Multilingual Family?
When Should You Be Concerned About Your Child’s Speech and Language Development?
Multilingual households are on the rise. This is due to immigration and intercultural marriages. And although raising a child in a multilingual environment can be incredibly rewarding, it also has some drawbacks. For one, many parents often worry about whether their child’s speech and language development is on track. However, when children are exposed to two or more languages, it’s imperative to understand the normal developmental milestones. On the other hand, knowing when to seek help, such as speech therapy, Oakville, is necessary.
Expected Development in Multilingual Homes
It is important to remember that children develop language skills at their own pace. In the case of multilingual children, they usually show unique patterns in their speech and language development. This is because the exposure to multiple languages can initially lead to a delay in speaking. Additionally, it is expected that there is a temporary mixing of languages in a sentence or use words from different languages interchangeably. This is because they are still learning to differentiate between them.
Usually, by the age of 2, kids would have a vocabulary of around 50 words. Similarly, they should be able to combine two words to form simple phrases. At around 3 years old, they should be using three to four-word sentences that can be understood by familiar adults. However, these milestones can be a bit more complex for multilingual children. They may have less words in each individual language but a more extensive vocabulary overall across languages.
When to Seek Help
It is normal to have some differences in the timeline for speech and language development milestones. But there are specific signs that may indicate the need for concern. Check if your child has the following:
Has a limited vocabulary
At around 2 years old, if your child uses fewer than 50 words, it may be a sign to consult a professional. It must be remembered that this should be in total across all languages.
Struggles to combine words
If they are not using two-word combinations at around 2 years old. Likewise, if they are unable to string together three-word phrases by age 3. It warrants seeking professional assessment.
Is difficult to understand
If the child’s speech is still mostly unclear even to caregivers or others at 3 years old. This could signal a need for consultation with a development pediatrician or speech-language pathologist.
Shows regression
If your child has already developed certain language skills and then loses them. This is called regression and is calling for immediate attention.
Seek Speech Therapists Specializing in Multilingual Speech Therapy Oakville
If you notice any one of the red flags above, it is best to seek consultation with a speech-language pathologist who specializes in multilingual speech therapy, Oakville, or nearby cities. They can provide important insights and assessments custom-fit to your child’s uniqueness. Here at Speech Link, we have the best team of speech-language pathologists who, themselves, are also from multilingual households. You are rest assured that our approach considers overall factors in the child’s environment in order to provide the best intervention. We understand that being proactive about your child’s speech and language development in a multilingual context is crucial.
So, schedule your consultation and assessment today!
Call 416-666-9198