What You Need To Know About Speech and Language Delays

Speech and language delays are more common than you might think. Every year, millions of children are diagnosed with speech and language delays. But don’t worry \u2013 there is hope. With the right tools and treatment, most children with speech and language delays can overcome them and go on to lead healthy and happy lives. So what are the signs of a speech or language delay, and what can you do to help your child? Keep reading to find out.

What\u2019s The Difference Between Speech and Language?

You might notice that people often use these words interchangeably. However, there is a big difference between speech and language.

Language is how we give and receive information. This includes understanding others and being understood when we communicate with each other, whether it\u2019s nonverbal, verbal, or through writing.

Speech refers to the verbal expression of language, including articulation. In other words, speech is the way that we form sounds and words.

What is a Speech or Language Delay?

While speech and language delays are different in nature, the two problems can often overlap.

Language delays, for instance, affect a child\u2019s ability to understand and communicate with others. They might be able to repeat or say words easily but cannot put together the meaning of those words. A child with a language delay will also struggle to put sentences together.

Speech delays impact the child\u2019s ability to articulate words and sentences. Children with speech delays will try to use words and phrases to communicate. However, these words are especially hard to understand. Because all children struggle with forming pronunciation at first, this is often more difficult to identify or diagnose.

What Are Early Signs of Speech and Language Delays?

It can be difficult for parents to recognize speech and language delays, mainly because every child develops differently. However, if your child doesn\u2019t seem to progress in their speech and language development, it might be time to call a professional.

Here are some common speech and language milestones:

Babies

If your baby never vocalizes and doesn\u2019t seem to recognize or respond to sounds, you will want to check in with your doctor to test their hearing.

12 -18 Months

During this time, your child should use hand gestures like waving bye-bye or pointing at things. If they are struggling with gestures, you may want to check in with their doctor.

18-24 Months

At this point, your child will be learning how to use their vocals to communicate with others. If they seem to prefer using gestures over vocals and have trouble imitating sounds, this could be a sign of a speech or language delay. Another thing to look for is if they have difficulty comprehending simple verbal requests.

2+ Years

If your child uses the same words or sounds repeatedly and seems to struggle with oral communication, they might have a speech or language delay. Another sign is that they are unable to follow simple instructions.

How Can E-STIP Help?

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to help your child with their speech and language development.

One of the best ways is to encourage discussion and conversation over everyday things. That\u2019s where the E-STIP deck comes in.

E-STIP stands for \u201cEncouraging Speech Through Interactive Play.\u201d The deck features a variety of fun images for you to discuss with your child. This will encourage conversations and boost your child\u2019s imagination. It\u2019s also a lot of fun!

Whether you believe your child is suffering from a speech and language delay or you want to give them a head start on their language comprehension, our E-STIP deck is the perfect tool.

Another option for supporting your child\u2019s speech and language development is intensive sessions with an expert. I offer face-to-face sessions where I focus on engaging little ones in communication. Schedule an in-person session for up to an hour of interactive play. Video sessions are also available.

Contact me today to develop a plan for your child\u2019s speech and language development. Together, we can help your child exceed their language goals and communicate more effectively.