Could someone please post the medical definition of a speech delayed child. At what age is a child technically delayed? What are the specifications? Thanks.

John

From what I know, the typical "speech delayed child" talks words at age 3-4. And may, may, be able to put words or sentences together at age 5-6.

Although, I was talking words (just random words) at age 2 while seeing a speech therapist, and talked regularly by 5, and I am considered speech delayed.


SGH

DEFINITION OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS

Speech and language disorders refer to problems in communication and related areas such as oral motor function. These delays and disorders range from simple sound substitutions to the inability to understand or use language or use the oral-motor mechanism for functional speech and feeding. Some causes of speech and language disorders include hearing loss, neurological disorders, brain injury, mental retardation, drug abuse, physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate, and vocal abuse or misuse. Frequently, however, the cause is unknown.