(Image Source: Family Balance Resource)

BY EMILY GIFFIN

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

You're watching multisource health news analysis from Newsy.

Parents of late-talking toddlers might have one less thing to worry about. A new study published in the journal Pediatrics on Monday says toddlers that speak fewer than 50 words and are unable to form small combinations of words - aren’t any more at risk for behavioral or emotional problems later in life.

The Australian-based study followed more than 1,300 toddlers to find out if so called “late talkers” were more prone to certain problems throughout childhood and adolescence.  Out of 1,300 - 142 toddlers were defined as late talkers. The toddlers’ behaviors were measured at age two, and then at five other points in their life, ending at age 17.
(Video: KSTP-TV)

The study showed late talkers were more likely to have behavioral problems at age two, but by the age of five, the majority were up to speed. TIME’s Healthland blog sums up how the leader of the study explains its findings.

“He believes that most of the behavioral problems among the 2-year-olds were due to their frustrations with not being able to communicate their feelings fully, and are not necessarily signs of more serious psychosocial issues such as depression or attention deficit disorder."

The latest edition of Pediatrics reports up to 18 percent of children worldwide are identified as late talkers. While the new study says the not-so-chatty toddlers should catch up and be fine, some aren’t totally convinced. NBC’s TODAY.com relays how one pediatric psychologist says he has seen just the opposite.

“‘I have done a lot of evaluations of preschool children with language delays and followed them over time to see how they turned out.’ … ‘Some were fine; some had just speech and language delays; and some had full-fledged developmental delay, a broad-based intellectual disability.'"

In light of the new findings, CNN’s Senior Medical Correspondent offered her advice about what parents should be concerned about when it comes to their 2-year-old.

“If they don’t imitate actions or words, or they can’t follow simple instructions, you know, those are issues. If they lose skills, if they’re able to do something and then they can’t, you definitely want to talk to your pediatrician. But again, it’s important that parents not be overly worried. Talk to your pediatrician, get their guidance, and tell them how concerned you are, and see if this really is something that needs further follow up."

 

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