18 Aug What Causes Speech Delays?
Speech delays happen when a child has difficulty producing speech sounds or using words and sentences. today, Vancouver Speech Therapy shares with you the causes of speech delays! let’s started!
What Are Speech Delays?
Speech delays are common. Speech delay is when a child has difficulty producing speech sounds or using words and sentences. Speech delays can range from mild to severe. A child with a mild speech delay might have trouble saying certain sounds or words. A child with a severe speech delay might not be able to say any words at all. Speech delay can also be a sign of another problem, such as hearing loss or intellectual disability.
What Causes Speech Delays?
There are many possible causes of speech delays. They can be caused by physical problems, such as trouble with the muscles used for speaking or hearing problems. Speech delays can also be caused by intellectual disabilities, such as Down syndrome. Speech delays can also run in families. Some speech delays are caused by a combination of these factors. For example, a child who has trouble with the muscles used for speaking and who has hearing problems is likely to have a bigger delay than a child with just one of these problems.
What Are The Symptoms of Speech Delays?
The most common symptom of speech delay is trouble with saying sounds, words, or sentences. A child with a speech delay might:
- have trouble saying certain sounds
- use only a few words- speak in short, simple sentences
- have trouble putting words together to make a sentence
Other symptoms can include:- making sound errors when speaking, such as saying “wabbit” for “rabbit”- having a voice that sounds harsh or muffled- having trouble making beeping or clicking noises Speech delays can also cause social problems. A child with a speech delay might have trouble making friends or joining in activities at school.
How Are Speech Delays Diagnosed?
If you’re worried that your child has a speech delay, the first step is to talk to your child’s doctor. The doctor will ask about your family’s medical history and your child’s development. The doctor will also do a physical exam. The doctor might refer you to a speech-language pathologist (SLP). An SLP is a health professional who is trained to evaluate and treat speech and language problems. An SLP can tell you if your child has a speech delay and can help your child learn to speak.
How Are Speech Delays Treated?
Treatment for this depends on the cause. If a speech delay is caused by a physical problem, such as trouble with the muscles used for speaking, treatment might involve speech therapy. Speech therapy is a type of rehabilitation that helps a person relearn how to produce speech sounds.
If it is caused by hearing loss, treatment might involve hearing aids or other devices. If it is caused by an intellectual disability, such as Down syndrome, treatment might involve special education and speech therapy. Speech delays can be frustrating for both children and parents. But with early diagnosis and treatment, most children with speech delays make significant progress in learning to communicate.
Tips For Inspiring Language Development:
- Read to your child every day starting at birth. It’s never too early to start reading aloud!
- Make sure you are talking to your child often throughout the day. Describe what you’re doing, name objects, and ask questions.
- Encourage your child to communicate with you using gestures, sounds, or words.
- Play simple games such as pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo to help your child learn about communication.
- Sign up for a parenting class or join a parent support group. Talking with other parents can give you new ideas for encouraging your child’s language development.
If you have concerns about your child’s speech development, talk to your child’s doctor. And if you’re looking for more information about it, contact Vancouver Speech Therapy now!