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Are you concerned about your child's ability to hear, speak, or communicate? Although infants receive a hearing screening in the hospital after birth, some hearing and speech issues manifest later in development. Review these signs that your child may have a speech or hearing disorder to decide whether you should seek further assistance.
Missing Language Milestones
Although each child develops at his or her own rate, delayed milestones often signal a need for further evaluations. In general, infants begin babbling by age 4 to 7 months, say a few words by 12 to 18 months, put together sentences by 18 to 24 months, and have conversations by age 2 or 3 years.
Speech Concerns
Difficulty with speech can hamper your child's ability to communicate with others. Some signs of common speech and language disorders include:
Inability to say w, h, m, p, or b sounds at age 1 or 2
Inability to say n, d, t, f, g, or k sounds at age 2 or 3
Hard-to-comprehend speech at age 2 or 3
Frequent speech pauses at age 2 or 3
A nasal, hoarse, or breathy-sounding voice at age 2 or 3
Stuttering or stretching out the first sounds of words at age 2 or 3
Symptoms of Hearing Issues
Your child may have some degree of hearing loss if he or she does not respond to sounds as an infant. By age 1, a child should respond to his or her own name. Children ages 1 and 2 can usually follow simple directions such as "pick up your shoes." In addition, speech and language delays at any age can result from hearing issues.
If these symptoms sound familiar, schedule a consultation for your child at the High Level Speech & Hearing Center in New Orleans. We specialize in hearing and speech disorders and have treated more than 5,000 children in the metro area. Call 504-345-2984 to make an appointment at one of our two convenient locations.