Are you worried your child seems behind in their speech or language development? Or is your child reverting back from speaking in complete sentences to just using one word, pointing instead of using words or just babbling again?

It can be very frustrating for a parent to notice their child isn’t progressing in their speech and language development. Before you get too worried, just know there are many reasons for developmental regression.

Example Of Developmental Regression Include:

A toddler who is using sentences and words, now communicates by pointing at things and showing you what they want or need.

A child who would speak to just about anyone, is now not talking around other children.

A toddler who is talking, reverts back to babbling or nonsense words.

“Regression is commonly seen as a potential indicator of autism, but that is not the only possibility. Among the other possibilities are hearing loss, selective mutism, and traumatic brain injury (see below). The process of teasing out the roots of regression can be frustrating and frightening for caregivers—and their stress can be passed on to the child,” American Speech Language Hearing Association, ASHA

Common Reasons For Developmental Regression:

Learning New Milestones 

One of the most common cause of developmental regression is when a child is learning a new milestone. Your child may just be focusing on mastering a life skill.

For instance, a child who just starting using the potty, may regress in their speech. They went from using new words on a regular basis to regress and use nonsense words.  Typically when they have mastered the new skill, they will start to progress again.

Experiencing Major Changes In Their Life 

When children undergo overwhelming stress or fear from a new event in their life, can cause developmental regression.

Examples of common life changes for a child includes, starting a new school, having a new sibling in the home, moving to a new home, or a new caregiver. One way a child handles anxiety is by regressing.

Autism Spectrum Disorder 

Developmental regression in children can also point to autism spectrum disorder. Children who seem to be progressing and meeting all their milestones, then around 2 years old, you notice recognizable regression.

Typical regression caused by learning a new skill or experiencing a life changing event, looks very different than those related to Autism. Signs of Autism can include: Repeating the same word or phrases, trouble with nonverbal and verbal communication, regression in language and speech, lack of interaction or social interest.

If your child is showing signs of developmental regression, it is important to talk with your pediatrician or speech therapist. Contact First Words Speech Therapy, we provide a comprehensive evaluation for a variety of speech, language, and occupational needs. We are dedicated to providing personalized care to meet your child’s speech and language needs.