Baby Language Development: Interview with
Isa Marrs

From LoveToKnow Baby

Isa Marrs is a board certified pediatric speech language pathologist who specializes in articulation and feeding disorders in children. Recently she took the time to discuss the topic of baby language development with LoveToKnowBaby.

Isa Marrs discusses baby language development.

Please tell us about yourself.

I am the proud mom of a feisty two year old little girl, and I balance my time between her and my private practice in Westchester County, NY. Along with my other therapists, we help children learn to speak, eat and socialize. I am very passionate about working with these very special children and have been doing so since I was 15 years old in some capacity. I am one of the lucky ones because I love what I do and enjoy going to work every day. My goal in life is to help as many children as I can communicate to best of their abilities and to help guide their parents through the sometimes scary process.

What does a speech language pathologist do?

It depends on the therapist, but generally they help people to communicate. More specifically some of the things they do include helping children who have speech and language delays learn to talk and to say their sounds clearly so they can be understood.

How soon does a baby's language development begin?

Babies begin to develop speech and language from the moment they are born. Some research shows that they are learning their mother's voice in the womb. They are absorbing every sound they hear and understanding before they begin to talk. That's why it is so important for parents to always talk to and interact with their babies. They are learning language before they are able to show it.

By the time they are three months old, babies can distinguish between happy and angry tones. They also have several recognizable cries with different meanings. These are both examples of babies learning language.

Speech and language are often thought to be the same thing; however, they are not. Language refers to our ability to understand and express ideas whereas speech refers to the actual sounds we make. The coos, grunts, growls and other vocalizations babies make are the early stages of speech development.

When should parents be concerned that there might be a problem?

There are a lot of different warning signs. For example if your baby isn’t babbling, or turning to his name by six months, you should have him evaluated. Another milestone that is very important is a child’s first words. While on average a baby will say his first word at 12 months some babies do not. However, if no words are spoken by 18 months, an evaluation is recommended. Another red flag that there may be a problem is if your child is not understood by almost everyone he encounters by the age of three.

Again, it is important to remember that every child develops differently. In other words, just because you know a child that can talk circles around yours does not necessarily mean there is a problem. However, there are speech and language milestones that every child should be reaching. You can view them by visiting Speech and Language Milestones.

What can parents do to help their young children with language development?

Talk, talk and talk to them some more. Describe what you're doing as you go about your daily tasks. Read them books and sing songs to them. Get down on their level and play with them. Don't be afraid to be silly and laugh with your children. They don't need mechanical toys or television; they need you. Children learn language through modeling those around them. The more you speak to them the better.

If a toddler is exhibiting language difficulties, what can be done?

The best thing you can do is have your child evaluated by a board certified speech language pathologist. Many parents will make the mistake of speaking with their pediatrician only; however, pediatricians are not qualified to determine if a child needs therapy.

As for finding a speech language pathologist, there are many options available depending on the severity of the problems your child is having and where you live. Therapists can be found by calling local hospitals and schools. However, the ideal situation is to find a speech language pathologist who specializes in the area your child is having the most difficulty. This typically requires doing some research and speaking with several therapists to find the right match for your child.

What are some common language problems that affect young children?

Articulation disorders are the most common problems seen in the area of speech and language. This could be something as minor as the incorrect production of a specific sound or something more severe such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (a severe motor planning speech disorder) which may result in unintelligible speech and an inability to put sounds together to form words.

Some language difficulties that we see in children include lack of any language, deficits in auditory comprehension which means difficulty understanding the meaning of language at the level they should, and difficulty expressing thoughts in a clear concise manner.

This is just a few of the many speech and language problems a child could have.

Where can we read more about this topic and your work?

My website Speech, Language and Feeding by Isa Marrs is a growing resource for parents and professionals. It has tons of articles on speech and language development as well as activities you can do with your children to help develop their speech and language skills.

Do you have any other advice you'd like to add?

Communication is at the core of who we are as individuals. It has a profound effect on every aspect of our lives from our education to our relationships. So follow your gut. If you are concerned about your child's development it's better to be safe than sorry.

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