Health & Wellness Child Developement

The inability to use single words by the age of 18 months can be the first sign of language delay in children. Before this age, most children learn to speak single words, refer to the correct person/object using the word, and are able to say the word consistently at different times and in different situations. The first words children speak usually serve to get the attention of a caregiver.

Ms Goh Siew Li, Head and Principal Speech Therapist, Speech Language Therapy Service at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), a member of the SingHealth group, says that while speech and language development varies from child to child, generally, by the age of 18 months, most children can request for an object by pointing and talking. She advises parents to consult an expert if their 18-month-old is not able to do this.

“A consultation with a doctor/paediatrician/speech-language therapist is strongly recommended if your child has not attained his first words by 18 months. A speech therapist can help to provide specific strategies to stimulate the child’s communication and language,” she emphasises.

Here are some red flags to watch out for which can indicate that your child has a speech delay, speech sound errors, reduced socio-communication skills, or another type of speech or voice disorder.

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Disclaimer: All HealthXchange articles are intended for general information only and provided on the understanding that no surgical and medical advice or recommendation is being rendered. Please do not disregard the professional advice of your physician.

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