Myth or Fact? Boys talk later than girls.
Do boys start talking later than girls?
It's a common question that pops up when we think about our toddlers' milestones.
In this blog post, we're going to explore this intriguing topic and see if there's any truth to it. We’ll uncover:
Boys vs. Girls: Is There a Difference?
It's true that some research shows boys generally start producing their first words and sentences a few months later than girls on average. However, these differences fall within a normal range for acquiring certain language milestones. Researchers explain that girls tend to reach these milestones earlier, while boys are more likely to be on the later end of this range.
It's essential to recognize that just because boys may reach their milestones on the later end of the expected range doesn’t mean they are behind in their language development. Boys are simply progressing at a slightly different pace than girls - and they may be more advanced in other areas of development when compared to girls.
So, what does this mean for parents who are curious about the differences between boys and girls' language development? Well, if a young boy seems to be lagging significantly behind in his speech and language development, it's not necessarily because he's a boy.He may benefit from some speech and language intervention to support his progress.
The Typical Speech & Language Development Timeline
Here’s a reminder of general speech and language milestones for both boys and girls before we talk some more about the differences you may notice:
Around 10 to 14 months, most kids start saying their first words like "mama" and "dada."
Between 18 and 24 months, their vocabulary blossoms, and they start putting two words together to make phrases.
By 30 months toddlers are talking in longer phrases and simple sentences.
By the time they're 36 months (3 years old), many children can talk in longer sentences and may start telling simple stories.
Why do boys talk later than girls?
When we think about development, the nature versus nurture debate often comes up. Let's explore some differences in nature and nurture that may shed light on why girls tend to talk earlier than boys.
Before we get into these factors, it's important to understand that differences unrelated to gender, like parental education and family history of language delays, seem to have a bigger impact on language development than gender. In simple terms, while there might be a few differences between boys and girls, being a boy or a girl doesn't seem to be the main thing that affects how kids learn to talk.
Nature - Biological Factors
Differences in genetics may contribute to differences in speech development between boys and girls.
Research has found that hormones could play a role in speech and language development. Estrogen, higher in females, can enhance social and verbal skills, while testosterone, higher in males, may have an opposite effect. These hormonal differences can be detected at birth and might influence language development.
Another research project found the gene, FOXP2, thought to play an important role in communication development, is found in higher levels in females. However, more research is needed before making any definitive conclusions here (still interesting to consider!).
Nurture - Environmental Factors
The environment in which a child grows up plays a crucial role in speech and language development. Children, both boys and girls, benefit from being exposed to a rich language environment with plenty of opportunities for interaction, as this can help them develop their language skills faster.
In some instances, boys and girls may be exposed to different experiences and activities based on societal norms. For example, boys might be encouraged to engage in more gross motor activities, while girls might be exposed to more conversational activities. These differences in experiences could potentially impact their developmental timeline. However, it's important to remember that these variations are not inherently good or bad; they are simply different. Boys and girls generally follow the same communication patterns and milestones.
But, Boys ARE more likely to have language delays than girls
Boys are about 2.7 times more likely to experience language delays when compared to girls according to researchers. So, as a parent or caregiver, it's crucial not to overlook missed language milestones just because a child is a boy.
A language delay is sometimes called "Late Language Emergence" or "Late Talker" in everyday language. It happens when a child is developing well in all areas except for their language skills. While over half of late talkers catch up on their own and start talking expectedly for their age, some children require speech therapy to help them learn to talk and improve their language skills. Since we can’t predict whether a child will catch up on their own or not, I recommend all families to work on specific ways to support language development at home.
Tips to Support Your Toddler's Communication Development
Use Focused Stimulation: This powerful speech therapy strategy can be highly effective at helping toddlers learn new words.
Play with Sounds: Encourage sound play and imitation games, like animal noises or making vehicle sounds. This helps your child explore different speech sounds.
Find the support of a speech therapist: If you have concerns about your child’s communication, consulting with a speech therapist is a great way to find personalized support for your child’s individual needs.
A few more notes about language development in boys:
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Boys talking later than girls is a common observation, but the reasons behind this difference are not entirely straightforward. There is no single answer to why this happens, as language development is influenced by a combination of biological, environmental, and genetic factors. Here are some potential reasons:
Biological Factors: Some researchers suggest that biological factors, such as brain development and genetics, may contribute to differences in speech development between boys and girls. Hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, can also play a role in language development, with estrogen potentially enhancing social and verbal skills and testosterone having the opposite effect.
Environmental Factors: The environment in which a child grows up can significantly impact their language development. Children exposed to a rich language environment with plenty of opportunities for interaction may develop their language skills faster. Boys and girls may also be exposed to different experiences and activities based on societal norms, which could potentially impact their developmental timeline.
Individual Variations: Every child is unique and develops at their own pace. While there may be general trends, such as boys tending to talk later on average, individual variations play a more significant role than gender differences. Children can experience language development at different rates, and it's essential not to generalize based on gender.
Language Exposure: The amount and quality of language exposure a child receives can influence their language development. Boys and girls may have different experiences with language exposure, leading to variations in their language skills.
It's important to remember that each child's language development journey is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all explanation for why boys may talk later than girls. Early intervention and support from caregivers and speech therapists can help children reach their language milestones, regardless of gender.
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Listen for boys to say their first words between the ages of 10-14 months old. If your little boy hasn’t said his first word by 15 months, consider talking to your pediatrician about your observations and scheduling a speech and language evaluation to help boost those early language skills.
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Research shows that boys tend to reach their language milestones later in the expected age range when compared to girls, but they still reach their milestones on time. If a little boy isn’t reaching his language milestones it could be a sign that he’s a “late talker” and speech therapy may be able to boost his early developing language skills.
Written By: Stephanie Hatleli, MS CCC-SLP
Works Cited:
Chilosi, A. M., Brovedani, P., Cipriani, P., & Casalini, C. (2023). Sex differences in early language delay and in developmental language disorder. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 101(5), 654-667.
“Language gene” more active in young girls than boys - science. (n.d.). https://www.science.org/content/article/language-gene-more-active-young-girls-boys
Özçalskan, S., & Goldin-Meadow, S. (2010). Sex differences in language first appear in gesture. Developmental Science, 13(5), 752-760.
Perkins, S. C., Finegood, E. D., & Swain, J. E. (2013). Poverty and language development: Roles of parenting and stress. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 10(4), 10.
Whitehouse AJ;Mattes E;Maybery MT;Sawyer MG;Jacoby P;Keelan JA;Hickey M; (n.d.). Sex-specific associations between umbilical cord blood testosterone levels and language delay in early childhood. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22276678/
Zubrick, S. R., Taylor, C. L., Rice, M. L., & Slegers, D. W. (2007). Late language emergence at 24 months: An epidemiological study of prevalence, predictors, and covariates. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 50(6), 1562–1592. https://doi.org/10.1044/1092-4388(2007/106).
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