At the age of 12 months, there is cause for concern if the child is not able to do the following:
Between the ages of 15 and 18 months children are at a higher risk for speech delay if they are displaying the following:
Additional signs of speech delay after the age of 2 years and up to the age of 4 include the following:
Studies show that children diagnosed with speech delay are more likely to present with behavioral and social emotional problems both in childhood and as adults. Decreased receptive language, reading, and learning skills are common side effects for children that have a speech delay and do not receive adequate intervention. Similar studies suggest that children with speech delays are more likely to have a difficult time communicating and bonding with peers, which could have negative effects on their psychosocial health later in life.
At times, speech delay and impairment is caused by a physical disruption in the mouth such as a deformed frenulum, lips, or palate. If the motion or ability to form words and appropriate sounds is disrupted, the child may be slow to pick up words and lack the ability to shape their mouth and tongue in the formation of words.
Other more serious concerns are those that can be caused by oral-motor issues. Oral-motor dysfunction refers to a lack or delay in the area of the brain that speech is formed and created and communicated to the mouth and tongue. While speech may be the only concern, this disorder can be highlighted with feeding issues as well.
Children that are having speech delay disorders could have the following characteristics (Shriberg 1982):
The many other causes of speech delay include bilingual children with phonological disorders, autism spectrum conditions, childhood apraxia, auditory processing disorder, prematurity, cognitive impairment and hearing loss. Some posit that excess screen time may negatively impact speech development.[unreliable source?] Broomfield and Dodd's (2004a) found out after survey that 6.4% of children who are perfectly normal showed speech difficulty while they lacked these disorders will often show early signs and are at times identified as "at risk" when the speech delay is diagnosed. However, a study done in Saudi Arabia showed no relationship between smart device use and speech delay, although 64.8% of the parents believed that the smart devices are a "problem". A review study from Indonesia points out the existence of contradicting results on that issue.
After the initial diagnosis of speech delay, a hearing test will be administered to ensure that hearing loss or deafness is not an underlying cause of the delay. If a child has successfully completed the hearing test, the therapy or therapies used will be determined. There are many therapies available for children that have been diagnosed with a speech delay, and for every child, the treatment and therapies needed vary with the degree, severity, and cause of the delay. While speech therapy is the most common form of intervention, many children may benefit from additional help from occupational and physical therapies as well. Physical and occupational therapies can be used for a child that has a speech delay due to physical malformations and children that have also been diagnosed with a developmental delay such as autism or a language processing delay. Music therapy has effective results in the fundamentals of speech development, including phonological memory, sentence understanding, sentence memory, and morphological rule generation. Children that have been identified with hearing loss can be taught simple sign language to build and improve their vocabulary in addition to attending speech therapy.
The parents of a delayed child are the first and most important tool in helping overcome the speech delay. The parent or caregiver of the child can provide the following activities at home, in addition to the techniques suggested by a speech therapist, to positively influence the growth of speech and vocabulary:
For children that have a physical disorder that is causing difficulty forming and pronouncing words, parents and caregivers suggest using and introducing different food textures to exercise and build jaw muscles while promoting new movements of the jaw while chewing. Another less studied technique used to combat and treat speech delay is a form of therapy using music to promote and facilitate speech and language development. Music therapy is a newer therapy, and has yet to be thoroughly studied and practiced on children with speech delays and impediments.
Dodd, Barbara (2013). Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Children with Speech Disorder. John Wiley & Sons. p. 8. ISBN 978-1118713341. 978-1118713341
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
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Mann, Denise. "Speech Delay in Kids Linked to Later Emotional Problems". Retrieved 2012-04-22. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20100628/speech-delay-in-kids-linked-to-later-emotional-problems
University of Michigan. "Speech and Language Delay and Disorder". Retrieved 2012-04-22. http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/speech.htm
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
Keep Kids Healthy. "Speech Delay". Retrieved 2012-04-22. http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/conditions/speechdelay.html
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
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Dodd, Barbara (2013). Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Children with Speech Disorder. John Wiley & Sons. p. 8. ISBN 978-1118713341. 978-1118713341
Dodd, Barbara (2013). Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Children with Speech Disorder. Johan Wiley & Sons. p. 275. ISBN 978-1118713341. 978-1118713341
Dodd, Barbara (2013). Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Children with Speech Disorder. John Wiley & Sons. p. 211. ISBN 978-1118713341. 978-1118713341
Dodd, Barbara (2013). Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Children with Speech Disorder. John Wiley & Songs. p. 244. ISBN 978-1118713341. 978-1118713341
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
University of Michigan. "Speech and Language Delay and Disorder". Retrieved 2012-04-22. http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/speech.htm
Clarke, Kelly (2015). "Your Wrong Parenting May Lead to Speech Delay in Children". Khaleej Times. https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/uae-health/your-wrong-parenting-may-lead-to-speech-delay-in-children
Borajy, Shazan; Albkhari, Dania; Turkistani, Huda; Altuwairiqi, Reham; Aboalshamat, Khalid; Altaib, Tahir; Almehman, Wijdan (2019). "Relationship of electronic device usage with obesity and speech delay in children". Family Medicine & Primary Care Review. 21 (2): 93–97. doi:10.5114/fmpcr.2019.84542. ISSN 1734-3402. S2CID 198306188. https://www.termedia.pl/Relationship-of-electronic-device-usage-with-obesity-and-speech-delay-in-children,95,36413,0,1.html
Widoyoko, Riza Dwi Tyas (2022). "PARENTS'PERCEPTION OF SCREEN TIME AND SPEECH DELAY" (PDF). CONFERENCE ON LEARNING AND EDUCATION (1STICLE) STKIP PGRI PACITAN. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) https://icle.stkippacitan.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Procceding-ICLE-2022-STKIP-PGRI-PACITAN.pdf#page=263
"Speech Delay vs Autism: How to Differentiate". stamurai.com. August 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-06. https://stamurai.com/blog/speech-delay-vs-autism/
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Mann, Denise. "Speech Delay in Kids Linked to Later Emotional Problems". Retrieved 2012-04-22. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20100628/speech-delay-in-kids-linked-to-later-emotional-problems
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Mann, Denise. "Speech Delay in Kids Linked to Later Emotional Problems". Retrieved 2012-04-22. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20100628/speech-delay-in-kids-linked-to-later-emotional-problems
University of Michigan. "Speech and Language Delay and Disorder". Retrieved 2012-04-22. http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/speech.htm
Keep Kids Healthy. "Speech Delay". Retrieved 2012-04-22. http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/conditions/speechdelay.html
Nelsen, Amy. "Delayed Speech or Language Development". Retrieved 12 April 2012. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
babycenter. "Warning signs of a toddler's language delay". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014180051/http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-toddlers-language-delay_12293.bc
Mann, Denise. "Speech Delay in Kids Linked to Later Emotional Problems". Retrieved 2012-04-22. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20100628/speech-delay-in-kids-linked-to-later-emotional-problems
Grob, Wibke; Ulrike Linden; Thomas Ostermann (21 July 2010). "Effects of music therapy in the treatment of children with delayed speech development - results of a pilot study". BMC Complement Altern Med. 10: 39. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-10-39. PMC 2921108. PMID 20663139. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921108
Grob, Wibke; Ulrike Linden; Thomas Ostermann (21 July 2010). "Effects of music therapy in the treatment of children with delayed speech development - results of a pilot study". BMC Complement Altern Med. 10: 39. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-10-39. PMC 2921108. PMID 20663139. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921108