Why is my child in speech therapy for a language delay? Or is it a speech delay? What is the difference, and does it matter?

Are speech and language delays the same?

No. A child can have a speech delay, a language delay, or both. They are both considered to be communication disorders and can be diagnosed and treated by a speech-language pathologist. It's important to get an accurate diagnosis, because treatment is very different!

With toddlers, language develops first! That's why we focus so much on language development with very young children.

What is a speech delay or disorder?

"Speech" refers to how we say sounds and words. Speech is a complex motor skill that can be affected by a lot of different problems. When a child (or adult) has difficulty with speech, it can fall into a few different areas.

• Articulation: How we make speech sounds

• Voice: How we use our voice to speak

• Fluency: This is what we call stuttering and related disorders

With our toddlers, we use the term "speech delay" most often to refer to speech sound difficulties, or articulation.

What is a language delay or disorder?

When we talk about language, we're referring to the words a child understands and uses and how they put them together to communicate. A "receptive language" problem means difficulty understanding words and language. This type of language disorder is often overlooked, but it is so important! Children need to understand language before they can use it successfully. An "expressive language" problem means difficulty communicating thoughts and ideas. A child can have a delay or disorder in one or both of these areas.

What do I do if I have concerns about my child's speech OR language skills?

A thorough evaluation with a qualified speech-language pathologist is always a great first step! Depending on where you live, you may be able to seek services through your state's Early Intervention program.

There are also many things you can do at home to support your child's language development. Learning to talk and communicate is a complicated, hard thing for our babies' fast-growing brains.

If you want to learn more about supporting your child's communication skills, click here to watch my free video training, "Get Your Toddler Talking". Also, follow me on Instagram and join my parent Facebook group for more support!

💛Kristi