This is when a child does not develop speech skills at the rate we expect. They have trouble communicating their wants, needs and feelings. Some children also have trouble understanding other people (known as "receptive speech delay"). This can be frustrating.
What causes delayed speech? Well, every child is different. For some kids, we can't identify any cause at all, and we may not be too concerned about the delay. But sometimes, delayed speech is linked to an issue like hearing impairment, autism or intellectual disability. It can also be linked to things like malnutrition and neglect. A specialist can give you answers about your child's delay.
What are the symptoms? A child with delayed speech doesn't meet their speech development milestones when we expect. They may not babble very much as a baby. They may not talk as much as other toddlers. As they grow, it may be hard for them to put together even short sentences. They may leave out words or use the wrong words. They may not pronounce words clearly. And they may have trouble in social situations.
How do we treat it? A child with speech delay may benefit from speech and language therapy. And we may need to treat a hearing problem or some other issue. They may benefit from counseling or other supports. But in many cases, delayed speech is just something a child will grow out of. Over time, they may naturally catch up to their peers. A speech and language specialist will create a plan that's right for your child.