Why was the Pharaohs Ihnton dead

 

Is Screen Time Causing Your Child’s Speech Delay? An Expert’s Perspective

By Shermeena Rabbi | Speech and Language Therapist & CEO of Unlocking Language

In today’s digital age, a concerning trend is emerging in child development. Excessive reliance on screens is depriving children of essential language experiences, causing many to lose the ability to speak by age three. Experts estimate that 50% of current speech problems among preschoolers are not biological, but rooted in this modern parenting style.

With parental denial on the rise and face-to-face interaction on the decline, the gap in communication skills is widening, leading to tantrums, delayed milestones, and potential long-term risks to mental health and academic success.

Is Screen Time Causing Your Child’s Speech Delay? An Expert’s Perspective

Is Screen Time Causing Your Child’s Speech Delay? An Expert’s Perspective

The Case of Aiden Tech-Savvy but Non-Verbal

When three-year-old Aiden* arrived at my clinic, he could barely say more than "Mama." His parents, however, insisted he was incredibly smart: "He can unlock the iPad and navigate to his favorite apps all by himself," they told me. Yet, he had almost no functional language.

• Aiden communicated through sounds and gestures, pulling his mother’s arm to get what he wanted. By 12 months, most children can say a few simple words; for a three-year-old to be this limited is a serious red flag.
• It Wasn't Autism—It Was the Screen
• After a detailed assessment, we quickly ruled out Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is often the immediate fear in these cases. The reality was stark: instead of playing, singing, or interacting face-to-face, Aiden had spent the majority of his short life in front of a screen.
• As a speech therapist for 13 years, cases like this used to be rare. Today, children enter my clinic one after another, unable to speak or barely using single words. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of the preschool cases we see are caused by excessive screen dependency.

The Silent Crisis in Classrooms

A recent survey by YouGov highlights the scale of the problem:

• 44% of primary school teachers report that one in five children struggles to communicate at an age-appropriate level.
• 75% of teachers believe parents are in denial about the cause.

1. When parents finally realize that their unintentional reliance on digital devices threatens their child’s social and academic future, they are often overcome with deep shame. However, awareness is the first step toward a cure.

How Language is Actually Learned

From birth to age three, children absorb information like sponges. To develop speech, they require constant social opportunities. Language is not learned passively; it is built through:

• Group play
• Imaginative role-play (e.g., using miniature kitchen sets)
• Interactive toys (e.g., farm animal sets)

Unfortunately, many modern parents—distracted by their own phones—are not engaging in the necessary playtime. The necessity of Working From Home (WFH) during the pandemic forced many parents to use tablets and TVs as babysitters. While understandable, this eliminated "golden opportunities" for interaction—simple moments like pointing out a dog wagging its tail, which are crucial for vocabulary building.

The Link Between Screens, Tantrums, and Attention

Aiden frequently lost his temper and threw tantrums. Why? Because he could neither communicate his needs nor understand what was being said to him.

Furthermore, the rapid-fire stimulation of digital entertainment made it impossible for him to focus on the slower pace of real life. Language acquisition follows a hierarchy:

1. Attention
2. Listening
3. Play
4. Speech

Screens disrupt the very first step. By removing the device and introducing speech therapy focused on imaginative play and parent interaction, Aiden is now making significant progress.

The Verdict: Put the Device Down

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends strictly limiting screen time, especially for children under two. In the UK, there are growing calls for "health warnings" on addictive social media algorithms targeting kids.

Children with poor communication skills often withdraw socially or become disruptive in school. These early deficits are closely linked to poor mental health later in life.

My message to new parents is simple and urgent: Put the phones and tablets away. Prioritize the real world, and give your child the gift of conversation.