The moment when your child speaks his or her first word can be some of the most exhilarating of your and your baby’s first 18 months together. And, if the words don’t come or don’t come as clearly as you would have hoped, it can strike panic and fear into any mother or father’s heart.

There could be several reasons why your child’s language skills aren’t progressing. It could be associated with one of several disorders or could be secondary variations in normal maturation. Either way, it takes a very keen, alert eye and ear to help communicate the issues effectively with your pediatrician.

There are misconceptions to erase right away, though. The first is that boys develop later than girls. This is true, but the time difference is razor thin — only about one to two months later than girls. Another one is that second- or third-born children aren’t so quick to chat as their older siblings. But, the truth is, as any parent knows, children who can speak, do.

Language is the most common type of developmental delay in children. It can affect behavior and learning later in life. It’s important to know what you’re looking for.

Infancy

If your baby doesn’t turn in response to sound, lacks an interest in the human face (especially mom’s), or doesn’t produce basic consonant-vowel sounds like ma-ma or da-da, take note.

Toddler

If your toddler doesn’t understand or use some pointing or has a poor comprehension of words by 12 to 18 months, alert your pediatrician.

24 to 36 months

By 24 months, your child should know at least 30 words — 50 words by 30 months. They should also be able to mimic simple sounds or phrases. If they don’t, or if more than half of their speech is unintelligible, let your child’s doctor know.

Preschool

If your child, at this age, has a limited vocabulary, frequently repeats what others have said, or has an inability to express thoughts or ideas, he or she could be language delayed.

School Age

Persistent stuttering, errors in sound production after age 7 and poor reading skills are all red flags.

Another consideration is family history and whether or not other members experienced language delay. Genetic or neurological disorder can often play a role, too. There are tools you and your pediatrician can use in order to assess your child’s verbal achievement. One is called the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. Another is the Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status. Both are tools that can help parents and pediatricians identify whether your child is indeed delayed.

Also, formal language screening is now advocated at 9, 18 and 24 or 30 months by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Early assessment can be key to bigger successes down the road. (…)

Source: Daily News - Galveston County, TX
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=aeeac1ba7bba6c9c