Speech problems?

Are you concerned because you think that your child may have speech problems? that is a very common concern for parents around the world, the good news is that now you have a wide variety of sources that can help you or if you have a real concern always consult with your pediatrician.

However, like walking, there are kids that walk earlier than others, there are others that can talk earlier than others, however there are signs that you want to watch and may tell you if indeed there may be a real problem

What Causes Speech Problems?

Normal speech may seem effortless, but it's actually a complex process that requires precise timing, nerve, and muscle control.

When we speak, we must coordinate many muscles from various body parts and systems, including the larynx, which contains the vocal cords; the teeth, lips, tongue, and mouth; and the respiratory system.

The ability to understand language and produce speech is coordinated by the brain. So a person with brain damage from an accident, stroke, or birth defect may have speech and language problems. Apraxia is thought to be due to a brain impairment that may or may not show up on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests.

Some people with speech problems, particularly articulation disorders, may have hearing problems. Even mild hearing loss may have an impact on how a person reproduces the sounds they hear. Certain birth defects, such as a cleft palate, can interfere with someone's ability to produce speech. When a person has a cleft palate there is a hole in the roof of the mouth, which affects the movement of air through the oral and nasal passages. There also may be problems with other structures needed for speech, including the lips, teeth, and jaw.

Genetics may also play a role in some speech problems. For example, stuttering seems to run in some families. But in some cases, no one knows exactly what causes a person to have speech problems.

How can I tell if my child’s speech and language development is on track?
If your child is not on track with the following speech/language development milestones, you should talk to your pediatrician.
Here are the milestones to look for in normal speech development:

Age Language Level
Birth cries
2-3 months Cries differently in different circumstances; coos in response to
you
3-4 months Babbles randomly
5-6 months Babbles rhythmically
6-11 months Babbles in imitation of real speech, with expression
12 months Says 1-2 words; recognizes name; imitates familiar sounds;
understands simple instructions.
18 months Uses 5-20 words, including names

Between 1 and 2 Says 2-word sentences; vocabulary is growing;
years waves goodbye; makes “sounds” of familiar animals;
uses words (like “more”) to make wants known; understands “no”

So if you think that your child has a speech delay or speech problem you want to keep an eye on these symptons, but again, some kids may take longer to develop certain skills.

if you have a comment or question about speech delay let us know and I could try to answer it or others parents that have had the same situation may help you as well.
Here are other pages where you can find advices in speech problems

speech problems
speech disorders