Language is one of the most important tools of communication. Language crosses borders, connects different individuals and can even unify an entire nation. This is how great and amazing language is. Everyone can learn the skill to talk, almost every person has the ability to talk, and newborn babies even know how to communicate. The cries and cooing sounds babies make resembles the structured words and vocabulary that adults use. Speech and language starts from the very basic then develop to the complex ones. From cries, it becomes ma-ma or da-da, ma-ma becomes mommy and then mommy becomes mother. Language continuously develops as people grow and mature. It can even reach to a point where an individual becomes a linguist, master and expert of multiple languages.

Normally, children gradually develop language and speaking skills on their own or with adult supervision but in some cases, lapses and delays might occur. To know whether the child has language delays or not, it is important for us to know the difference between normal speech development and the abnormal one. Warning signs that may indicate language delays at 12 to 18 months include absence of gestures such as hand waving and head shaking. Another warning sign is for a 15 month old toddler who doesn’t know how respond to words such as yes, no and bye-bye. At 18 months toddlers should already know how to say at least 15 words. By the time the toddler enters the 19^th to 24^th month, he should know how to point at things he finds interesting such as toys, the sky or his reflection. At 24 months old, the toddler must know how to imitate and follow what other people are doing, he can mimic the words their saying or smile back when being smiled at. Also at this age, the toddler should already know how to identify basic and simple objects such as the toothbrush, telephone or his crib.  When children reach 24 months to 36 months, they should know how to say simple sentences with at least 2 two words in them. At 30 months, the toddler must be able to identify at least 3 of his own body parts. Toddlers can already start singing nursery rhymes and recite simple poems at the 32^nd month. Normally at 3 years of age, children can already articulate initial consonants and can speak and understand regular conversation. A 4 year old child who doesn’t have any language delays can already be fully understood.

Parents who have children with language delays may sometimes ignore and deny the condition, thinking that their child would grow out from it sooner or later. This scenario although not advisable is very common. If a parent or care taker notices any delays or abnormalities, the best thing they should do is have the child medically checked and examined by a specialist specifically a speech pathologist. These people can accurately diagnose the condition and rule out any other options that are not related. They can even recommend treatment choices to manage the existing language delays.