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Very often, parents start to panic when their child does not start talking by age 2-3 years - and rightfully so. The questions is what can parents do to determine the best course of action once they realise that their child has not started talking while other children in that age range are almost fluent.
The first step would be to conduct a hearing test to see if there may be some hearing impairrments involved. Typically, parents feel that a hearing test is only done for the purpose of identifying deafness. Seriously, folks, if your child was deaf, surely you would have noticed it! These days hearing tests can check for decibel hearing loss, which is simply the fact that some people cant hear certain levels of sound. In children, this could cause a delay in learning to speak. Auditory processing disorders in the early stages can also manifest as delayed speech in the early years. If the way sound is processed is distorted, it is quite natural that speech acquisition will be delayed.
Another reason children have delayed speech acquisition is because it could be one of the early signs and symptoms of dyslexia, dyspraxia or even hyperlexia. Some only children are raised in environments where learning to talk is simply unnecessary too! Believe it, children will not learn to talk unless they feel there is a valid reason to talk!
The solution?
Quite simple actually. Once the hearing test is done and it comes back normal, then the next step should be a good early intervention programme which focusses on language application. Often in Malaysia, parents think of speech therapy only. Bear in mind, speech therapy is for those with speech IMPAIRMENTS - a speech delay does not constitute an IMPAIRMENT. An IMPAIRMENT like tongue tied conditions, deformity in vocal chords or stroke do indeed require speech therapy per say with a qualified speech therapist. However, a good intervention programme like the ones run at Sri Rafelsia ( www.srirafelsia.com ) or the Rafelsia Homeschool programme for learners with delays and difficulties ( www.homeschoolmalaysia.com) have high success rates in providing language enriched early intervention programmes.
As Programme Director, my experience of 12 years working with young learners with speech delays is that once they undergo proper intervention, they start talking and don't stop! Parents come back to complain that their kids talk too much now...:) Of course there are no programmes yet available to "stop" talking but the happy parents having spent hundreds and thousands of speech therapy have found a solution with an education based intervention programme instead.
The first step would be to conduct a hearing test to see if there may be some hearing impairrments involved. Typically, parents feel that a hearing test is only done for the purpose of identifying deafness. Seriously, folks, if your child was deaf, surely you would have noticed it! These days hearing tests can check for decibel hearing loss, which is simply the fact that some people cant hear certain levels of sound. In children, this could cause a delay in learning to speak. Auditory processing disorders in the early stages can also manifest as delayed speech in the early years. If the way sound is processed is distorted, it is quite natural that speech acquisition will be delayed.
Another reason children have delayed speech acquisition is because it could be one of the early signs and symptoms of dyslexia, dyspraxia or even hyperlexia. Some only children are raised in environments where learning to talk is simply unnecessary too! Believe it, children will not learn to talk unless they feel there is a valid reason to talk!
The solution?
Quite simple actually. Once the hearing test is done and it comes back normal, then the next step should be a good early intervention programme which focusses on language application. Often in Malaysia, parents think of speech therapy only. Bear in mind, speech therapy is for those with speech IMPAIRMENTS - a speech delay does not constitute an IMPAIRMENT. An IMPAIRMENT like tongue tied conditions, deformity in vocal chords or stroke do indeed require speech therapy per say with a qualified speech therapist. However, a good intervention programme like the ones run at Sri Rafelsia ( www.srirafelsia.com ) or the Rafelsia Homeschool programme for learners with delays and difficulties ( www.homeschoolmalaysia.com) have high success rates in providing language enriched early intervention programmes.
As Programme Director, my experience of 12 years working with young learners with speech delays is that once they undergo proper intervention, they start talking and don't stop! Parents come back to complain that their kids talk too much now...:) Of course there are no programmes yet available to "stop" talking but the happy parents having spent hundreds and thousands of speech therapy have found a solution with an education based intervention programme instead.
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