1. Autism Speech Delay - What Are the Signs
of Speech Delay?
Written by: Autism Advisor
Autism Speech Delay
If you suspect that your child is showing signs of a speech delay it is worth further
investigation so that appropriate intervention can be sought as early as possible. Almost one
in twenty adults suffers from some sort of speech or language disorder. If diagnosed and
corrected before the child reaches school age, it will have less impact on their overall
intellectual development.
Normal speech development begins with the newborn as they discover that they can use their
mouths to produce an array of soft sounds. This later develops into babble and by the age of
12 months most babies will be able to say 'ma' and 'da' or even the occasional word. Each
baby has their own unique developmental timeline and an individual's schedule could be
brought forward or delayed by weeks or even months for no apparent reason. As a parent you
should always trust your instincts. If something with your baby's development doesn't seem
quite right you should always seek medical advice.
Brain damage can be attributed as the main interfering condition associated with speech delay
and it is usually associated with an intellectual disability or cerebral palsy. Hearing problems
or cleft palate are physical disabilities that may hinder the ability to articulate. Speech delay
is also an indication of undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder. Autism Speech Delay
Early warning signs of speech delay include not responding to sounds by 2 months, lack of
interest in toys or people by age of four months, lack of vocalization or babbling by the age
of ten months and inability to speak any words by the age of twenty-one months. By the age
of thirty months, the baby should be able to be understood by most members of the
immediate family. If these milestones are missed it could be a sign of speech delay.
Autism Speech Delay - What Are the Signs of Speech Delay? © 2010

2. If you suspect your baby is showing signs of a speech delay you should firstly exclude the
possibility of a hearing impairment by having a hearing test performed. Consult a pediatrician
to check whether your baby's developmental milestones are within the normal range. Discuss
the potential for medical conditions that may cause speech delay such as cerebral palsy or
autism spectrum disorder.
Many problems associated with speech development can be corrected with appropriate
intervention. Some speech impediments can be corrected with speech therapy. Signs of
speech delay could be an early indication of other intellectual or physical disabilities so you
should consult your medical professional as soon as possible to rule this out. Autism Speech
Delay
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Autism Speech Delay - What Are the Signs of Speech Delay? © 2010