Editing Language delay (section)

==Treatment==
Studies have failed to find clear evidence that a language delay can be prevented by training or educating health care professionals in the subject. Overall, some of the reviews show positive results regarding interventions in language delay, but are not curative.<ref>Commentary - Early Identification of Language Delays, 2005.</ref> To treat an already existing language delay a child would need Speech and Language Therapy to correct any deficits. These therapists can be found in schools, clinics, through home care agencies, and also colleges where Communication Sciences and Disorders are studied. Most young children with language delay recover to a normal range by five years of age.<ref name=":43"/>

Aside from these, it is still encouraged for the child's parent to get involved. A few ways that a parent could get involved with helping to improve a child's language and speech skills includes speaking to their child with enthusiasm, engaging in conversations revolving what the child is focusing on, and reading to their child frequently.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thespec.com/|title=When to worry if a child has too few words| vauthors = Klass P |date=2010|website=The Hamilton Spectator}}</ref>

Social and play skills appear to be more difficult for children with language delays due to their decreased experience in conversation. [[Speech pathologist]]s utilize methods such as prompting to improve a child's social skills through play intervention. While recent studies have consistently found play intervention to be helpful, further research is required in order to determine the effectiveness of this form of therapy.<ref>{{Cite journal| vauthors = Sualy A, Yount S, Kelly-Vance L, Ryalls B |date=2011|title=Using a play intervention to improve the play skills of children with a language delay|url=https://web-a-ebscohost-com.prxy4.ursus.maine.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=d05a7084-3661-4cd4-bbde-065956fef94a%40sessionmgr4009|journal=International Journal of Psychology|pages=105–122|via=PsycINFO}}</ref>

Unfortunately, there is still not a lot of methods and cures that help children with language delay. However, there have been some recent therapy methods that have caused improvement in children with language delay. Certain types of therapy have been seen to show more or better improvement for the children compared to regular speech therapy. One such example is in the form of therapeutic horseback riding. It is also mentioned in a study that animals are a good source of therapy for children with special needs in areas including communication skills.<ref>{{Cite thesis | vauthors = Mourey A|date=2015|title=The Benefits of Therapeutic Horseback Riding on the Expressive Language of Toddlers who Present with Delays|url= http://csusm-dspace.calstate.edu/handle/10211.3/200710 |type=MS thesis |publisher=California State University San Marcos |pages=3–44|hdl=10211.3/138679|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

In regards to demographic factors causing language delay, specifically poverty, system-level changes improve access to treatment and therapy for children with language delay.<ref name=":3" />

=== Intervention ===
The parent and child relationship is bi-directional, which means that parents have an influence over their child's language development, while the child has an influence over the parent's communication styles.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|title=The language environment of children with language delays|url=https://login.ezproxy3.lhl.uab.edu/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/5.2.141|access-date=2021-07-31|journal=Journal of Pediatric Psychology|year = 1980|doi=10.1093/jpepsy/5.2.141|pmid = 7452428|last1 = Lederberg|first1 = A.|volume = 5|issue = 2|pages = 141–159|url-access = subscription}}</ref> Parents have the ability to maintain language delay by offering the child a non-verbal environment or one where their communication may not be challenged. Intervention programs and strategies are found to be beneficial to children with a specific language impairments. Research has found that the management strategies put to use are influenced by the child and the important participation of the parents.<ref name=":0" /> Parents are likely to follow the lead of the child's language development.

One approach for intervening is naturalistic intervention. The child is in a natural environment where the communication is more responsive, rather than being more direct.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asdtoddler.fpg.unc.edu/book/export/html/252.html|title=Naturalistic Intervention|website=asdtoddler.fpg.unc.edu}}</ref>