![]() This also happens with other disciplines too. I have often evaluated children whose parents referred them for what they thought was a speech or language delay, when in fact their children were exhibiting delays in other developmental domains as well. The speech-language diagnosis may be just a part of a condition that affects a child’s overall developmental picture, or it could be the only issue a child faces. For example, a child diagnosed with autism may exhibit characteristics of apraxia, a child with Down syndrome may have dysarthria, a child with dyslexia may also have an auditory processing disorder, etc… Please remember that this is a listing of specific speech-language diagnoses and not necessarily a medical or educational label. For example, autism is not a developmental delay, but a developmental disorder.īelow is a list of the most common types of speech disorders and diagnoses associated with pediatric speech-language problems with a basic explanation for each. ![]() I CNAT READ MY LANGUAGE PROFESSIONALDisorders, by their nature, are more serious than delays and always warrant professional intervention. The rate may also be slow, but there abnormalities present that are not seen in children with typically developing skills. When there’s a disorder, it means that development is somehow atypical. Most of the time (unless a professional is misusing terminology) a “delay” implies that there’s a reasonable expectation that a child can “catch up.” Intervention, whether it’s more informal at home with parents who are committed to implementing new strategies, or whether it’s more formal with enrolling a child in therapy services, certainly helps increase the likelihood of improvement. Skills are coming in as expected, but it’s just slower than when other children acquire the milestones. ![]() Let’s also clarify the difference between the terms “delay” and “disorder.” A delay means there’s just a problem with the rate of development. It is often difficult to pinpoint an exact diagnosis during the first visit or two (or 10!) with a toddler, but there are many common communication difficulties in this age group. Many professionals err on the side of caution and label all children they evaluate as “delayed,” when in fact they aren’t yet sure what the exact problem is. ![]() Sometimes we don’t know exactly why a child isn’t talking yet at two or three. When I evaluate a child, after confirming parents’ suspicions that there is a definitive problem, the next question is usually some version of, “Why?” As a pediatric speech-language pathologist specializing in early intervention, I work with children between birth and three years of age. There are between three and six million children in the United States with speech or language disorders. Why Can’t My Child Talk… Common Types of Communication Delays ![]()
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