The Effect of Language Development on Social Development

As your child grows, your pediatrician will be keeping track of milestones he has reached along the way to ensure he is developing properly. Language is just one of the skills your child will develop. As many as 19 percent of children will have a delay of language development, according to an article by Maura R. McLaughlin, MD, that was published on the website, American Family Physician. This can be a concern, since your child's language development can affect his social development.

  1. Language and Social Development

    • Language development doesn't just involve your child's ability to speak. It includes other forms of communication, such as pointing to objects, sign language and writing. During the first three years of your child's life, his brain is able to absorb the most language, so it's important to expose him to as many sights and sounds as possible, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Language is an integral part of a child being able to develop socially. If your child is able to express himself and understand other people's feelings, he will do better in social situations. The language of emotions, for example, will give him the ability to read signals, such as facial expressions or tone of voice, so he can respond appropriately to a situation.

    Warning Signs

    • If your child is not reaching language development milestones, it may be cause for concern. In addition to missing milestones, other behaviors may occur along with language delays, according to HealthyChildren.org. These include your child not noticing certain noises, a lack of fear, using unusual phrases that are odd for a situation and acting as if she's constantly in her own world. Language delays are one of the most common developmental delays for children, with as many as one in five children learning to talk later than their peers, notes HealthyChildren.org. If you are worried or notice any warning signs that may indicate a language development delay in your child, you should speak with her pediatrician.

    Social Problems Related to Language Delays

    • Social development is important for your child, as it helps prepare him for school and life. Having good social skills will enable your child to make friends, understand other people's feelings, share, use his imagination and learn through other people's actions. Delayed language development can have a negative impact on his social development. If your child is unable to communicate effectively and socialize with other children, he may feel isolated. Children with speech delays, for example, have a higher chance of having emotional, social and behavioral problems as they reach adulthood, according to WebMD.

    How to Help

    • Nurturing your child and providing her with a stimulating environment is important for preventing language delays, and early detection of speech or language developmental delays is the key to treating them. You can encourage your child's language development by singing and talking to her when she's a baby, according to KidsHealth. Read to your baby from the time she's 6 months old, and use ordinary situations to encourage her to talk or communicate with you. When you're fixing dinner, ask her to tell you what certain ingredients are called. Take a walk through your neighborhood and ask her to point out trees, birds, road signs and other objects you encounter along the way. If your child's pediatrician suspects a language delay, he'll likely recommend getting help from a speech-language pathologist. After an evaluation, the speech-language pathologist will determine what intervention is necessary. Your child may require speech therapy, or the speech-language pathologist may also show you how to help your child at home to improve her language skills.

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