Things That Affect Language Development in Children

Language development concerns the ability to understand the meanings of words and apply them effectively in various situations. Children develop many skills at different ages and speeds, including the capacity to interpret and use language correctly.

Abuse

• Children require continual exposure to language to become familiar with it and to learn how to use it. Abused and neglected children who are isolated from other people may never have the opportunity to hear language. As a result, they may not develop adequate language skills.

Cognitive Problems

• Understanding and using language properly requires a certain amount of intelligence. Children with disabilities and disorders which affect their intellectual skills may experience difficulty developing language skills. Examples of cognitive conditions that can affect language development include autism, intellectual disability and learning disabilities.

Physical Conditions

• A child's physical development and physical problems can influence her rate and extent of language development. For example, children who were born prematurely often have delayed development in areas such as weight gain that do not affect children who were full-term babies. Hearing loss is another common physical condition that can interfere with a child's ability to develop language and speech skills at a normal rate.