Pronunciation Q&A: I have always believed that children develop at their own pace. Why should I be concerned when my child has a speech delay?

Question:

I have always believed that children develop at their own pace. Why should I be concerned when my child has a speech delay?

Answer:

While it is true that children develop at their own pace, they do so within a normal range. For example, a child will learn to say his first word sometime between 9 months and 18 months. This is a wide range. Children who talk much earlier might end up being gifted, and children who talk much later might end up having learning disabilities.

Late to talk: For any child who is late to talk, there is a chance that this lateness is a sign of another problem. Most learning difficulties are much easier to treat if they are diagnosed earlier. For example, a 2 year old child might not be talking because she is a little shy, and she will learn to talk a bit later than her peers and catch up. Her parents may learn some skills to get her talking a bit sooner than she might have, and therefore avoid some behavior problems.

However, other 2 year olds might not be talking because they have autism, or severe oral motor dyspraxia, or learning disabilities, or a hearing loss, or other difficulties. For each case, it is better to get an early diagnosis and treatment.

Pronunciation delays: For children who have delayed pronunciation, social interaction is a challenge. Improving pronunciation through speech therapy can help them interact successfully with their peers. Children who start school with pronunciation delays often have difficulty learning to read and write compared to their peers – especially if they try to write based on how they say the sounds. Early identification and intervention can prevent reading problems and the social and self esteem problems that are associated with school failure