delayed speech

American  

noun

Speech Pathology.

1. a speech disorder of children in which the levels of intelligibility, vocabulary, complexity of utterance, etc., are significantly below the levels considered standard for a particular age.

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Example Sentences

I was probably about 2 or 3 then, just trying to blab, because the early nurses I had when I was a kid had said that I had delayed speech or something called “selective mutism.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025

"Early signs of hearing loss may include asking for repetition, hearing ringing noises often, speaking loudly to people nearby, delayed speech, or lack of reaction to loud noises," Woolford said.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2024

Headteachers also raised particular concerns about children in reception year, who they said had delayed speech and language development.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2022

As a toddler, he avoided eye contact, had delayed speech and fixated on specific toys — all typical traits of autism.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 20, 2022

When Daysi Perdomo came to the United States at 7, she could barely speak, her delayed speech owing to a hearing impairment.

From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2015