Speech delay and language development in the first few years of life can feel like an overwhelming topic. Speech is how we say sounds and words.1This includes:Articulation: This is the pronunciation of speech sounds in words, like “it’s waining” instead of “it’s raining. A speech delay or language delay occurs when a child is not meeting their communication milestones compared to other children of the same age. Speech delays can be caused by problems with oral-motor function, which occur when the brain has difficulty coordinating the movements of the lips, tongue, and jaw to make speech sounds. If your child displays signs of a speech delay or language delay, it is vital to seek an evaluation from a speech-language pathologist (SLP) as soon as possible.

Source: CNN March 16, 2023 22:01 UTC