Which age group is at the highest risk for speech delays?

Preschool-aged children are at the highest risk for speech delays primarily due to their rapid language development during this stage. Between ages 2 to 5, children are expected to make significant strides in their vocabulary, sentence structure, and overall communication skills. This period is crucial as they transition from simple words and phrases to more complex forms of speech.

During these years, children who experience a variety of factors such as hearing impairments, environmental influences like limited exposure to language, or developmental disorders may demonstrate delays in their speech milestones. Furthermore, preschool is often when children begin to interact more with peers and adults, which can highlight any existing speech delays as they are compared to their peers.

Other age groups, like infants or adolescents, are not at the same level of risk for speech delays. Infants, while they are at a critical period for hearing and initial babbling, typically do not have established speech patterns that can be qualitatively assessed in the same way. School-aged children may have already acquired the majority of their speech and language skills, so delays are less common relative to preschoolers. Adolescents tend to refine their communication skills rather than develop them, making speech delays less pertinent at this age.