| Autism Speech Delay | | | | disorder. Autism Speech Delay |
| If you suspect that your child is showing signs of | | | | Early warning signs of speech delay include not |
| a speech delay it is worth further investigation so | | | | responding to sounds by 2 months, lack of |
| that appropriate intervention can be sought as | | | | interest in toys or people by age of four months, |
| early as possible. Almost one in twenty adults | | | | lack of vocalization or babbling by the age of ten |
| suffers from some sort of speech or language | | | | months and inability to speak any words by the |
| disorder. If diagnosed and corrected before the | | | | age of twenty-one months. By the age of thirty |
| child reaches school age, it will have less impact on | | | | months, the baby should be able to be |
| their overall intellectual development. | | | | understood by most members of the immediate |
| Normal speech development begins with the | | | | family. If these milestones are missed it could be |
| newborn as they discover that they can use their | | | | a sign of speech delay. |
| mouths to produce an array of soft sounds. This | | | | If you suspect your baby is showing signs of a |
| later develops into babble and by the age of 12 | | | | speech delay you should firstly exclude the |
| months most babies will be able to say 'ma' and | | | | possibility of a hearing impairment by having a |
| 'da' or even the occasional word. | | | | hearing test performed. Consult a pediatrician to |
| Each baby has their own unique developmental | | | | check whether your baby's developmental |
| timeline and an individual's schedule could be | | | | milestones are within the normal range. Discuss |
| brought forward or delayed by weeks or even | | | | the potential for medical conditions that may |
| months for no apparent reason. As a parent you | | | | cause speech delay such as cerebral palsy or |
| should always trust your instincts. If something | | | | autism spectrum disorder. |
| with your baby's development doesn't seem quite | | | | Many problems associated with speech |
| right you should always seek medical advice. | | | | development can be corrected with appropriate |
| Brain damage can be attributed as the main | | | | intervention. Some speech impediments can be |
| interfering condition associated with speech delay | | | | corrected with speech therapy. Signs of speech |
| and it is usually associated with an intellectual | | | | delay could be an early indication of other |
| disability or cerebral palsy. Hearing problems or | | | | intellectual or physical disabilities so you should |
| cleft palate are physical disabilities that may hinder | | | | consult your medical professional as soon as |
| the ability to articulate. Speech delay is also an | | | | possible to rule this out. |
| indication of undiagnosed autism spectrum | | | | |