What causes a speech or language delay?
The most obvious cause of delayed speech or language development is hearing impairment, of course. Many states now provide newborn hearing screenings, and babies can be fitted with hearing aids as early as 3 months of age. The earlier a hearing impairment is recognized and addressed, the better the outcome for speech and language acquisition. Risk factors for hearing loss in infants include complications during pregnancy or birth: rubella, low birthweight, and loss of oxygen during the birth process. Babies and toddlers are at risk for temporary hearing loss due to ear infections, and older children can sustain longterm hearing impairment by exposure to loud noise. Another hearing-related cause of speech and language delay is Auditory Processing Disorder.
