Healthy and active children make parents happy and grateful. One more moment that parents have been waiting for is when the child says his first word. Even though it is still stuttering and unclear, this progress can make you feel emotional and proud.
But besides that, some conditions make children speak later than their age. This condition is called Speech Delay.
Causes of Children Have Speech Delay.
The condition of speech delay is quite a common problem in child development. The effect of this condition is that the words that come out of the child's mouth will sound stuttering or have difficulty pronouncing words properly. In addition, children with this condition find it difficult to express their feelings or thoughts. Here are some things that cause children to experience speech delay:
1. The child has a problem with the tongue or roof of the mouth
A slightly complicated mouth structure can also cause a child to experience speech delay. As a result, the child will have difficulty controlling the muscles in the mouth when speaking. If the cause is this complex mouth structure, the child will usually experience other oral difficulties, such as chewing.
2. Speech Impairment Apraxia
Another cause for children experiencing speech delay can also be due to apraxia. Apraxia is an uncommon health problem. This condition can occur when a child has difficulty making accurate mouth movements when he speaks. This is due to an injury or abnormality in the brain's parietal lobe. In apraxia, the brain struggles to create new plans for speech movements. This condition can affect the child's speech ability; the child is late saying his first word at 12-18 months and has difficulty chewing or swallowing. It is difficult to move from the first word to the next word when he is small; the child does not actively make sounds such as babbling, laughing, or crying. This condition can alarm parents to consult their child with the doctor immediately.
3. Hearing Loss and Ear Infection
Because it is related, hearing problems can also be one of the causes of children experiencing speech delay. A child with hearing problems will have difficulty understanding the speech around him, including his own voice, making it difficult for children to understand or master words and imitate them perfectly.
4. Developmental Issues
Several developmental problems can also cause speech delays in children. As explained by the MCS Mott Children's Hospital, some developmental problems are cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, autism, and imperfect muscle condition.
When is a child said to Have a Speech Delay?
The age below this can be a concern for parents to realize whether the child has a speech delay so that it can be treated more quickly by a doctor or expert :
- 18-month-old can't say simple words like "mommy," "daddy," or "bye-bye."
- At the age of 2 years, less than 25 words can be spoken, and it is difficult to combine words such as "mommy eats," "want to pee," "already full," and others.
- Two years six months old, has difficulty combining words into one sentence.
- The age of 3 years is not fluent in speaking and composing words and sentences. Generally, at this age, children can say more than 1000 words.
- Ages over four years are less able to repeat words and sentences that have been spoken. The Denver II graph shows that children at this age can recognize opposite words and repeat previously spoken words.
If a child seems to have signs of difficulty speaking, you should immediately consult a doctor so that it is handled properly and more quickly. Remember not to force the child to speak. Precisely we must always guide children in every development.