Dr. Seçil Aydın Oral warns against delaying speech therapy for children

Dr. Seçil Aydın Oral, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech and Language Therapy at Üsküdar University, has cautioned parents against delaying professional evaluations for children with speech delays based on common misconceptions.

Dr. Oral emphasized that factors such as gender, bilingualism, or family history should not be used as excuses to postpone intervention. While speech delays may be more frequent in boys, she noted that “being male does not make late talking ‘normal’” and that waiting for a child to catch up naturally can delay necessary support.

Key warning signs that necessitate a consultation with a speech and language therapist include a child not responding to their name by age one, not using any words by eighteen months, lack of eye contact, or failure to respond to sounds. Dr. Oral also clarified that while daycare can provide social opportunities, it is not a substitute for addressing underlying language issues.