Age-Wise Guide to Speech Development Milestones

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Age-Wise Guide to Speech Development Milestones

Early Childhood is a crucial period in the child’s journey, during which the maximum brain development takes place. It is also an intensive period in which language communication skills are acquired. During this period, the child should be consistently exposed to a lot of rich sounds, as during this stage, the brain is most programmed to absorb language sounds.

Although every child speaks at their own pace, there are some set benchmarks or a natural progression at certain age levels. If the child does not display the desired skills or fails to attain the speech milestones, parents and doctors can keep track of the child’s progress and, if the need arises, do the required assessment to clarify if there is a possible language or speech disorder.

This blog highlights the importance of Speech Development Milestones and their importance in tracking the child’s journey, encouraging fluent understandable communication.

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What are the Stages of Speech development?

The first form of communication that occurs is when the child cries in case of any discomfort or needs food or companionship. Stages of Speech Development Milestones are generally age-related as gradually the child learns to express his or her needs.

Gaining knowledge of these stages helps parents and educators to be updated about the various speech milestones and whether their child’s progress is on track.

Here are the key stages of Speech Development Milestones:

Birth to 6 Months

• Responds to sounds and voices
• Makes cooing and gurgling noises

6 to 12 Months

• Babbles with different sounds (e.g., “ba-ba,” “da-da”)
• Tries to imitate speech sounds

12 to 18 Months

• Says first words, usually simple ones like “mama” or “dada”
• Points to objects when named

18 to 24 Months

• Uses two-word phrases like “want toy” or “more juice”
• Vocabulary grows to about 50 words

2 to 3 Years

• Forms short sentences with three or more words
• Asks simple questions like “What’s that?”

3 to 4 Years

• Tells short stories or describes events
• Uses pronouns and basic grammar correctly

4 to 5 Years

• Speaks in full sentences with proper grammar
• Follows longer conversations and answers questions

Source: thehindu

Even if the developmental speech pattern is pre-determined and structured it is not necessary that two children with have a same progress pace. But when there is proper awareness about these developmental patterns’ parents become vigilant to observe if there is any Speech Development Milestones delay.

Offering the child a conducive atmosphere to express himself and getting him on-board in a variety of social interaction play activities can show a positive change in speech development progression.

What are the Reasons for Speech Delay?

Speech Delay can occur due to a variety of causes that include neurological disorders, physical impairments and environmental factors as well. Non-achieving of major milestones can be a crucial sign to identify that the child might be facing some speech disorder leading to poor communication skills.

Gaining insights into the reasons for speech delay educates parents and teachers to execute various Speech Development Milestones influencing strategies in their child’s schedule promoting the child’s communication skills.

The following are some major causes of speech delay in children:

Problems with Hearing

It might be difficult to mimic and appropriately form words when one has trouble hearing sounds. Another reason for hearing issues can be constant ear infections, which in turn affect speech development.

Issues with the Oral Motor

Many a time, certain physical impairment or deformities related to the lips, tongue, and muscle coordination affects Speech Development Milestones. At times the coordination capabilities of muscles required for speech are directly impacted by situations such as apraxia of speech.

Developmental Delays

Delayed cognitive development can slow down language acquisition and speech production.

Neurological Disorders

When there are strong neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy and faulty neural processing, the child is likely to suffer from poor speech abilities.

Genetic Conditions

Many defined syndromes are causes of concern for speech delays, especially down syndrome, where the facial muscles are disoriented, affecting speech directly.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder has higher rates in children with verbal delays. Children with autism have difficulties in expressing themselves verbally and speech delays.

While some people may develop speech later than anticipated, others may have communication issues.

Early detection by a pediatrician or speech-language pathologist can help recognize the primary reason and suggest the appropriate interventions if a child shows symptoms of speech delay. Speech Development Milestones can also be majorly influenced by reading, participating in language-rich activities, and encouraging verbal interactions.

What is the Red Flag for Speech Delay?

Every child’s speech and language development is exclusive but certain evident signs can help identify crucial language issues that need to be formally tested. When the parents are aware of these red flags they can quickly identify that there are issues and can approach the concerned professional for further treatment.

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Here are key signs that may indicate a speech delay:

Lack of Babbling

By 9 months, a baby should be making cooing and babbling sounds. A lack of these early vocalizations may signal a delay.

No First Words

Infants must say at least one sensible word that has a proper meaning, such as Papa or mama. Not being able to use any of the words can be a serious issue.

Limited Vocabulary

A child discovers new words daily which implies a growing vocabulary with newer words being added every day. When their vocabulary is not showing any signs of improvement, it can hint at a possible delayed speech issue.

No Word Combinations

Once the child completes 2 years, he should be able to communicate his needs when he wants a certain thing. For e.g, just using two words such as want ball or give juice the child should be able to voice its needs; not being able to do so is a red flag to be considered seriously.

Excessive Gesturing

When the child, instead of using words, is using too many gestures to express their needs, it can indicate some speech difficulty.

Absence of Reaction to Speech

The child must show some reaction to someone addressing him by his name. If the child does not show any response to his name being called, it can be a cause for speech concern.

The above age-related Speech Development Milestones are a checklist for the parents and caregivers to analyze if the child is displaying any of the red flags to get a proper diagnosis from a speech consultant or a pediatrician and assess the situation.

Once the issue is diagnosed, the concerned professional can implement essential intervention that tackles the areas of concern. When a carefully formulated strategy including an ideal mix of ample practical hands-on engaging activities combined with lot of opportunities for social interaction is provided it can help the child’s speedy progress of communication skills.

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What is Speech and Language Delay Early Intervention?

Early therapies are important for children who have difficulties with communication and comprehension. They will be able to catch up with ease and get hold of essential life skills if support is provided as early as possible. Parents, careers, and educators can gain insight and get trained through such courses on special education,

Significance of Early Intervention:

• Enhances Skills to articulate, express oneself, and understand.
• Helps children connect with peers and people around them more clearly and confidently.
• Enhances Social Interaction
• Supports better engagement with peers and caregivers.
• Prepares for Academic Success
• Strong language skills are essential for learning and understanding.

Methods of Early Intervention:

Speech Therapy

A Speech therapist or Specialised Speech consultant is a trained professional who helps the child to tackle their speech challenges and improvise their vocabulary.

Parental Involvement

Encouraging conversations, reading, and interactive play at home can significantly support speech development.

Specialized Educational Support

Taking a course in Special Education Needs can be a real game-changer for teachers and parents, giving them the tools they need to help kids who are struggling with speech delays.

Vidhyanidhi Education Society  (Govt. Regd.)provides Special Education Needs Courses, specifically tailored to teach educators and parents how to best support children dealing with speech and language issues. These courses plunge into handy, applicable approaches that can help children build fundamental communication skills from an early age.

There is no denying that early interventions can enhance a child’s growth. With the right support, guidance, and training, children who are having problems with Speech Development Milestones can truly bloom and feel more self-assured when they speak.

It’s not furtive that early steps can be crucial for a child’s growth. With the apt guidance, support, and training, children who are still to catch-up in speech and language can make pace up and feel more confident when communicating.

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