September 28, 2017

by: Christine Mencini

Disability Spotlight: Speech-Language Delay

Each month we will feature a different disability represented at UCP of Greater Cleveland. Due to our name, many people think we only serve people with cerebral palsy, but we hope this series will help to dispel that myth. This month we are featuring speech-language delay.

• Language delay is when a child’s language is developing in the right sequence, but at a slower rate. A speech delay refers to a delay in the development or use of the mechanisms that produce speech.
• Speech is the sound that comes out of our mouths.
• Language has to do with meanings, rather than sounds.
• Delayed speech or language development is the most common developmental problem, affecting 5-10 percent of preschool kids.
• Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are educated in the study of human communication, its development, and its disorders.
• SLPs assess speech, language, cognitive-communication, and oral/feeding/swallowing skills to identify types of communication problems. 
• Speech-language therapy at UCP works on all aspects of speech, augmentative communication and swallowing.
• Kids acquire speech-language, like all the other developmental skills, at their own pace. Most children who talk late eventually catch up. But if you have concerns about your child, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your pediatrician, who can guide you to a specialist if necessary.

Sources:

• KidsHealth – http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/speech-therapy.html#
• Parenting.com – http://www.parenting.com/article/speech-delays
• University of Michigan – http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/speech.htm

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