Infant Slow Development in Speech

An infant's life is filled with important developmental "firsts." Smiling, rolling over, crawling and, eventually, talking. A delay in any milestone can cause concern. There are many possible reasons for slow development of speech during a baby's first two years.

Typical Early Speech Development

• Talking to infants provides them with a foundation for speech. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), by 1 month, babies can recognize the sound of their parents' voices. By 3 months, most infants begin babbling and trying to imitate sounds. At 6 to 8 months, most have begun trying to repeat specific sounds and words that their parents make, and can distinguish tone of voice.
  While deciphering an infant's words can be difficult until they're much older, the AAP advises that they do understand others, so parents should continue introducing them to new words. By the time babies reach their first birthday, their babbling typically has become more recognizable as speech with proper syllables ("da," "ma"). Soon, by repeating these syllables, they will form the words "dada" and "mama."

Speech Development in Older Infants and Toddlers

• Guidelines provided by the AAP show that babies between the ages of 12 months to 15 months old become much more responsive to the speech of others. Asked to get his stuffed bear, an older infant will go retrieve it. During these developmental months, babies are mastering several simple, single words. In the latter half of their second year, their vocabulary increases significantly--up to 50 or more words--and they're using two- to four-word sentences.

Early Speech Delay

• While no baby is alike and developmental milestones are merely approximate guidelines for parents and pediatricians alike, the AAP advises that these specific delays in early speech development warrant follow-up with a doctor: If a baby isn't responding to the sound of her mother or father's voice by age 2 months; if she doesn't express emotion with sounds (giggles, cries, fussiness) by 5 months; if she doesn't babble regularly by 8 months; and if she has no single words ("mama" or "dada") by a year old.

Speech Delay in Older Infants and Toddlers

• Based upon recommendations of the AAP, parents should discuss their child's speech development with their pediatrician if he isn't using 10 to 15 words by 18 months; if he doesn't use two-word sentences by age 2; or if he is unable to follow one-step instructions ("Pick up your shoe") by age 2. Additionally, a regression in language skills--a 2-year-old who once used many words and spoke in short sentences and no longer does either--warrants concern.

Causes and Intervention in Speech Delays

• According to both the AAP and the American Academy of Family Physicians, speech delays--whether in the very young infant or the 2-year-old toddler--can result from hearing problems, problems within the mouth (vocal cords, soft palate, tongue), or developmental disorders, such as mental retardation or persuasive developmental disorders (PDP) such as autism. Delayed speech can also result from the child simply being a "late talker" who will eventually develop normal speech without intervention. Pediatricians will examine the baby and evaluate her overall development (language, social, fine motor and gross motor skills) to make a recommendation on additional testing and evaluations by experts as well as what, if any, interventions should be explored.