Editing Language delay (section)

== Language development ==
The anatomical language centers of the brain are the [[Broca's area|Broca's]] and [[Wernicke's area]]. These two areas include all aspects of the development of language. The Broca's area is the motor portion of language at the left posterior inferior frontal gyrus and involves speech production. The Wernicke's area is the sensory portion of language at the posterior part of the left superior temporal gyrus and involves verbal comprehension.<ref name=":59">{{cite book |last1=Rutten |first1=Geert-Jan |title=The Broca-Wernicke Doctrine : a Historical and Clinical Perspective on Localization of Language Functions |date=2017 |publisher=Springer |location=Cham., Switzerland |page=23}}</ref><ref name=":60">{{cite journal |last1=Démonet |first1=Jean-François |last2=Thierry |first2=Guillaume |last3=Cardebat |first3=Dominique |title=Renewal of the Neurophysiology of Language: Functional Neuroimaging |journal= Physiological Reviews|date=2005 |volume=85 |issue=1 |pages=45–95|doi=10.1152/physrev.00049.2003 |pmid=15618478 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Language impairment (aphasia) |url=https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/effects-of-brain-injury/communication-problems/language-impairment-aphasia/#readingProblems |website=www.headway.org.uk |publisher=Headway |access-date=5 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

There are recognizable speech and language developmental milestones in children.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://docplayer.net/34553677-Mccqe-2000-review-notes-and-lecture-series-pediatrics-1.html|title=MCCQE 2000 Review Notes and Lecture Series Pediatrics 1 - PDF|website=docplayer.net|access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref> For children with language delays, milestones in their language development may be different or slowed. Recent studies have shown the different milestones for children with language delay compared to children with normal language development. Language delays are often identified when a child strays from the expected developments in the timeline of typical speech and language developmental milestones that researchers agree on.<ref name=":1" /> Children can stray slightly from the confines of the expected timeline; however, if a child is observed to be largely straying from the expected timeline, the child's caretaker should consult with a medical specialist.

=== Timeline of typical speech and language developmental milestones ===
This timeline only provides a very general and brief outline of expected developments from birth to age five, individual children can still exhibit varying development patterns as this timeline only serves as a general guideline. This timeline is only one model, other models regarding language development exist.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |title=Language Development: An Introduction. |vauthors=Owens RE |publisher=Pearson |year=2005 |location=Boston |pages=125–136}}</ref> The development of language remains a theoretical mystery.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Taylor CM | title = An examination of the development of language in the normal child | journal = Journal of Child Health Care | volume = 3 | issue = 1 | pages = 35–8 | date = 1999 | pmid = 10451332 | doi = 10.1177/136749359900300105 | s2cid = 40542310 }}</ref>
[[File:Human-Male-White-Newborn-Baby-Crying.jpg|thumb|'''Newborn baby''': No language skills developed yet, but is communicating through actions and sounds such as crying.]]
Around '''2 months''', babies can make "cooing" sounds.<ref name=":1" />

Around '''4 months''', babies can respond to voices.<ref name=":1" />

Around '''6 months''', babies begin to [[Babbling|babble]] and respond to names.<ref name=":1" />

Around '''9 months''', babies begin to produce mama/dada - appropriate terms and are able to imitate one word at a time.<ref name=":1" />

Around '''12 months''', [[toddler]]s can typically speak one or more words. They can produce two words with meaning.<ref name=":1" />

Around '''15 months''', toddlers begin to produce jargon,<ref name=":1" /> which is defined as "pre-linguistic vocalizations in which infants use adult-like [[Stress (linguistics)|stress]] and [[Intonation (linguistics)|intonation]]".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://cmc.marmot.org/Record/.b16253851|title=Child development : its nature and course /| vauthors = Sroufe LA |date=1996|publisher=McGraw-Hill|isbn=9780070605701}}</ref>

Around '''18 months''', toddlers can produce 10 words and follow simple commands.<ref name=":1" />

Around '''24''' '''months''', toddlers begin to produce 2-3 words and phrases that use "I", "Me", and "you", indicating possession.<ref name=":1" /> They are about 25% intelligible.<ref name=":1" />

Around '''3 years''', toddlers are able to use language in numerical terms.

Based on the milestones set for typical toddlers, if the child tends to have a lot of or very long delays, they may be deemed as having language delay. However, proper testing by a professional like a speech therapist or a doctor's confirmation will be required to determine if a child has language delay. Although these milestones are the typical milestones for a child, they should not be followed strictly as they are mere guidelines.

=== Language development in language delay ===
Early developmental language delay is characterized by slow language development in preschoolers.<ref name=":43"/> Language development for children with language delay takes longer than the general timeline provided above.<ref name=":1"/> It is not only slower, but also presents itself in different forms. For example, a child with a language delay could have weaker language skills such as the ability to produce phrases at 24 months-old.<ref name=":1" /> They may find themselves producing language that is different from language norms in developing children.