Know the Signs of Speech and Language Disorders
Signs of common speech and language disorders in adults and children between birth to 4 years of age, an important stage in early detection of communication disorders.
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Children: Signs of a Language Disorder
- Does not smile or interact with others (birth and older)
- Does not babble (4-7 months)
- Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7-12 months)
- Does not understand what others say (7 months-2 years)
- Says only a few words (12-18 months)
- Words are not easily understood (18 months-2 years)
- Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5-3 years)
- Has trouble playing and talking with other children (2-3 years)
- Has trouble with early reading and writing skills* (2.5-3 years)
*Early reading and writing skills include:
8 months–1 year: Likes to hear you talk and read; looks at pictures in books when you read
1–2 years: Makes sounds or words when looking at pictures in books; points or touches pictures in books when you name them; turns pages in books
2–3 years: Knows that books have a front and back; enjoys books that have rhymes; points to and names many pictures in books
What Parents Can Do
- Listen and respond to your child
- Talk, read, and play with your child
- Talk with your child in the language you are most comfortable using
- Know it is good to teach your child to speak a second language
- Talk about what you are doing and what your child is doing
- Use a lot of different words with your child
- Use longer sentences as your child gets older
- Have your child play with other children
Children: Signs of a Speech Sound Disorder
- Says p, b, m, h, and w incorrectly in words (1-2 years)
- Says k, g, f, t, d, and n incorrectly in words (2-3 years)
- Produces speech that is unclear, even to familiar people (2-3 years)
What Parents Can Do
- Say the sounds correctly when you talk—it is okay if your child makes some mistakes with sounds
- Do not correct speech sounds—it is more important to let your child keep talking
Children Signs of Stuttering (Disfluency)
- Repeats first sounds of words—“b-b-b-ball” for “ball”
- Speech breaks while trying to say a word—“—–boy” for “boy”
- Stretches sounds out—“ffffff-farm” for “farm”
- Shows frustration when trying to get words out
What Parents Can Do
- Give your child time to talk
- Do not interrupt, stop, or tell your child to slow down while they are speaking
- See a certified speech-language pathologist if you are concerned
Children: Signs of a Voice Disorder
- Loss of voice
- Uses a hoarse or breathy voice
- Speaks with strain and effort
What Parents Can Do
- See a doctor if your child sounds hoarse or breathy
- Tell your child to avoid shouting and screaming
- Drink water throughout the day
- Include quiet time/voice rest during the day
Adults: Signs of Speech & Language Disorders
- Struggles to say sounds or words (stuttering)
- Repetition of words or parts of words (stuttering)
- Speaks in short, fragmented phrases (expressive aphasia)
- Says words in the wrong order (expressive aphasia)
- Struggles with using words and understanding others (global aphasia)
- Difficulty imitating speech sounds (apraxia)
- Inconsistent errors (apraxia)
- Slow rate of speech (apraxia)
- Slurred speech (dysarthria)
- Slow or rapid rate of speech, often with a mumbling quality (dysarthria)