The research has shown very clearly that bilingualism does not cause or worsen language delays or disorders. Language delays or disorders can occur whether or not a child lives in a household that exposes him/her to more than one language.
If a child is behind in his/her language or communication milestones, it may be a sign that he/she has a language delay or disorder – it does not mean the family needs to speak to him/her in one language only. Instead, the child may need to be seen by a speech therapist.
Stay tuned for our next True or False post to learn what does make a child more prone to language delays.