Watching babies reach different milestones can fill our eyes with wonder — that a child so new to the world can adapt and learn different ways of functioning so quickly. Within a baby’s first year of life, they learn the tastes of different foods, the ability to laugh and recognize when something is funny, and how to babble and form bits of speech.
When children begin to communicate from babbling to words, the progression can sometimes seem to sky-rocket. At one point your infant was only giggling in your lap, and now they're trying to form sentences and make jokes with you. Babies begin reaching speech development milestones as early as 1 years old. To help navigate and keep an eye on your child’s growth, here is all you need to know about early language development and your child.
Language development: How to encourage it?
Getting help when needed: Speech therapy for toddlers
When it appears like a baby is not reaching a milestone, a parent should reach out to their pediatrician.
Fortunately, during a baby’s regular wellness checkups, a pediatrician can help observe the development. “Some warning signs are if a child does not make eye contact, respond to his name, or begin to form words. Catching problems early is the best way for your child to improve his skill,” said Dr. Jennifer Shu to American Academy of Pediatrics.
If a child seems to have speech delays, Kids Health shares some signs to look for, such as auditory problems, processing delays, weakened vocal muscles, a cleft lip, or trouble with breathing.
Speech therapy for a child should occur as early as possible. “The way speech delay is treated in toddlers depends on the cause. When treated early, these delays, and the problems that can cause them, often get better over time,” said Jay L. Hoecker, MD, with the Mayo Clinic. Interventions and treatment can look like language, articulation, or oral-motor therapy.
In order to receive these services, doing a little research might help. “In the United States, you can get your child tested through a government-funded early intervention program,” suggested Dr. Hoecker. Speech delays or impairments in a child may not be permanent, and early assistance could help correct the issue before it gets worse.
