Speech Delay

Speech delays are quite common in early childhood, affecting 10-20% of toddlers. This translates to roughly one in five children experiencing some degree of delayed speech development.

Tracking your child’s speech development is crucial. The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) outlines the following as typical speech milestones to look for:

• By 3 months, babies should recognize your voice, coo or laugh to show pleasure, cry to express displeasure, and make noises when spoken to.

• By 6 months, babies should begin repeating basic sounds and enjoy toys that make noise.

• By 11 months, babies should be able to respond to their names and say basic phrases like “ma-ma,” “da-da,” and “ba-ba.”

• By 17 months, children should enjoy being read to, follow simple commands, and start imitating sounds.

• By 23 months, children should be able to answer yes or no questions, make animal sounds, and have a vocabulary of roughly 50 words.

• By 3 years, kids should use three-word sentences, answer simple questions, and start using plurals or regular past tense verbs.

• By 4 years, children should be able to group similar objects, use “-ing” verbs, repeat sentences, and answer questions. More complex sounds like “l,” “r,” “s,” and “th” may not be fully mastered until age eight.

• By 5 years, they should engage in full conversations, understand rhyming, and use longer sentences of eight or more words.

If your child isn’t reaching these milestones, they may be experiencing a speech delay and should be evaluated.

Several factors may contribute to speech delays, including:

• Family history of speech or language delays
• Hearing loss
• Issues with oral anatomy (tongue or soft palate)
• Dysarthria, a disorder affecting the muscles that control speech
• Exposure to multiple languages
• Neurological disorders like autism, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy
• Learning disabilities
• Auditory processing disorders
• Premature birth
• Environmental factors, such as lack of exposure to speech and language

At Pinnacle ENT, our speech-language pathologists will develop a customized plan based on your child’s specific needs. Treatment may involve various activities aimed at improving your child’s ability to understand and respond to spoken language. These exercises are tailored to your child’s age and stage of development to enhance their communication skills.

As a caregiver, you play a vital role in your child’s development. From diagnosis to treatment, our team is here to provide you with strategies, care, and support to encourage your child’s development at home, ensuring continuous progress.

If you suspect your child has a speech delay, seeking professional treatment as early as possible can help them catch up to their peers in communication and learning.

At Pinnacle ENT, we offer expert diagnosis and personalized treatment plans for speech delays at every stage of development. Our collaborative approach means we work with you and your child to provide the best support, whether in therapy or at home.