Language delay

Language delay is a failure in children to develop language abilities on the usual age appropriate for their developmental timetable. Language delay is distinct from speech delay, in which the speech mechanism itself is the focus of delay.

Oral communication is a two-stage process. The first stage is to encode the message into a set of words and sentence structures that convey the required meaning, i.e. into language. In the second stage, language is translated into motor commands that control the articulators (organs and structures such as the lungs, vocal cords, mouth, tongue, teeth, etc.), thereby creating speech, i.e. orally-expressed language.

Because language and speech are independent, they may be individually delayed. For example, a child may be delayed in speech (i.e., unable to produce intelligible speech sounds), but not delayed in language. However a child with a language delay typically has not yet been able to use language to formulate material to speak; he or she is therefore likely to have a delay in speech as well.

Language delay is commonly divided into receptive and expressive categories. Receptive language refers to the process of understanding what is said to the subject. Expressive language refers to the use of words and sentences to communicate messages to others. Both categories are essential to effective communication.

Effects

Language delay is a risk factor for other types of developmental delay, including social, emotional, and cognitive delay. Some children may grow out of these deficits, even coming to excel where they once lagged, while others do not. One particularly common result of language delay is delayed or inadequate acquisition of reading skills. Reading depends upon an ability to code and decode script (i.e., match speech sounds with symbols, and vice versa). If a child is still struggling to master language and speech, it is very difficult to learn another level of complexity (writing). Thus, it is crucial that children have facility with language to be successful readers.

Neuroscientist Steven Pinker postulates that a certain form of language delay may be associated with exceptional and innate analytical prowess in some individuals, such as Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman and Edward Teller.[1]

Causes

Language delays are the most frequent developmental delays, and can occur for many reasons. A delay can be due to being a “late bloomer,” or a more serious problem. The most common causes of speech delay include

Such delays can occur in conjunction with a lack of mirroring of facial responses, unresponsiveness or unawareness of certain noises, a lack of interest in playing with other children or toys, or no pain response to stimuli.[2][3]

Other causes include:

Treatment

Studies have failed to find clear evidence that language delay can be prevented by training or educating health care professionals in the subject. Overall, some of the reviews show positive results regarding interventions in language delay, but are not curative. (Commentary - Early Identification of Language Delays, 2005)

See also

References

  1. Pinker, Steven (24 June 1999). "His Brain Measured Up". The New York Times. Retrieved 2006-12-04.
  2. "Language Learning Styles". TLG. August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  3. "Frequently Asked Questions". American Academy of Children & Adolescent Psychiatry. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  4. Committee on Public Education (August 1999). "Media education". Pediatrics 104 (2 Pt 1): 341–3. doi:10.1542/peds.104.2.341. PMID 10429023.
  5. Chonchaiya, W; Pruksananonda, C (July 2008). "Television viewing associates with delayed language development". Acta Paediatrica 97 (7): 977–82. doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00831.x. PMID 18460044.
  6. Talge, NM; Neal, C; Glover, V (2007). "Antenatal maternal stress and long-term effects on child neurodevelopment: how and why?". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 48 (3-4): 245–61. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01714.x. PMID 17355398.
  7. Miniscalco, C; Nygren, G; Hagberg, B; Kadesjö, B; Gillberg, C (May 2006). "Neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental outcome of children at age 6 and 7 years who screened positive for language problems at 30 months". Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 48 (5): 361–6. doi:10.1017/S0012162206000788. PMID 16608544.
  8. Hagberg BS, Miniscalco C, Gillberg C (2010). "Clinic attenders with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: cognitive profile at school age and its relationship to preschool indicators of language delay". Research in Developmental Disabilities 31 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2009.07.012. PMID 19713073.
  9. American Psychiatric Association (2000). "Diagnostic criteria for 299.00 Autistic Disorder". Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV (4 ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. ISBN 0-89042-025-4. OCLC 768475353.
  10. Campbell, T F; Dollaghan, C A; Rockette, H E; Paradise, J L; Feldman, H M; Shriberg, L D; Sabo, D L; Kurs-Lasky, M (2002). "Risk factors for speech delay of unknown origin in 3-year-old children". Child Development 74 (2): 346–57. PMID 12705559.

External links