ARTICLE 2: IDENTIFYING CHILDREN WITH LANGUAGE DELAY

ARTICLE 2: IDENTIFYING CHILDREN WITH LANGUAGE DELAY

1 in 5 children worldwide have a language delay. In Australian preschools, this is closer to 60% of children (pre-COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns). 2021 data out of England suggests a good rule of thumb is - if you have only identified 30% of children, you’re missing some key indicators.

A child with language delay can present with a few key factors you can identify:

  • Low levels of spoken words.

  • Hard to understand speech.

  • You might notice they have few friends.

  • English might be their second language.

  • Not doing what is asked of them - a level of defiance.

  • An inability to sit still during reading or focused activity time.

The best way to confirm if a child has a language delay is through clinical observation and assessment by a Speech Pathologist. However, you can begin to provide language education and support before the child receives a formal assessment. 

Children with language delay often feel excluded from the world around them and from their peers
— Dr. Annie McAuley

We want to bridge the gap by bringing language to them in a way they feel comfortable to enhance their development and to make them feel central to the learning process.