Do children who start speaking late have lower intelligence?
I saw someone online say that children who start talking late may have lower intelligence. My child started speaking late too, and I'm a bit worried. I'd like to ask the doctor: do children who talk late have lower IQs?
Doctor's answer (1)
There is no direct causal relationship between when a child starts speaking and their level of intelligence.
Children's language development varies significantly in onset, pace, and style, which is influenced by multiple factors including genetics, environment, and education. Late talking does not equate to low intelligence; many children may experience temporary delays in language development, which can often be improved through family support, subsequent education, and professional guidance. A variety of factors can influence when a child starts speaking. On one hand, individual differences, including genetic inheritance, dietary and sleep habits, and living environment, play an important role. On the other hand, pathological factors may also cause delayed speech, such as hearing impairments, dysfunction of the language center, articulatory organ disorders, or autism.
Under normal circumstances, language development in children follows certain general patterns. For example, the first year of life is a preparatory stage for speech, between 1 and 1.5 years children begin to actively use simple words, and between 2 and 3 years is the stage of acquiring basic language skills. However, each child has their own unique developmental trajectory, and there is no single standard.
Therefore, parents and society should avoid making premature judgments about a child's language development, and instead provide a nurturing environment filled with love, patience, and appropriate stimulation to support each child in developing at their own pace.
