SPEECH AND LANGUAGE

Speech and language are the skills we use to communicate with others. We form these skills during the first years of life.

The first three years of life, when the brain is developing and maturing, is the most intensive period for acquiring speech and language skills. These skills develop best in an environment that is rich with sounds, sights, and constant speech and language exposure.

There appear to be critical periods for speech and language development in infants and young children when the brain is best able to absorb language. Children need exposure to clear sound during this time. Any degree of hearing loss can affect the clarity of what children hear and there is potential for this to affect their speech and language development.

Children’s speech and language skills develop at different rates. However, they follow a natural progression of milestones when acquiring language skills. These milestones help parents and health professionals determine if a child is on track or if he or she may need extra help.

Below are some resources that may be helpful for parents.