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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nA variety of factors can lead to delayed speech and language skills. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Heredity<\/li>
- Hearing loss<\/li>
- Oral anatomy (problems with the tongue or soft palate)<\/li>
- Dysarthria (a disorder involving the muscles that control speech)<\/li>
- Exposure to multiple languages<\/li>
- Neurological disorders such as autism, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy<\/li>
- Learning disabilities<\/li>
- Auditory processing disorders<\/li>
- Premature birth<\/li>
- Environmental deprivation<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If your child\u2019s doctor cannot rule out a speech delay, a speech-language pathologist should be consulted for a full evaluation. This involves a series of tests that will be used to assess your child\u2019s receptive language and expressive language skills, sound development, speech clarity and oral-motor skills. Speech therapy may be recommended to help your child develop the skills necessary for effective communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Can Parents Do? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Both heredity and environment play a role in speech development. As a parent, there are steps you can take to assist your child with speech development. Communicate often (talk and sing), encourage verbal interaction whenever possible and read to your child starting at a young age. <\/p>\n\n\n