ADHD and Speech Delay in 3-year-old

Generally, 3-year-olds should be able to use about 1,000 words, call themselves by name, call others by name, ask questions, use plurals, use 3-5 word sentences and repeat a nursery rhyme or song that they know.

When 3-year-olds do not hit these milestones they may have a speech delay or they may simply be developing at their own pace.

Sometimes a speech delay in 3-year-olds can indicate that they should be assessed for ADHD. Not all toddlers with a speech delay have ADHD and not all toddlers with ADHD have a speech delay. A toddler with ADHD may have a speech delay because of the ADHD or the delay may be caused by a coexisting disorder. If your ADHD toddler has a speech delay there are tools you can use to help them improve their communication skills.

Speech Therapy Activities for ADHD

If your child has a speech delay and is diagnosed with ADHD there are speech therapy activities that can help. Speech-language therapy is the first line of treatment for ADHD kids with a speech delay. The therapist will make an individual treatment plan for your child and work on all areas of speech and language that need improvement.

Outside of therapy sessions, parents can use certain strategies to help their ADHD child communicate:

1. 1. Get your child’s full attention before speaking.
   2. Use their name before starting to speak to them.
   3. Give them all the time they need to process the communication and respond.
   4. Break-down your communication to your ADHD child into just a few sentences at a time to make it easier to understand.
   5. Encourage your ADHD child to talk.
   6. Use simple gestures to indicate what you are referring to.
   7. Read to your ADHD toddler.
   8. Use repetitive songs and nursery rhymes.
   9. Don’t anticipate their needs, give them time to find the words to ask for what they want.

ADHD Speech Delay in Toddlers

A speech and language delay in toddlers can be affected by ADHD in the areas of:

• • Motor coordination needed to form words in the mouth.
  • Pitch and volume, unlike other toddlers.
  • Executive function while trying to vocalize their thoughts may result in grammatical errors, word sequence, repeating words etc.
  • Difficulty staying on topic.
  • Conforming to socially accepted rules of verbal communication – waiting for their turn to speak, talking excessively, etc.

FAQ

Do toddlers with ADHD have speech delays?

Toddlers with ADHD often have articulation disorders but this is individual. Not all ADHD toddlers have speech delays and not all toddlers with speech delays have ADHD. Some ADHD toddlers have speech delay that is not caused by or related to their ADHD but originates from a coexisting disorder.

Can ADHD affect speech development?

ADHD children are at risk of having speech delays and ADHD can affect speech development in a child. ADHD children may experience issues with comprehension, expression, and socially accepted rules of communication.

What causes a delay in speech in toddlers?

There are many reasons why a toddler may have a delay in speech development including physiological, neurological, intellectual, hearing problems, autism, lack of stimulation, and ADHD.