“What Causes Speech and Language Delays in Children?”: Learning the why, and how you can help!

Hi there! I’m Eliana Provenzano-Lewis, a bilingual early intervention speech-language pathologist and the owner of Monarch Speech and Language Institute here in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

One of the most common questions I hear from parents is: “Why isn’t my child talking yet? Did I do something wrong?”

Let me pause right there and say this with love: You didn’t do anything wrong.

There are so many reasons why a child might have a delay in speech or language development — and none of them point to failure on your part. My goal is always to replace fear and guilt with knowledge and support. So let’s talk about the most common reasons some children might need extra help in their early communication journey.

1. Low Birth Weight or Prematurity

If your baby was born before 37 weeks or weighed less than 5.5 pounds, they may be more likely to experience speech or language delays. That’s because a lot of crucial brain and body development happens in those final weeks of pregnancy — and early arrivals sometimes just need more time to catch up.

Did You Know? About 1 in 10 babies in the U.S. is born prematurely. Many of them go on to thrive with the right support and early services.

2. Family History of Speech & Language Delays

Communication skills, like many other traits, can run in families. If you or your partner had speech delays as a child, needed therapy, or were late talkers, there’s a higher chance your little one might experience something similar.

Fun Fact: Children with a family history of delays are about 2–3 times more likely to be late talkers.

That doesn’t mean anything is “wrong”, it just means we keep a closer eye and offer support earlier if needed.

3. Developmental Delays (Without a Diagnosis)

Sometimes, kiddos are just developing a little more slowly in areas like movement, play, or social skills, even if they don’t have a formal diagnosis. This is what we call a developmental delay.

You might notice things like:

• Late walking

• Trouble with pretend play

• Not pointing, waving, or using gestures

These can often show up alongside speech and language delays.

Stat to Know: About 15% of toddlers are considered “late talkers.” Many just need a little boost to get back on track, and that’s exactly where early intervention can help!

4. Diagnosed Conditions

There are also medical or neurological diagnoses that can impact how a child communicates. Every child is unique, and a diagnosis never defines what they can’t do, it just helps us understand how best to support them.

Some common conditions that can affect communication include:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) — affects about 1 in 36 children in the U.S.

• Down Syndrome — about 1 in 700 births

• Cerebral Palsy — around 1 in 345 children

• Global Developmental Delay (GDD) — seen in 1–3% of kids under 5

Having a diagnosis doesn’t mean your child won’t talk. It just means their path may look a little different, and we’re here to walk it with you.

5. Medical or Physical Reasons

Sometimes delays are tied to how a child hears, processes, or moves their mouth. These are things that are often invisible to parents, but can play a big role in communication.

Things we look for include:

• Frequent ear infections

• Hearing loss

• Oral motor challenges (like tongue or jaw weakness)

• Cleft lip/palate or neurological conditions like seizures

Stat to know: About 2 to 3 in every 1,000 babies in the U.S. are born with hearing loss, which is why hearing checks are such an important part of any speech evaluation.

Let’s Be Clear: It’s Not Your Fault!

Repeat after me: “I didn’t cause this, but I can help!”

Being bilingual, letting your child watch shows, working full time, not using flashcards. These things do NOT cause delays. Most speech and language delays are related to biology, not parenting.

But here’s the powerful truth: You are still the biggest influence on your child’s communication success!

When parents are involved early, asking questions, reading, playing, talking, and showing up - kiddos grow faster. You’re their comfort zone, their safe space, and their favorite teacher.

When to Reach Out

If your little one seems behind in talking, gets frustrated when trying to communicate, or isn’t hitting milestones like other kids their age, trust your gut. You don’t need a diagnosis or a referral to reach out for help.

At Monarch Speech and Language Institute, I offer:
- Gentle, play-based screenings and evaluations
- Individualized therapy that fits your family
- Parent coaching so you feel confident at home
- Services throughout Tulsa and surrounding areas

You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here to walk with you every step of the way!

With care,

Eliana Provenzano-Lewis, M.S., CCC-SLP
Bilingual Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder, Monarch Speech and Language Institute

Tulsa, Oklahoma
(918) 918-840-0870
www.monarch-tulsa.com

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Developmental monitoring and screening. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/screening.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Facts about developmental delay. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/conditions.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Preterm birth. https://www.cdc.gov/preterm-birth/about/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Data and statistics on autism spectrum disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Facts about Down syndrome. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/downsyndrome.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Cerebral palsy. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/index.html

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Late language emergence. https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/late-language-emergence/

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Speech and language developmental milestones. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Hearing loss in children. https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Hearing-Loss-in-Children/

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2023). Quick statistics about hearing. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing

Zero to Three. (2021). When concerns arise: Developmental delays. https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/when-concerns-arise-developmental-delays/

March of Dimes. (2022). Low birthweight. https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/birth/low-birthweight