Speech and language delays can also be due to challenges like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delays. If a baby hasn’t started talking by 12 months, it isn’t necessarily acause for concern, but parents should discuss any concerns about their child’s development with their pediatrician.

Developmental speech and language disorders are a common reason for speech/language problems in kids. These learning disorders are caused by the brain working differently. Your child may have trouble producing speech sounds, using spoken language to communicate, or understanding what other people say.

Speaking to your baby fires up those important synapses in the part of their brain that handles language. The more words they hear, the stronger those mental connections get. That process can strengthen your child’s future language skills and their overall ability to learn.

If your child is over two years old, you should have your pediatrician evaluate them and refer them for speech therapy and a hearing exam if they can only imitate speech or actions but don’t produce words or phrases by themselves, they say only certain words and only those words repeatedly, they cannot follow simple …

Studies have shown that language development varies between the sexes, with males generally gaining language skills at a slower rate. Prenatal testosterone is known to influence fetal neurodevelopment, and preliminary studies have suggested that the hormone is associated with language delay.

Each additional 30 minutes of hand-held screen time was linked to a 49 percent increased risk in expressive speech delay. Other forms of communication — gestures, emotions, social eye-gazing — were unaffected.

You may notice that your child’s development goes at its own unique pace. And that’s OK — at least most of the time. Still, if you’re worried that your 2-year-old isn’t talking as much as their peers, or that they’re still babbling versus saying actual words, it’s a valid concern.

Too much screen time for toddlers may lead to unhealthy behaviors growing up, study says. Toddlers and young children who spend more than three hours a day viewing a screen, either watching TV or playing on a tablet, are more likely to be sedentary by the time they reach kindergarten-age, a new study found.

What can cause a speech delay?

• Problems with the mouth. A speech delay can indicate an issue with the mouth, tongue, or palate.
• Speech and language disorders.
• Hearing loss.
• Lack of stimulation.
• Autism spectrum disorder.
• Neurological problems.
• Intellectual disabilities.

If your child does have a delay, they might need speech therapy. A therapist can work with them on how to pronounce words and sounds, and strengthen the muscles in their face and mouth. You can also work with your child on speech and language: Talk with them throughout the day.

In addition, a child with autism spectrum disorder may have uncontrollable temper tantrums, an extreme resistance to change, and over- or under-sensitivity to sights and sounds. The signs may be obvious, or subtle: for example, a three-year-old child can read, but can’t play peek-a-boo.

The main difference between tantrums and meltdowns is that tantrums have a purpose and meltdowns are the result of sensory overload. A tantrum will usually stop when the child gets what s/he wants, changes his/her tactics, or when we respond differently to how we usually respond.

Children and adults with Aspergers syndrome may have levels of anxiety, sadness or anger that indicate a secondary mood disorder. There may also be problems expressing the degree of love and affection expected by others.

Despite the problems in relationship skills experienced by many people with Asperger’s syndrome, some adults can progress along the relationship continuum and are able to experience romantic and subsequently intimate personal relationships, even becoming a lifelong partner.

One study, published in the American Journal of Public Health in April 2017, finds the life expectancy in the United States of those with ASD to be 36 years old as compared to 72 years old for the general population. They note that those with ASD are 40 times more likely to die from various injuries.

Goldsmiths, University of London researchers working with adults recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder have found high rates of depression, low employment, and an apparent worsening of some ASD traits as people age.

Sept. 27, 2007 — Most teens and adults with autism have less severe symptoms and behaviors as they get older, a groundbreaking study shows. Not every adult with autism gets better.

The top five industries where adults with autism are employed include (in order): Administrative and support services. Education and training. Health care and social assistance.