Speech and language development is one of the most important milestones in a child’s early years. When brain injury occurs during birth or early childhood, it can significantly impact a child’s ability to communicate. Speech delays and language disorders are among the most common consequences of brain damage affecting the areas responsible for processing and producing language.
For New York families navigating speech and language delays following brain injury, understanding the causes, treatments, and available resources is essential. This comprehensive guide explains how brain injury affects communication development and what interventions can help your child.
Key Point: Children who start speech therapy early (before age 5) tend to have better outcomes than those who begin later. Early intervention is critical for maximizing your child’s communication potential.
How Brain Injury Causes Speech and Language Delays
According to the HIE Help Center, brain injury can affect speech and language in several ways depending on which areas of the brain are damaged:
- Language processing damage: Affects the brain’s ability to understand and formulate language
- Motor control damage: Affects the muscles of the throat, mouth, and jaw needed for speech production
- Combined damage: Many children experience both receptive (understanding) and expressive (producing) language difficulties
According to Expressable, any force or trauma to the head can result in impairment of different functions, including speech and language. A trauma to certain areas of the brain can negatively impact a child’s ability to speak or understand language.
Types of Speech and Language Problems
Expressive Language Disorders
Difficulty producing language:
- Limited vocabulary
- Short, simple sentences
- Trouble finding words
- Difficulty organizing thoughts
- Problems with grammar
Receptive Language Disorders
Difficulty understanding language:
- Trouble following directions
- Difficulty understanding questions
- Problems processing verbal information
- Trouble with abstract concepts
- Difficulty with multi-step instructions
Speech Sound Disorders
Difficulty producing sounds correctly:
- Substituting sounds
- Omitting sounds
- Distorting sounds
- Adding extra sounds
- Unclear or unintelligible speech
Motor Speech Disorders
Difficulty with physical speech production:
- Slow, slurred speech (dysarthria)
- Difficulty coordinating speech movements (apraxia)
- Weakness in speech muscles
- Problems with breath control
- Voice quality issues
Signs of Speech and Language Delays
According to Nemours KidsHealth, signs of speech and language delays vary by age:
| Age | Expected Communication | Warning Signs |
|---|---|---|
| By 12 months | Babbling, gestures, responds to name | No babbling, no gestures, no response to sounds |
| By 18 months | Several single words, follows simple commands | No words, does not understand simple requests |
| By 2 years | 50+ words, two-word phrases | Fewer than 25 words, no word combinations |
| By 3 years | 3-word sentences, understood by family | Very limited vocabulary, unintelligible to family |
| By 4 years | Complex sentences, understood by strangers | Difficult to understand, limited sentence use |
| By 5 years | Tells stories, uses grammar correctly | Cannot tell simple stories, major grammar errors |
Treatment: Speech-Language Therapy
According to Nemours KidsHealth, speech-language therapy is the primary treatment for most children with speech and/or language disorders. The earlier therapy begins, the better the outcomes.
What Speech Therapy Involves
Speech therapy is individualized to each child’s needs and may include:
- Language stimulation: Building vocabulary and sentence structure
- Articulation therapy: Learning to produce sounds correctly
- Oral-motor therapy: Strengthening muscles used for speech
- Feeding therapy: Addressing swallowing difficulties that affect speech
- Cognitive-communication therapy: Improving thinking skills that support language
- Social communication training: Learning conversational skills
Family-Centered Approach
According to research from the National Institutes of Health, when children are young, language intervention is typically implemented through a family-centered approach. Parents and caregivers carry out therapy activities while the speech clinician provides guidance to promote the child’s development throughout everyday routines and interactions.
Parent Involvement Matters: Children who complete speech therapy programs quickest and with the longest-lasting results are those whose parents were actively involved in the therapy process.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
For children who may not be ready to focus only on verbal communication, AAC provides alternative ways to communicate:
- Picture exchange communication systems
- Sign language or gestures
- Communication boards
- Speech-generating devices
- Tablet-based communication apps
Research has shown that using AAC can actually support verbal development in children with speech delays. It does not prevent them from learning to talk.
New York Resources for Speech Therapy
Early Intervention (Birth to 3)
New York’s Early Intervention Program provides free evaluation and speech-language therapy services for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays. Contact your county health department to request an evaluation.
School-Based Services (3-21)
Children ages 3-21 can receive speech therapy through their school district. Services are provided through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) at no cost to families.
Causes of Brain Injury Leading to Speech Delays
Brain injuries that commonly cause speech and language delays include:
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): Oxygen deprivation during birth
- Stroke: Disruption of blood flow to language areas of the brain
- Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL): White matter damage in premature infants
- Traumatic brain injury: Physical damage during difficult delivery
- Infections: Meningitis or encephalitis affecting the brain
- Severe jaundice: Kernicterus damaging brain structures
When Medical Negligence May Be a Factor
Speech and language delays often result from brain injuries that occur during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. When these injuries are caused by medical negligence, New York families may have legal options. Medical errors that can cause brain injury affecting speech include:
- Failure to monitor fetal heart rate and recognize distress
- Delayed response to signs of oxygen deprivation
- Failure to perform timely cesarean section
- Improper use of delivery instruments
- Failure to treat infections that can affect the baby’s brain
- Inadequate resuscitation of the newborn
Frequently Asked Questions
Can brain injury cause speech delays?
Yes, brain injury is a common cause of speech and language delays. Damage to areas of the brain responsible for language processing or motor control of speech muscles can significantly impact a child’s ability to communicate.
What is the difference between speech delay and language delay?
Speech delay refers to difficulty producing sounds and speaking clearly. Language delay refers to difficulty understanding language (receptive) or using words and sentences to communicate (expressive). A child may have one or both types of delay.
At what age should speech therapy begin?
Speech therapy should begin as soon as a delay is identified. Children who start therapy before age 5 tend to have better outcomes. However, older children can still benefit from therapy, though progress may be slower.
What is dysarthria?
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by brain injury affecting the muscles used for speech. It results in slow, slurred, or difficult-to-understand speech because of weakness or lack of coordination in the speech muscles.
Will my child learn to talk normally?
Outcomes vary depending on the severity of brain injury and when intervention begins. Many children make significant improvements with speech therapy. Some may achieve normal or near-normal speech, while others may need ongoing support or alternative communication methods.
What is AAC and will it prevent my child from talking?
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) includes tools like picture boards and speech-generating devices. Research shows AAC actually supports verbal development and does not prevent children from learning to talk.
How can I help my child’s speech development at home?
Talk to your child frequently, read books together, expand on what they say, follow their interests, and practice activities recommended by the speech therapist. Parent involvement is key to speech therapy success.
Is speech therapy covered by insurance?
Many insurance plans cover speech therapy. New York’s Early Intervention program provides free services for children under 3, and school districts provide free services for children 3-21 through IEPs.
How long will my child need speech therapy?
The duration of speech therapy depends on the type and severity of the delay, when therapy begins, and how the child responds. Some children need therapy for months, while others may need years of intervention.
What if my child’s speech delay was caused by birth injury?
If medical negligence during pregnancy, labor, or delivery caused brain injury leading to speech delays, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. Consulting with a birth injury attorney can help you understand your options.
Getting Help for Your Family
If your child has speech and language delays that you believe resulted from medical negligence during birth, understanding your legal options is important. Compensation can help cover the costs of speech therapy, communication devices, special education services, and other support your child may need.
Our free service connects New York families with experienced medical malpractice attorneys who specialize in birth injury cases. There is no cost to use our service, and attorneys work on contingency.
Connect with Qualified NY Attorney
Free case evaluation. No obligation. Attorneys work on contingency.
