Does My Child Have a Language Delay?

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​The most common question parents ask about children's communication development is - does my child have a language delay? Whether you have noticed some things which made you question this, or something just doesn't seem quite right, your concerns as a parent are valid and are important to address. 

Let's look at early language development, the period from birth to five years. This period is known as the critical learning period, where the brain has capacity to learn skills faster and better than at other ages. During this development period, children mostly learn language by being exposed to it. The more exposure a child has to language during their early development, the more language stimulation they receive, the better their language skills will likely develop.

Sometimes, we are doing everything we can as parents, but language just does not come through the way which we expect it to. If you have these concerns or questions about your child's language development, below are some guidelines for what you can look out for at home:

Birth to 1 year:

• Recognizes names of common objects
• Vocalizes (makes a sound with their voice)
• Babbles (e.g. "mama"... "dada")
• Says first words at around 1 year
• Points to objects of interest

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1-2 years:

• Follows up to 2 step instructions (e.g. "come here and sit down")
• Vocabulary grows 
• Combines up to 2 words (e.g. "mama go")

2-3 years:

• Vocabulary explosion 
• Asks simple questions 
• Pronouns develop (e.g. you, me)

• Follows up to 3 step instructions (e.g. "bring your shoes, sit down and put them on"

3-4 years:

• Follows multi-step instructions
• Grammar continued to develop (e.g. plurals, verb tenses) 
• Often asks 'why' questions
• Combines 3-4 words, at least
• Can briefly retell events

4-5 years:

• Full sentences form
• ​Can follow conversations of others 
• Can retell stories or events in detail 

If you have ongoing concerns about your child's language development, it is always a great idea to consult with a Speech Language Pathologist. They are specialized to evaluate language development, provide you with recommendations, and support your child through Speech Therapy, if required.

While it is true that each child develops at their own pace, it is important to address parent concerns in this area, to ensure that we are maximizing a child's language stimulation during their critical learning period and that additional support is provided if needed. 

Speak soon,
The Expat Speechie

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