The exact causes remain unknown, though a combination of genetic and environmental factors are significant contributors. Children with autism face communication challenges ranging from expressing basic needs to engaging in conversations.

Key indicators (typically identifiable by 18 months) include limited interest in surrounding events or people, avoiding eye contact, difficulty with appropriate play, limited use of gestures, words or facial expressions to communicate, trouble understanding others' speech, echolalia (repeating what others say), and discomfort with changes in routine.

Autism is diagnosed by a multidisciplinary team — paediatricians, psychologists, behavioural therapists and speech-language pathologists — working together to build a comprehensive picture of the child's needs.

Speech-language pathologists assess a child's speech, language and communication skills, then use evidence-based strategies such as improving listening and attention, encouraging turn-taking, building vocabulary and speech clarity, and, for non-verbal or minimally verbal children, alternative communication methods like PECS or communication boards.

Early diagnosis and intervention significantly improve outcomes, so if you suspect your child may have autism, don't delay seeking advice from your child's doctor.

DLD is not caused by intellectual disability, neurological damage, hearing impairment, or lack of language exposure — it's intrinsic to the individual and persists throughout life, impacting educational, social and occupational outcomes.

Children with DLD typically show difficulties with expressive language (limited vocabulary, sentence structure), receptive language (following instructions, understanding complex sentences), pragmatics (social use of language, picking up non-verbal cues), and phonology and morphology (speech sounds and word structure).

Diagnosis involves a comprehensive assessment by a speech-language pathologist comparing a child's language skills against typically developing peers, ruling out other possible causes first.

While there is no "cure" for DLD, early speech and language therapy is the primary treatment, combining direct intervention with the child, training for parents and teachers, and school-based support such as individualised education plans. With the right support, children with DLD can achieve successful academic and social outcomes.

Some dysfluencies in early childhood disappear on their own, but others persist. Speak to a speech-language therapist if your child shows risk factors such as a family history of stammering, dysfluencies lasting more than 6 months, avoiding certain words or situations, prolonging or repeating the first sound of a word, blocking and being unable to get a word out, or secondary behaviours like blinking or foot-tapping while speaking.

How parents can help: slow down your own rate of speech, listen without interrupting, give your child your full attention, encourage family members to take turns talking, keep home calm and unhurried, read together slowly, avoid firing off questions, and let your child finish speaking completely before responding, without speaking on their behalf.

A well-planned speech therapy program can help children manage stammering successfully.

By age 3, children should be able to say p, b, m, n, h, w, t, d, k and g in words; by 4, /f/, /y/ and /v/ clearly; by 6, l, v, ch, sh and j, with /s/, /r/, /z/ and /th/ still sometimes tricky.

Speech sound disorders involve difficulty or delay developing age-appropriate speech, which can stem from structural causes (e.g. cleft lip or palate), associated language disorders, difficulty coordinating the oral muscles needed for speech (apraxia), muscle weakness (e.g. dysarthria), or hearing loss.

If you notice your child struggling to say sounds correctly, a speech-language pathologist can carry out a comprehensive assessment and put together the right therapy plan.