Issues Affecting Language Development in Children
The development of speech is an important childhood milestone. Most children start talking before the age of 2. While delayed speech can sometimes be a harmless variation in child development, often times it is a red flag indicating that your child needs help. If your child has a speech delay, consult your pediatrician to ensure that there are no medical issues that need to be addressed.
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Hearing Loss
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Anatomical issues with your child's ears can delay speech. Hearing loss from fluid as a result of undetected ear infections, impacted wax or a structural abnormality can interfere with hearing to the point where the acquisition of speech skills will be affected. Mild hearing loss can result in your child responding to some sounds and appearing as if he can hear, but not hearing well enough to duplicate speech sounds. If your child is not talking and you think he should be, your pediatrician will likely schedule a hearing test.
Central Auditory Processing Disorder
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Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), or Auditory Processing Disorder, can result in delayed speech. This condition is neurological rather than being anatomical. A child with CAPD will pass a hearing test, but her brain and her ears will not work together to process sounds in the same way as an unaffected child would. Similar sounding words are often not clear for the CAPD child, and background noise can greatly impact sound processing. Speech therapy can help your child if she is diagnosed with CAPD.
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Apraxia of Speech
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Apraxia of Speech is another condition that can affect your child's development of language. Also known as Dyspraxia or Verbal Apraxia, it is characterized by a child's inability to express himself verbally due to an impairment of the neural connection between the brain and the speech muscles. Speech therapy can help this condition, which typically does not go away on its own without intervention.
Cognitive Differences
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Alternative cognitive profiles such as Autism, Aspergers or PDD-NOS can impact the way a child develops and uses verbal communication. Many children on the Autism spectrum are non-verbal or verbal in an atypical manner. Autism is usually identifiable by the time a child is 30 months old, and unusual speech or lack of it is often one of the first obvious signs.
Environment
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A child's environment can have an enormous impact on her language development. Lack of exposure to language can create a speech delay. Siblings can also make a difference: a child with an older brother or sister who does all of the talking for her simply has no need to speak for herself.
Anatomical Abnormalities of Vocal Tract
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Anatomical abnormalities with the mouth, tongue or throat can make it difficult for a child to acquire speech skills. Muscle weakness, known as hypotonia, can interfere with speech development, as can a cleft palate or problems with the vocal cords or tongue.
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