Does Late Talking Run in Families?

Concern about a delay in your toddler's lack of talking could fall under the "runs in the family" category in some cases. However, the critical distinction between developmental delay and a benign familial tendency lies not in the number of words spoken, but the number of words that the toddler comprehends, according to research J. Steven Resnick and associates published in Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development. As with most developmental milestones, an age range exists that experts agree is normal. If your child falls outside of these ranges she might need intervention or might catch up with no treatment, but this decision should be made by a pediatrician.

  1. Heritability

    • Genetics can play a role in the age a toddler begins to talk, but not in the way you would think. In a study published in Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, research found that genetic and environmental factors both have a role in how much a child talks. Environment has a greater affect on understanding words. Genetics and environment both factor into talking. Some children can talk but have a genetic predisposition for simply not wanting to talk, but if the child understands language, parents should not worry so much about the lack of talking, according to Dr. Reznick. Comprehension appears to have the most importance since toddlers with delayed comprehension also had the lowest vocabulary and remained delayed one year later, According to Lesley B. Olswang and associates at the University of Washington, Seattle.

    Norms

    • A wide range of "normal" exists for developmental milestones, but certain signs should cue parents to consult a pediatrician. A child who does not use gestures like waving goodbye by 12 months could have delays. Toddlers should imitate sounds by 18 months, and by age 2, should say 50 or more words. After age 2, she should start combining words to make simple sentences, according to KidsHealth. A yardstick to determine comprehension involves looking at whether or not your 1- to 2-year-old child enjoys stories, can point to pictures if you name the item, follows simple commands and can point to body parts if you name them.

    Other Causes

    • Hearing problems can cause delayed speech. If the child cannot hear, he will have difficulty understanding and pronouncing words. While hearing problems can run in families, chronic ear infections may affect hearing. If you suspect hearing problems, consult the pediatrician. Tongue and palate abnormalities may make if difficult for a child to form words.

    Treatment

    • In a review of literature published in American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Lesley B. Olswang and colleagues found that most toddlers who have delayed talking slowly move into normal limits during the first years of school. Debate about the merits of intervention for these children takes into consideration the wishes of the parents to help as well as the treatment cost. If you have concerns about your toddler, consult a pediatrician who can make a treatment recommendation and help you understand whether your child is simply taking longer than usual to talk or has problems that treatment could help.

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