If you talk to your child in English and Tagalog, will that affect his speech development? Read about speech delay in toddlers according to our VIP Mom.
In this article, you’ll read:
- Talking to your child in 2 languages causes speech delay in toddlers – fact or myth?
- Signs that your child has a speech delay
- When is the best time to consult a doctor about your child’s speech delay?
“Baby, stop that! ‘Wag mo yan galawin!
“It’s dirty! ‘Wag mo yan i-touch!”
Are you familiar with these common tag lines that mothers usually use in speaking to their kids? This is a very common scenario in every household. Parents unintentionally use both languages when talking to their kids.
Some associate this type of set-up as the cause of speech delay in toddlers. They believe that confusion arises because of the bilingual language used at home. We would normally hear people saying those bilingual children or those who hear two languages in their surroundings are prone to developmental delay.
Here lies the question: Is this a fact or another myth in the making?
Does talking to your child in 2 languages cause speech delay?
According to an article in Timtimtom.com in September of 2020 entitled, Myth Busted: Bilingual Children have a Speech Delay, children who are learning two languages may seem like they have a more limited vocabulary, but in reality, their vocabulary is usually at par with monolingual kids. Instead of knowing 50 words in one language, they know 25 words in each language.
Image from iStock
What does that mean? In reality, children who are bilingual are not delayed in their speech. Rather, they have these divided counts in vocabulary in both languages.
At the same time, most people think that language only refers to the number of words a baby or toddler can actually say, but that is not really the case.
According to AboutKidsHealth.com, the two categories of language are:
1. Receptive language
This language is the first one to be learned by kids. In this category, they are able to understand the expression and words of other people.
2. Expressive language
In this category, children learn the ability to express themselves. As they develop their receptive skills, they also learn the ability to talk and communicate through words.
It is important to note that babies born prematurely are often, but not always, late to speak.
READ MORE:
Is it true that bilingual children suffer from speech delays?
The Life-long Impact of Brain Development in a Child’s First 5 Years
Teaching Toddlers the Alphabet: Tips and Tools For Teacher Mom
Signs of speech delay in toddlers
How will know if your child has a speech delay?
A baby is usually expected to say at least 50 words by age 2. If you have observed that your kid doesn’t seem to say anything or isn’t able to respond to your instructions by this time, it is best to consult a developmental pediatrician to have your child properly assessed.
During your visit to your doctor, your child will also be assessed according to the following domains:
- Adaptive skills
- Personal and social skills
- Communication and verbal skills
- Motor skills
- Cognitive skills
Your developmental pediatrician will recommend a program suited for your child’s development or will refer you for early intervention.
A early intervention is done to avoid progression of delay to kids. That is why it is very important to not think twice as to whether your child needs to be checked or not.
We should also skip the old belief that if a child is not speaking by this time, the best thing to do is just to wait as he gets older because he will eventually speak.
Image courtesy of the author
Speech delay in toddlers – when is the best time to have your child checked?
As soon as possible. A child can be checked and assessed for speech delay as early as 18 months old, depending on your observation as a parent.
Have your child checked as well when you have observed that your child is not doing the following:
- not babbling by the age of 15 months
- not talking by the age of 2 years
- inability to speak in short sentences by the age of 3 years
- difficulty following directions
- poor pronunciation or articulation
- difficulty putting words together in a sentence
Help your child in his ability to speak and enrich his vocabulary by talking to him more frequently. Describing almost everything that you are doing together will also help your child learn more words.
It is also best to give him commands, even as simple as asking him to get his toys while pointing them to him, to make him understand words according to your expression and action.
There is nothing wrong with using two languages at home and it does not cause delay, just make sure that you use words properly to help your child’s needs.
Image courtesy of the author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ma. Concepcion Flores is a mother to two lovely kids and a teacher by profession. She’s a breastfeeding advocate who loves to express her advocacy through her vlogs.
