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Early Or Late Talker - Does It Matter?
Monday, September 19, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Are you excited to hear your little one's first words? You betcha!
Hearing your munchkin's language development is one of those amazing moments in this journey. Awesome doesn't capture the seemingly magical progression of an infant moving from imitating sounds to producing an actual word. I recall being at a family meal and hearing something that sure sounded like "thank you." It's words you often hear around a family's dinner table, but it was huge news when the sound of those words came out of our little girl's mouth.
As our children approach each new milestone, we wait in anticipation for what we think they will do, for what we think will happen.
What happens when they don't do what we think they will?
What happens when it doesn't go as we think it should?
What happens when those first words don't come when the developmental norms (average ages that children achieve certain aspects of development) tell us they should?
Is your child an early or late talker (or perhaps they are right on time)?
Recent research reports that up to 18% of children are "late talkers." The good news? The majority of these munchkins catch up on their language development by the time they enter school.
Of interest was a recent research study I stumbled upon entitled "Late Talking and the Risk for Behavioral and Emotional Problems During Childhood and Adolescence," which was published in the August 2011 issue of "Pediatrics." This study took a look at whether language delay at age 2 years could also be linked to other behavioral problems later in childhood and adolescence (like we don't have enough to worry about at each age and stage our kiddo's development!).
Researchers in Australia followed more than 2,800 families from birth through age 17 years, tracking behavioral and emotional development. Children who were late-talkers had mild levels of behavioral and emotional problems at age 2, but were at no greater risk of these problems during childhood or adolescence. The study summarized that a wait-and-see approach for late-talkers is recommended, when a child is otherwise developing normally. However, the study also noted scientific evidence linking persistent language problems with psychiatric difficulties.
What words, if any, is your little one saying today?
Looking for ways to support your little one's language development?
Got ways that you support your little one in acquring new words? Please share - it's fun to talk, even if our kiddo's aren't quite there yet!
