01 Sep Wondering if your child has a speech disorder or language delay or a developmental language disorder?

️A speech (sound) disorder is when children have difficulty pronouncing the sounds in words. This can make their speech difficult to understand, although they understand words and sentences and can form phrases and sentences the right way.
A language delay is when a child has difficulties understanding and/or using spoken language. These difficulties are unusual for the child’s age.
If a child has a language delay that doesn’t go away, it might be a sign of a developmental language disorder. Children with a developmental language disorder have difficulties with understanding and/or speaking that affect their everyday lives.

Children with speech disorders don’t necessarily have language delay or developmental language disorder. And not all children who have language delay have problems with speech.
Here are the speech and language milestones to look out for at different ages:

By 6 months your child should be
– trying to use eye contact,
– looking at you when you call their name,
– turning to look at objects when you talk about them.

By 12 months your child should be
– playing turn-taking games like peek a boo
– trying to communicate with you using sounds, gestures and/or words
– trying to communicate with you when they need help or want something.

By 18 months your child should be
– responding to everyday instructions and questions like ‘Wave bye bye’ or ‘Give me the ball, please’
– saying single words.

By 2 years your child should be
– saying about 50 different words
– putting 2 or more words together like ‘More drink’, ‘Mum up’ or ‘Me go too’
– producing words spontaneously
– naming at least one colour
– responding to everyday instructions and questions like ‘Get your shoes’, ‘Want a drink?’ or ‘Where’s Daddy?’

Children with language delay are often also delayed in their gross motor skills.
So if you are concerned about your child’s development, ring My Favourite Physio on (02) 9790 4233 to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists today!

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