What is delayed speech development, and is it a disability?
Applies to age: 12–60 months
In short
A speech delay is sometimes caused by hearing loss or by a speech or language disorder. If your child is developing differently from peers, discuss with a specialist whatever worries you.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Children differ in the pace of their speech and language development.
Source: NIDCD – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Children vary in their development of speech and language skills.
NIDCD · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A language disorder is difficulty understanding what others say (receptive language) or difficulty expressing one's own thoughts (expressive language).
Source: NIDCD – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Children who have trouble understanding what others say (receptive language) or difficulty sharing their thoughts (expressive language) may have a language disorder.
NIDCD · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a language disorder that delays the mastery of language skills.
Source: NIDCD – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a language disorder that delays the mastery of language skills.
NIDCD · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A speech disorder is difficulty producing speech sounds correctly, or hesitating or stuttering when speaking.
Source: NIDCD – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Children who have trouble producing speech sounds correctly or who hesitate or stutter when talking may have a speech disorder.
NIDCD · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
When to worry
Some claims: international norm
- A delay in speech development is sometimes caused by hearing loss, and in other cases by a speech or language disorder.
Source: NIDCD · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Sometimes a delay may be caused by hearing loss, while other times it may be due to a speech or language disorder.
NIDCD · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A child may have a hearing problem if they do not respond when spoken to.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Twoje dziecko może mieć problem ze słyszeniem, jeśli:
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
Polish original
nie reaguje, gdy do niego mówisz
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
See a doctor
- If a child is developing differently from peers, it is worth discussing with a specialist whatever causes concern, and making use of the advice of a midwife, a nurse or a pediatrician.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Warto jednak skonsultować ze specjalistą to, co Cię zaniepokoiło i korzystać z rad położnej, pielęgniarki czy pediatry.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- If there are signs of possible hearing loss, such as the child not responding when spoken to, consult a doctor and have the child's hearing tested.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Skonsultuj się wtedy z lekarzem i zbadaj słuch swego dziecka.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NIDCD – Speech and Language Developmental Milestones (USA)License: Domena publiczna (USA). Source: NIDCD – Speech and Language Developmental Milestones (USA).
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)
- https://pacjent.gov.pl/niedosluch-u-dzieci
- https://pacjent.gov.pl/zapobiegaj/jak-dbac-o-zdrowy-rozwoj-psychiczny-dziecka
License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.