Warning signs of language and communication delays

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was consulted with Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi An - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
Children learn languages ​​at different rates, but most follow a common timeline. If your child doesn't seem to be hitting communication milestones within a few weeks of average, consult a doctor as soon as possible. If your child has a language delay, early recognition and treatment is important to help them develop language and other cognitive skills like their peers.
Parents need to know that the timetable for children's language development will change and that they may encounter small obstacles along the way. Parents should also keep in mind that if a baby is born prematurely, it may be weeks or months behind the average growth rate.

1. Overview of language delay in children

Language delay is a communication disorder that includes impairments in speech, language, and hearing. Milestones in language development can occur at various ages, including the beginning of babbling and the baby's first words. However, each child varies greatly in the exact age at which each milestone is reached.
Children also have many different forms of language development. Most children can already communicate well verbally by the age of 3. But a child may not say a word until 2.5 years old and then immediately begin speaking in short sentences of a few words. Another child may say a few words by 10 months but has little increase in vocabulary in the following years. On the other hand, there are children who begin to speak at about 12 months and progress at a steady rate.
Children with language delay often have obvious manifestations during infancy or childhood. Any delay in general development can cause a delay in language development. Children with communication delays can acquire language skills at a normal pace, but at a much slower rate, in other words, their language development may be comparable to that of a normally developing child. at a much younger age.
Language delay is one of the most common forms of developmental delay in children. Children with language delays may be called "tardy children" or "retarded children". Accordingly, this disease often runs in families.
Language retardation is the most common developmental disorder in children 3 to 16 years of age, affecting about 3 to 10% of all children and they are 3-4 times more common in boys than in children. young girls.

2. Warning signs of children with delayed language development

It's not okay for the child, parents should boldly ask the doctor about it. After all, parents are the ones who understand their children best. Warning signs of children with delayed language development that parents need to know, include:
4 months old : Parents do not know when the child is happy or sad; baby doesn't coo or start babbling,... 6 months: Baby doesn't laugh or scream, doesn't combine vowels into babbles (ah, ooh, oh) 7 months: Baby doesn't start imitate sounds other people make, don't use actions to get parent's attention learns consonants and vowels together ("mama," "baba"), doesn't look at parents by only 12 months : Baby doesn't say "mama" or "dad", doesn't use gestures like waving , shakes head or points, doesn't practice using at least a few consonants (eg p or b) doesn't understand and responds to words like "no" and "goodbye", doesn't point out things that matter mind like a bird or a plane in the air, can't say single words 12 to 15 months: baby doesn't babble as if talking

The early detection of signs of delay in language and communication development in children will provide a better chance for treatment. Therefore, when parents see that their child is slow compared to peers, and shows signs of severe language and communication retardation, it is necessary to take the child for a check-up and general health examination as soon as possible. From that result, the doctor will advise the best treatment.
With many years of experience in examining and treating diseases in children, now the Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital has become one of the major health care centers, capable of examining , screening and treatment of many specialized diseases in children. Therefore, if the child shows signs of delay in language development, communication or health problems, parents can take the child to Vinmec International General Hospital for examination and support and advice. consultations from medical professionals.
Besides, parents also need to supplement their children with essential micro-minerals such as zinc, lysine, chromium, selenium, vitamin B1, ... to fully meet the nutritional needs of children. The addition of these essential vitamins also supports digestion, enhances nutrient absorption, improves anorexia, and helps children eat well. Parents can simultaneously apply dietary supplements and functional foods derived from nature for easy absorption. The most important thing is that improving your baby's symptoms often takes a long time. Combining many types of functional foods at the same time or changing many types in a short time can make the baby's digestive system unable to adapt and completely not good. Therefore, parents must be really patient with their children and regularly visit the website vimec.com to update useful baby care information.
Reference source: babycenter.com