Speech Delays in Twins - Identifying Speech Delays in Multiples

Should you be concerned when your toddler multiples say "love you" and it sounds like "lub ou"? Do your twins jabber to each other in a language that no one understands except them? Are your multiples' communication skills worrying you?

As a parent, it is often difficult to discern when language skills are developing normally and when a child might need some outside help. Multiples tend to experience a higher rate of speech and language development disorders. Many factors contribute to a speech and/or language delay in multiples.

Multiples often engage in twin talk, a spoken language or a language of gestures and body language. Multiples are often so effective at communicating with each other that their speech and language development can be delayed.Personality differences and the gender of a child often influence the rate of speech and language development. Girls tend to be more verbal than boys. Shy and apprehensive children tend to be quieter. Multiples place increased demands on parents limiting the amount of one-on-one attention and interaction each child receives. One multiple may "talk" for another multiple reducing the need for the "quiet" child to talk. This can also occur with older siblings who are quick to talk for the child instead of having the child verbalize their feelings.