On average, girls speak a little earlier than boys, but many factors influence speech development, including genetics, birth order, and interactions with parents. For some children, a period of stammering occurs when the ability to speak can't keep up with the flow of thoughts. It's not usually a sign of future speech problems, and will pass provided the parents speak clearly and resist the urge to finish their child's sentences and overcorrect his mistakes. In evaluating how well a child speaks, it's important to distinguish between speech and language. Common causes of speech problems are hearing loss, developmental delay, and lack of verbal stimulation.
Early detection can help to prevent a speech problem from interfering with learning.
If your pediatrician believes your child may have a speech or language problem, he will examine her and test her hearing and, if necessary, refer her for further evaluation and treatment. Most schools also monitor children's speech and recommend treatment for those with potential problems. Your child doesn't use two-word sentences. Your child doesn't follow simple verbal instructions. Warning Some parents are so eager to have their baby speak that they intimidate the child.