What Happens When a Child Is Late to Speak?

A child’s first words mark the beginning of verbal communication. It is natural for parents to worry when their child is late to speak and question whether the delay falls within normal parameters. Communication ability is found in all forms of mammals and non-mammals alike. In humans, communication begins immediately after birth through touch and sound between the infant and mother. However, this process evolves with the development of speech and language. From the early months of life, humans produce unstructured sounds, which around six months develop into organized syllable production like ‘ba-ba’ or ‘ta-ta,’ known as ‘babbling.’ By twelve months, conscious word production such as ‘mama’ or ‘baba’ occurs, and by 24 months, there is an explosive growth in vocabulary and grammar. The maturation of human speech continues throughout the first six years of life, according to Stamatis Sourvinos, Vice President of the Association of Speech-Language Pathologists in Greece. In contrast to expected speech development, if milestones are significantly delayed, it’s important for parents to consult specialists. While the absence of babbling isn’t always concerning, if a child hasn’t produced any verbal sounds by 18 months or begun speaking by 24 months, an initial check-up by a pediatric ENT with a comprehensive audiological test is recommended. Subsequently, visiting a speech therapist can help assess difficulties. At three years old, if a child cannot engage in simple conversations, evaluation by a speech therapist is crucial. Additionally, phonological or articulatory simplifications from ages 3-6 should be addressed. The A.S.L.T. program (Aquatic Speech and Language Therapy) is the world’s first scientifically-backed aquatic speech therapy intervention, primarily targeting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disorders. Studies show dramatic improvements in receptive and expressive vocabulary as well as basic communication skills compared to traditional indoor therapies. The water environment reduces sensory overload, increases attention span, and enhances learning enjoyment, leading to faster skill acquisition.