Topic Overview
What is speech and language development?
Speech
and language are the skills we use to communicate with others. We form these
skills during the first years of life. By age 6, most children learn the
basics. Try to talk and read to your child often to boost these skills.
What is the difference between speech and language?
Speech is making the sounds that become words-the physical act of
talking.
Language is our system of using words to communicate. It
has two parts: using words and gestures to say what we mean, and understanding
what others say.
When do speech and language begin?
Infants start
learning in the womb, where they hear and respond to familiar voices. The
fastest learning occurs at ages 2 to 5 years of age.
Speech and
language milestones help tell whether a child is developing as expected.
Milestones are certain skills, such as babbling, saying "mama" or "dada," or
putting two words together. Usually, a child needs to master one milestone
before reaching the next.
Babies usually start cooing at around 2
months and are babbling by about 6 months. A child usually speaks in gibberish,
called jargon, by the first birthday. At 15 to 18 months, a typical toddler
understands much more than he or she is able to put into words. This lag in
spoken language is often followed by a burst of talking between 18 and 24
months.
Keep in mind that the age at which children reach
milestones varies from child to child. Some children, especially girls, are
advanced. Others develop more slowly.
What helps a child learn speech and language?
A
child who is surrounded by speech and language all the time usually learns
language skills faster. Talking to and reading to your child will have a big
effect on how well your child is able to communicate later. Children who are
seldom spoken to or read to usually learn to talk later than other children
their age.
Why do speech and language problems develop in some children?
Some types of hearing loss can cause speech delay. All
children with a speech delay should have their hearing tested. Developmental
disorders such as
can also cause a delay.
It's
important to track your child's speech and language development. A child can
overcome many speech and language problems with treatment, especially when you
catch problems early.