“But he hears fine!”
It’s the thing I hear most from parents of speech delayed children.
Typically, these children present with receptive language (ability to understand) in the average or slightly below average range. They usually present with expressive language (language production) that is far below age expectations
These “late talkers” may babble for longer than expected, may come in and out of silent periods, may not hit the language bursts as is typical and generally appear to listen more than they speak.
My first recommendation for these parents is always to get their hearing screened. More than a newborn hearing screening. Audiologists can provide a clear picture of how your child is hearing and any concerns they may notice. One concern that parents sometimes come back to me with is a large build up of wax in the ear canal. This may cause hearing that perceptually sounds muffled and distorted.
You can imagine that if a child’s auditory input is distorted and muffled their speech production is not going to be clear.
Earlier is best. If you suspect a concern with your child’s speech or hearing skills get it checked sooner than later. The more developmental milestones they miss the longer lasting the delay.
If you need a recommendation for an Audiologist or a Speech-Language Pathologist check out ASHA’s ProFind.