Studies have shown that language development varies between the sexes, with males generally gaining language skills at a slower rate. Prenatal testosterone is known to influence fetal neurodevelopment, and preliminary studies have suggested that the hormone is associated with language delay.
Research has shown that girls say their first words and first sentences at a younger age than boys. They also have larger vocabularies in their early communications than boys do. So it is true that boys tend to start talking later than girls.
Boys talk later than girls.
There is a normal range within which children acquire certain language milestones. “Girls tend to be on the earlier end, and boys on the later end, of this age range”, according to researchers Seyda Özçalskan and Susan Goldin-Meadow (2010).
Researchers have yet to agree upon an explanation for this specific delay. They have determined, though, that Late Talkers are more likely to have a family history of early language delay, to be male, and to have been born at less than 85% of their optimal birth weight or at less than 37 weeks gestation [1].
Scientists are studying a gene called FOXP2 which they have discovered to be an essential part of speech and language development. There have been many studies, on both animals and humans, that have confirmed that the “Language Gene” FOXP2 is found in higher levels in females.
Boys tend to develop language skills a little later than girls, but in general, kids may be labeled "late-talking children" if they speak less than 10 words by the age of 18 to 20 months, or fewer than 50 words by 21 to 30 months of age.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), late talkers are toddlers (18 to 30 months old) who have a limited vocabulary for their age, but do not have any other developmental delays. Some late talkers may talk by three to five years of age.
To sum-up, although speech delay can come hand-in-hand with autism spectrum disorder, it is not always the case. A speech delay by itself does not mean a child has autism and, by working with experts and doing the right research, you can ensure your child gets the best support.
Many kids with speech delays have oral–motor problems. These happen when there's a problem in the areas of the brain responsible for speech. This makes it hard to coordinate the lips, tongue, and jaw to make speech sounds. These kids also might have other oral-motor problems, such as feeding problems.
Psychologists say you should wait at least two months until you ask the other person to be exclusive with you. You might decide to commit to each other sooner than that, but generally speaking, eight weeks is a good timeline. Keep in mind that this depends on how often you talk to your crush.
Studies show that girls tend to speak earlier and use more complex language than boys do.
Boys often produce their first words and sentences later than girls – but these differences are only in terms of a few weeks or months. According to Adani and Cepanec (2019) language disorders are only slightly more prevalent in males than in females.
Factors contributing to speech development in a child can range from the immediate environment around them and their personality (some children are shy) to their gender, as boys are usually late talkers when compared to girls. Hence in most of the cases speech delay isn't associated with low intelligence.
While many Late Talkers seem to catch up to their peers by the time they start school, these children continue to have weaker language skills in areas such as vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, and listening comprehension [1].
A speech delay is an early indicator of ASD in young children, but it is NOT the only signifier. Every child is unique. It is often said “If you've met one individual with autism, you've met one individual with autism.” The opposite is often said for late talkers.
While early reading can point to a high probability that a child is smart, some very smart children don't talk early or talk much. Shy or introverted children, or children with a dominant older brother or sister, may take their time to perfect their abilities before they let anyone hear or see them.
A late-talker has mastered 50 words or less by age 2, and can't yet combine words, such as “more juice”. Reach out to your pediatrician or a pediatric speech-language pathologist if your child is exhibiting at least three of the following signs: Hearing issues or frequent ear infections.
Late talkers typically appear to have good understanding of what is said to them, engage in appropriate, but often quiet play, and interact well with others using gestures.
Speech delay occurs most often in those with an athetoid type of cerebral palsy. The following factors, alone or in combination, may account for the speech delay: hearing loss, incoordination or spasticity of the muscles of the tongue, coexisting mental retardation or a defect in the cerebral cortex.
According to The Hanen Centre, “a late-talker is a toddler (between 18-30 months) who has good understanding of language, typically developing play skills, motor skills, thinking skills, and social skills, but has a limited spoken vocabulary for his or her age.”
A toddler between 18 and 30 months old who isn't speaking much or at all but is otherwise developing normally may be considered a late talker. It's estimated that up to 17.5 percent of kids up to age 3 who take longer may have a speech or language delay.
While most women are waiting for guys to make the first move, you could be the bold one that sets yourself apart. Men are often pleasantly surprised and even impressed when women take the initiative to start a conversation.
“For all families today,” Chattha concludes, her own children included, “the discussion on body basics and consent should start at 5. The discussion on pubertal changes can start between 7 to 9 years of age, tailored to their emotional maturity and also signs that they might be early bloomers.