Source

Introduction

What is speech delay?

Speech delay is a situation where a child is unable to speak or communicate at expected ages.

If a child is unable to say simple words like 'mum' and 'dad' clearly all unclearly at the age of 12 months, such a child is said to have speech delay.

Causes of speech delay

There are many causes of special delay in children under the age of 2 - 4 years. Some of the causes of speech delay in childhood are:

1. Premature birth
2. Family history of speech problems
3. Intellectual disability
4. Bilingualism
5. Low birth weight
6. Slow development
7. Physical problem in the mouth and tongue
8. Shyness or introvert
9. Lack of communication with the child
10. Psychological deprivation, etc.

Source One of the causes of speech delay in toddlers is premature birth.

Types of speech delay

The three major types of speech delay in toddlers are;

1. Expressive speech delay
2. Receptive speech delay
3. Mixed expressive and receptive speech delay.

Expressive speech delay: Children with expressive speech delay finds it difficult to express himself. Him or her can not produce sounds. Such a child is unable to use words in communication.

Receptive speech delay: Children with receptive speech delay are unable to understand verbal information. Such a child does not understand verbal and nonverbal language.

Mixed expressive and receptive speech delay: Talking about mixed receptive and expressive speech delays, such a child is unable to communicate or understand language, produces words, or complete sentences.

Signs of speech delay in toddlers

1. Difficulties in following directions.
2. Poor pronunciation
3. Inability to put words together
4. Not using gestures like pointing and waving goodbye at 12 months of old.
5. Preferring to communicate with gesture instead of words.
6. Has a problem in understanding simple requests and commands.

How to overcome speech delay in toddlers

1. Start communicating with your child when him or her is a baby.
2. Read to your child when he is still a baby, not minding if he understands or not.
3. Spend quality time with your baby and do not fail to communicate everyday situations with him or her.
4. Talk to your baby about the things you will do each day. For example, when I am done feeding you, I will be going to the market to get buy food stuff.
5. Sing for your for your child. You can start by reciting nursery rhymes to him or her.

Source Reading to your child when him or her is still a baby helps to overcome speech delay

Conclusion

When a child is of age and do not understand simple words as 'yes', 'no' and 'stop' or babbling sone words like tata or 'mama' such a child is said to have speech delay.
Engage the child in communication and visits the doctor if there is no improvement.