Speech delay is one of the most common types of developmental delay. The delay in speech in children is usually temporary. However, in some cases, this condition can be a sign of a child's hearing or developmental impairment.
Speech and language disorders are often experienced by children, ranging from slurred speech to difficulty expressing what they need. This condition often makes parents worry and compare their children with other children their age. In fact, the development of speech for each child can be different.
Causes of Late Talking Children
The cause of speech delays in children can occur due to various factors, including:
- Raised in more than one language or bilingual environment
- Difficulty understanding words or finding words
- Hearing disorders
- Structural abnormalities of the oral cavity, for example due to cleft lip or tongue abnormalities
- stutter
- Ignorance from people around
- Autism spectrum disorder
Children's Speech Development Stages
Although each child's speech development stage is different, there are basic benchmarks that are commonly used to measure a child's speech ability. This can also be a benchmark whether the child needs help or not.
The following are the stages of speech development in children according to their age:
3 months old
A 3-month-old baby "talks" in a voice that has no meaning or can be called baby language. At this age, he may communicate more using expressions, for example by smiling when he sees or hears his mother's voice.
6 months old
Entering the age of 6 months, babies begin to make sounds that sound clearer in syllables, even though they still have no meaning, such as "da-da" or "ba-ba". By the end of 6 months, babies can use these sounds to express pleasure or dislike, not just by crying.
It's also important to know, at this age babies can already look in the direction that makes a sound, pay attention to music, and turn when their name is called.
12 months old
Babies are generally able to say the word "mama" or "dad" and imitate the words he hears. At the age of one year, he is also able to understand some commands such as, “Come, come here” or “Get the bottle”.
18 months old
At this age, babies can usually say about 10-20 basic words. However, it's normal if there are some words that are still not clearly pronounced, such as the word "eat" being said "mam".
At the age of 18 months, babies already recognize the names of people, objects, and some body parts. He can also follow simple instructions accompanied by movement.
24 months old
Babies aged 2 years are usually able to say at least 50 words and communicate using 2 words such as "want milk". He has also begun to understand simple questions.
3-5 years old
The vocabulary that children have at the age of 3-5 years will increase rapidly. By age 3, most children can pick up about 300 new words. They can also understand longer commands, such as, “Come on, wash your feet and brush your teeth,” or, “Take off your shoes and get changed.”
At the age of 4 years, children are generally able to speak using longer sentences and explain an event. While at the age of 5 years, they can already talk to other people.
How to Stimulate Children's Speaking Ability
Do not believe in the myth that children can learn to talk on their own. Mother's active role as the closest person to the Little One greatly influences the development of speech. There are ways that can be done to stimulate children's communication skills. Here are some of them:
1. Follow everything he says
Pay attention to the voices spoken from the Little One. Even if you don't understand the meaning, repeat the sound again according to what you catch. That way, your little one will feel like they are talking to you and get used to imitating your words and tone of voice.
This of course will take some time. So, be patient and keep giving your little one as many opportunities as possible to "chat" with Mother.
2. Talking while moving
When talking to your little one, you must also be active and expressive. For example, say, "Come on, let's have some milk," while shaking the bottle or, "Love the doll, okay?" while petting the doll. Likewise when teaching him to recognize body parts.
3. Get used to making narration
Even though your little one can't speak like an adult, you can still use everyday conversation when communicating with him. For example, when dressing your little one, you can say, "Today, sister, I'm wearing a flower-patterned shirt to play in the garden," while showing her clothes.
This can help your little one understand certain objects through your words. Apply this to other activities, such as bathing, feeding, or changing diapers.
Get in the habit of always talking to him in complete sentences. For example, when he points at the doll that is on the table. Don't take it right away. Instead, say a sentence or two like, "Would you like to play with this doll?" When she responds with a nod or a smile, you can give it a go.
4. Play together
When having children, sometimes parents have to be able to act like a child. Invite your little one to play, role-play, or imagine something to develop his verbal skills. For example, you can invite your little one to pretend to call Dad with a toy phone.
5. Praise the progress
Always give praise, smiles, and hugs every time your little one makes a good new sound or vocabulary. In general, babies learn to talk from the reactions of the people around them.
The main key to stimulating the development of children's speaking skills is to communicate with them a lot. Make sure you always use a positive and loving response.
If you suspect your little one is late in speaking, don't worry too much, OK, Bun. Basically, every child has a different growth rate. Even so, if the child is late to speak, he should still be checked by a doctor so that he can be given treatment if an abnormality is found.