Literacy news
Parents' questions and answers
10 Sep 2008
Q: What do you know about language development of twins? I am a grandmother of 17-month-old twins (boy and girl). She says, "dada," "baba" and "mama." He makes noises but no real names. Both children understand "no," "put that down," and "come here." Please help.
A: Research tells us that being a twin does seem to make a child more prone to language delays and disorders. Twins may be six to eight months behind the general population in their development of language skills and also have a higher risk of speech problems and stuttering. This may be because twins are often premature or have low birth weight. However, these factors may affect a child's speech and language development, twin or not.
Often parents simply cannot provide the one-on-one feedback that single children enjoy. Due to hectic days and less opportunities to spend with one child at a time, parents tend to use shorter and more direct phrases to communicate and have fewer "real" verbal exchanges with the child. Also, since there is more competition to get mom or dad's attention, children tend to speak more quickly in order to get all the information out at once. As a result, faster speech is sometimes not as clear and difficult to understand.
Sometimes the one most listening to the twin and providing feedback is the other twin. Of course, this usually provides an eager and attentive audience, but is not necessarily the feedback necessary for language development. Sometimes, the other twin is such a good audience, they may lose interest in communicating with their parents or other children.
In rare cases, even though they are well publicized, one-to-one communication can progress to where a shared language is created called Idioglossia or "twin language". Recent research suggests that twin language is most often seen in twins with immature or disordered language. Twins using "twin language" will create their own words and even a grammatical structure that is difficult for everyone to understand, but the twins.
The most important thing to do to help your young grandchildren develop language is to pay as much individual attention to each child as possible. Changing a diaper can be a special one-on-one time. Count finger and toes, sing songs, recite nursery rhymes and talk about what you are seeing and doing as it is happening. Perhaps while feeding the twins, you can talk to one while the other is eating. Then switch. If possible, alternate taking your granddaughter and grandson on errands with you. At the supermarket, name and describe items as your granddaughter sits in the cart listening to you talk. Take your grandson to the park and talk about what you are seeing and doing as it is happening. Look up high and see the birds. Look down low and find some rocks.
If your young grandchildren do not seem to be developing language, as they should, do not assume they will catch up. Go to a speech and language pathologist. Perhaps she or he will monitor their progress over time, or provide suggestions for enhancing skills at home and even possibly suggest therapy.
- Dorothy P. Dougherty
(Taken from the Parenthood website)
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