1. Why are “deaf” children “dumb”?

The use of the term "dumb" has negative connotation. Children born deaf do not acquire speech because they have never heard speech. However, with currently available technology, many hearing impaired (HI) children can hear and be trained to speak. Early identification and appropriate remedial measures are a must for achieving these goals.

2. If parents / caregivers do not talk much to the child, would that result in delay in the development of speech and language?

Yes, stimulation plays an important role in language development and lack of it can cause delay.

3. My son who is 2 years old is not saying any word yet. I speak Kannada and my wife speaks Tamil with him. Can this be a reason for his not speaking?

There is no evidence to support the theory that bilingualism (use of two languages) causes language delay. However, since your 2-year old has not yet started talking, we would like to evaluate him.

4. Is it true that some children pick up speech as late as 3 or 4 years of age?

Some children do pick up speech at 3 or 4 years. But then a 3-year-old without language skills has a difficult time coping, and so do his caregivers, as they find it difficult to communicate with him. In many cases, these late talkers have trouble in school despite being normal in intelligence. Therefore, if there is a delay in speech & language (Refer Table of speech & language development) it is better to consult a Speech Language Pathologist.

5. Why do some children not learn to speak?

There are many causes for delay in acquisition of speech & language. The major causes are hearing loss, developmental delay, autism, inadequate stimulation or defects in the organs of speech such as cleft palate etc.

6. My son has been diagnosed to have delayed speech and language, consequent to mental retardation. He has been advised speech therapy, but we do not have any facility in our town. Can we train him at home?

Yes, parents play a crucial role in facilitating speech and language acquisition in the children. With guidance from Speech Pathologist, you can definitely train your child at home. Your Speech Language Pathologist will be able to guide you on home training (contact the Institute for more information).