I have my reasons as I don’t see any other alarming signs, which we’ll go into detail later in the article).
Even so, I went home and asked my husband and parents for their thoughts on my child’s speech delay.
My dad said that it’s completely normal and that not all speech delays are caused by autism. My little one may be confused and still trying to catch on because we speak Malay, English, and the Kelantanese dialect at home. And she also watches videos in various languages (yes, we’re guilty of allowing her to watch online videos!).
My mum and husband, on the other hand, don’t seem to worry that much because my second child is also a late talker. That suddenly dawned on me; I had completely forgotten that my son did not begin conversing until he was about three and a half years old. It’s all because his doctor didn’t make a big deal about it when he was two or three years old, and now that he’s seven, he speaks very well and can communicate with anyone he wants.
Taking all of this into account, I decided to give my third baby a chance. But, of course, I continue to monitor her progress and look for other red flags as she grows.
Here Are 12 Red Flags to Look Out for
It can be difficult for some parents to accept that something may be wrong with their child’s speech and language development. Some parents may be in denial because they believe their child is developing at his or her own pace. Even if this is true in some ways, it is still important to be aware of these 12 warning signs that no parent should ignore.
- There’s no sound of babbling by 9 months.
- By 12 months, your baby isn’t using gestures like pointing or waving ‘bye-bye’.
- No first word spoken by 15 months.
- By 18 months, prefers to communicate through gestures rather than vocalisations.
- By 18 months, has difficulty imitating sounds and no consistent words.
- By 24 months, can only imitate speech or actions and doesn’t spontaneously form words or phrases.
- By 24 months, can only repeat certain sounds or words, and there’s no word combinations yet.
- By 24 months, can’t follow simple instructions or directions.
- By 24 months, speaking with a raspy or nasally tone of voice.
- Child has difficulty understanding simple verbal requests and fails to respond when spoken to or called by name.
- Parents and regular caregivers have difficulty understanding at least 50% of their child’s speech at the age of two, and at least 75% at the age of three.
- By 4 years old, a child is still not fully understood, even by strangers.
What Are the Causes of Speech Delay?
The most important thing to know when dealing with and managing speech delay is to understand what causes it. Aside from autism, there are a variety of other possible reasons for a child’s speech delay. I’ve also looked into these causes to see if my child is affected by any of them, which could be causing issues with her speech development.
Let’s find out what The Pediatric Group Princeton has to say about the potential causes.
- Physical Impairments:
- Cleft palate – An abnormality in the formation of the roof of the mouth.
- Unusual short frenulum – The fleshy fold that connects the tongue to the lower mouth is unusually short, limiting tongue mobility when speaking.
- Sinus cavity deviations – This deviation, or struggle with chronic severe sinus infections, makes it difficult to speak and enunciate.
- Oral-Motor Disorders:
- A problem with the part of the brain that is in charge of communication and speech production.
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is the most common underlying cause of a toddler having trouble controlling the muscles used for speech.
- Developmental Delay:
- Delayed expressive or receptive language as children struggle to understand language and communicate.
- Autism spectrum disorder is associated with brain development, which may have an impact on social interaction and communication.
- Hearing loss or hearing problems make it difficult for the affected child to learn and communicate clearly.
- Ear infections, also known as otitis media, can impair hearing and cause problems processing and imitating sounds.
- Global developmental delay (GDD), in which a child takes longer than other children to reach certain developmental milestones.
Parents Can Help Their Child with Speech Difficulties
As a parent, I’m aware that we play an important role in assisting our children when they’re experiencing difficulties, including a speech or language problem. Some of the things I’ve done to encourage my child to talk (and I’ve seen a significant improvement from before) are as follows:
- Communication is key. I always make time to talk and sing to my child, as well as encourage her to imitate sounds and gestures. Since she has an older sister and brother, she does better when she copies them, so I always persuade my older children to play and communicate with the youngest frequently.
- Read my daughter’s favourite book to her. This is extremely useful because I’ve discovered that if I read my daughter her favourite picture book, she’ll be more likely to follow, copy, and remember what I say.
- Give praise for each new word. We make it a habit to praise my child with a “Good job!” and give her a big high five whenever she says a new word. She’ll be ecstatic and eager to try new words.
- Any situation can be used to learn. Whatever we did together, whether it was a stroll through the mall, going on outdoor activities, driving in the car, or cooking at home, my husband and I always take the time to explain and point out simple, easy-to-say objects for her to learn.
Although my daughter, at the age of two and a half, is starting to talk more, I understand how a delay in your child’s ability to communicate clearly might be concerning for many parents. The best approach is to detect and address speech and language problems as soon as possible.
If you are extremely worried about your child’s speech or language progression, or other developmental milestones, it’s best to consult your doctor or a specialist.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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