Language Delay

Disorders of speech and language are common, ranging from unclear speech or a slight delay in development to more significant difficulties associated with serious disorders.

What causes speech and language problems?

Developmental speech and language disorder. These kids may have trouble producing speech sounds, using spoken language to communicate, or understanding what other people say. Speech and language problems are often the earliest sign of a learning disability.
Hearing loss. If your child is speech/language delayed, their hearing should be tested.
Extreme environmental deprivation. If a child is neglected or abused and does not hear others speaking, they will not learn to speak.
Prematurity.
Auditory Processing Disorder describes a problem with decoding speech sounds. These kids can improve with speech and language therapy.
Autism affects communication. Speech / language / communication problems are often an early sign of autism.
Structural problems like cleft lip or cleft palate.
Selective mutism is when a child will not talk at all in certain situations, often school.

Management

Management may sometimes be just explanation, simple advice and reassurance with the involvement of the health visitor. However, early detection and intervention for speech delay may prevent, or at least reduce, the educational, emotional and social problems that may be caused.

Management is dependent on cause and associated problems such as hearing impairment.