Children aged 1 year are generally able to say their first word, which marks their speech development. However, in some cases, children can experience speech delay so that they are not able to pronounce simple words until the age of 18 months or more. Researchers revealed that this condition could be caused by exposure to gadgets from an early age.

The Influence of Gadgets on Children's Speech Development

As technology advances, it has become easier for young children to use digital devices. Many parents tend to give gadgets to their toddlers as a source of entertainment and to calm them down if they are hyperactive. However, this habit can actually lead to speech delays in children.

In a study published in JAMA Network, it was revealed that children who at the age of 1 year were accustomed to using devices for more than 4 hours had a higher risk of experiencing developmental disorders such as:

• Communication breakdown
• Solution to problem
• Fine motorbike
• Personal and social skills

This research shows that giving devices to children before the age of 2 years can indeed influence development in many areas and have a more significant impact on communication and problem-solving skills. This condition is only seen in children when they are 2-4 years old.

Read more: Signs Of Speech Delay (Talking Delay) At Toddler Age

Indications of a Delay in Speech Development

Children's ability to speak develops from the moment they are born. When they are 0-6 months old, they can only cry as a means of communication. Entering the age of 6-12 months, children are able to understand simple communication concepts such as yes and no and have also started to babble with clearer intonation. At the age of 12-18 months, children can pronounce 3-6 complete words and understand their meaning.

If a child experiences speech delay, they may have difficulty expressing themselves through words. If this condition goes untreated, it can lead to developmental disorders in children. Therefore, if your child does not respond to sounds or babble, it is important to consult a doctor immediately.

Some signs that a child has a speech delay that parents need to be aware of include:

• At 12 months of age, children do not use gestures such as pointing or waving
• By 18 months, children prefer gestures to speech to communicate, have difficulty imitating sounds, and have difficulty understanding simple verbal requests.
• At 2 years old, children can only imitate speech or actions and do not produce words or phrases spontaneously.
• At 2 years old, children only say a few sounds or words repeatedly, unable to follow simple directions.

Read more: Tips For Coaching Toddlers To Speak Quickly

Handling Speech Delay

The treatment for speech delay can be adjusted based on the underlying cause. If a lack of stimulation causes the delay, one can increase language stimulation in children by engaging them in conversations, asking them to tell stories or share their thoughts, and frequently responding to their words.

It is recommended by WHO that you limit the use of devices for children. They suggest not giving devices to children until they are 1 year old. For children aged between 2 and 4 years, you may allow them to use gadgets for a maximum of 1 hour per day, but they should be supervised.

Apart from a lack of stimulation in children, speech delay can also be caused by anatomical abnormalities of the tongue or nerve and hearing disorders. If you see your little one showing symptoms of speech delay, you should consult a doctor to get the right treatment. Doctors can recommend speech therapy or other treatments to stimulate children's speech and language skills.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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