The Covid pandemic started more than 5 years ago. One of the most common questions asked in the field of Pediatrics and Speech Pathology at that time was: How is this going to affect children in the long run? After all, it impacted and re-shaped nearly every aspect of our lives for those few years.
For many, it had far-reaching consequences. For babies born during that unprecedented time, those who are 3/4/5 years old now---- it had a significant impact on early development. At Resonate Therapy Solutions, our evaluations indicated a significant jump in the incidence of communication delays at that time—a pattern seen nationwide, according to research examining children’s developmental and educational scores post-pandemic. A more recent study conducted in 2022 found that children born during the pandemic have nearly twice the risk for developmental delays, especially in speech and social communication delays, compared to children born before the pandemic. Statistics show that there has also been a dramatic increase in the number of young children who are slow to develop language skills, with pediatric speech delays more than doubling for children aged 12 and younger. However, we are only 5 years out from the start of the pandemic, and collecting, analyzing, and publishing data is a multi-year process. Scroll below for some news and a more positive outlook!
A lack of exposure to language-rich interactions and social isolation can prevent babies from reaching key speech milestones. During the lockdowns, social distancing, and limitations on in-person activities, many babies born during the pandemic missed out on crucial language-rich environments. Additionally, face masks, social distancing, and a reduced number of caregivers interacting with babies limited their exposure to spoken language, which is essential for their cognitive and speech development. With restrictions on in-person services in those years, many parents struggled to access speech therapy and other developmental support services. This led to a rise in speech delays and communication challenges among "pandemic babies." A large, ongoing longitudinal study found that children born in 2020 and 2021 had some delays in social and communication development and increased behavior problems compared to children born in the prior decade (Deoni et al., 2021; 2022). A study of Head Start children in Washington State found that in fall 2019, 79% of children entering were developmentally at age level, but that fell to 62% in fall 2022.
The Good News
So we know that there were speech-language and developmental delays. That said, the Center for Early Education and Development at the University of Minnesota conducted a review of the research literature and the main takeaway was that there is no evidence for significant global developmental delays as a result of the pandemic (Hessami et al., 2022; Goodwin, 2023). This is great news! A testament to the incredible potential of early childhood! The fact that children's brains are constantly developing and learning, with each day's experiences having a lasting, cumulative impact on their growth.
Milestones
Milestones are provided as a guide to support families, teachers, doctors, and other professionals in monitoring potential delays in speech and language development. Missing milestones is your first clue that something MIGHT be going on with your child’s development. It is worthy of a discussion with your doctor or speech therapist/ SLP. Although many children who miss milestones catch up and it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will need intervention, a specialist can determine if there is a need for intervention or monitoring of speech development. A previous blog on the website discusses milestones in more detail.
I have to emphasize that every child is different, and that each child will develop at their own pace. There are also different language acquisition frameworks - Gestalt language processing versus Analytic language processing (AKA Natural language acquisition v/s Typical language acquisition).
So what should children be saying at specific ages? What is the typical age and sequence of sound acquisition and development of language?
Taking the First Step Toward Better Communication
Building children’s speech-language skills during the sensitive 0–5 developmental window is critical to their social, educational, and workforce success in the future. If there are apparent delays, early intervention can significantly improve a child’s speech and language development. The sooner a child receives therapy, the more likely they are to catch up with their peers. A delay in speech, language, and communication skills may lead to difficulties in reading, writing, and social interactions later in life.
Also please bear in mind that speech and language development is more than the number of words and how much is understood- so if the child is meeting these milestones on the surface but if you have underlying concerns or a gut feeling about development, trust your parental instincts. No other person knows your child better than you.
If you or your loved one is seeking speech therapy, please consult a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist for guidance. At Resonate Therapy Solutions, we provide skilled speech therapy services for children and adults in the comfort of home or via teletherapy. Schedule a consultation with us. https://www.resonatetherapysolutions.com
Resources
Stahnke, L. (2024). Elusive words: Confronting the post-pandemic skills gap. https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.FTR1.29052024.slp-andemic-delays.42/full/
Speech-Language Development Milestones: Is my Child Meeting Them? https://www.resonatetherapysolutions.com/post/speech-language-development-milestones-is-my-child-is-meeting-them
Giesbrecht, G. et al. (2022, February 3). Increased risk for developmental delay among babies born during the pandemic. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/j7kcn
The Center for Early Education and Development. (n.d.). Pandemic babies: What do we know now? University of Minnesota. https://ceed.umn.edu/pandemic-babies-what-do-we-know-now/
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