Warning Signs of Language Delay
In Canada and the United States, 1 in 12 children under the age of 5 experiences some form of language delay. Chances are, if your child is one of these, you’ve already noticed a few of the signs.
Maybe he isn’t using as many words as other children his age. Maybe he uses words, but isn't combining them into little sentences the way other children of the same age do.
It isn’t always easy to know whether or not you should be worried. Here are some examples of signs that your child may have language delay:
- he doesn’t use gestures like waving “bye bye” by 12 months
- he doesn’t babble things like "bababababa" by 12 to 15 months
- he doesn't understand and respond to words like "no" and "up" by 15 months
- he doesn't point to objects or people of interest by 18 months
- he doesn’t understand simple commands like "Don't touch" by 18 months
- he isn’t using several single words like "Mommy" or "up" by 18 months
- he isn’t joining two words together like "Daddy go" by two years
- he isn’t using sentences (e.g. "I don't want that" or "My truck is broken") by three years
- he isn’t able to tell a simple story by four or five years
Now Is The Time To Take Action
If your child demonstrates one or more of the signs above, it is important to act right away. The early years of a child’s life are the most crucial for language development. So if you’re concerned that your child is even slightly delayed, taking immediate action is the key to helping him reach his full language potential.
We do not recommend the "wait and see" approach, simply because taking early action ensures that precious time is not lost. Getting your child on a waiting list to see a speech-language professional is the first step in providing him with the help he needs. In most places you don't require a doctor's referral. You can contact a local speech-language professional directly.
Long waiting lists for speech therapy services can be very frustrating, especially when you’re anxious to help your child. The good news is that there is so much that parents like you can do to give your child’s therapy a huge head start.
To find out how the It Takes Two to Talk® guidebook and DVD resources can help you, click on the following link:
Click on the link below to find out how the It Takes Two to Talk® Hanen Program® for Parents can help you:
