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Discover the benefits of baby talk and its impact on your baby's development. Learn how Meri Sehat can guide you in nurturing your baby's language skills.

Is Baby Talk Good For My Baby?

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Humza Khizer

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You’re Just A Daydream Away

Introduction

For years, daydreaming has been looked down upon. If caught daydreaming, you&rsquo;d be labeled a slacker. However, with time, there has been a drastic shift in this opinion.&nbsp;

Daydreaming is described as a spontaneous experience that is neither triggered by anything nor does it require any response from you. A person spends one-third to one-half of their waking hours daydreaming. A daydream generally lasts for a few seconds. However, it is quite different from a regular dream that occurs while <a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/are-you-sleeping-on-your-sleep-cycle">sleeping</a>. Although daydreams may seem like a state of rest, they can impact the brain in several ways.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Understanding The Science And Advantages Of Daydreaming

A lot is going on within the brain during a daydream. Daydreams are continuous streams of consciousness, following one after another. They occur in an area of the brain known as the &lsquo;default network&rsquo;. This network of the brain includes:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Temporoparietal Junction: This is part of the brain where the temporal and parietal lobes meet. Its function is to process information.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Medial Prefrontal Cortex: The medial prefrontal cortex regulates cognitive function, such as spatial or long-term memory, inhibitory control, attention, and habit formation and working.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Posterior Cingulate Cortex: This region of the brain is involved in error detection, decision-making, reward anticipation, attention allocation, and top-down and bottom-up processing.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

However, there are conflicting views on whether daydreaming involves this network as well as other areas of the brain.&nbsp;

<div>&nbsp;</div>

There are 2 different styles of daydreaming - intentional and unintentional. As the name suggests, intentional daydreaming is when a person deliberately engages in daydreaming, for example, to foster creativity or problem-solving skills. Whereas unintentional daydreaming is when a daydream is disrupting your focus on a task.&nbsp;

You may remember daydreaming in class while growing up, and your teachers discouraging it. Daydreaming doesn&rsquo;t mean that you were being disobedient; it just means that your thoughts were wandering elsewhere. Researchers agree that we spend 30-50% of our time daydreaming<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. Contrary to popular belief, daydreaming is far from useless.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Taking a break to daydream isn&rsquo;t only fun but necessary for our brains. Shutting down the &ldquo;outside&rdquo; world allows your thoughts to flow more freely. When you&rsquo;re not distracted by what is happening around you, you will feel mentally relaxed. This phenomenon is known as the alpha wave state. When we&rsquo;re in this alpha state zone, we&rsquo;re calmer than usual and our thoughts aren&rsquo;t wandering here and there.

The human brain wasn&rsquo;t designed to constantly maintain focus and productivity. For good brain health, you need to cut the brain some slack and let it relax. Daydreaming will help your mind distance itself from worrisome circumstances, evading stress and anxiety.&nbsp;

According to Harvard Health, mind-wandering can help manage anxiety<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>. Daydreaming is especially useful when your anxiety feels overwhelming and you are looking to distract yourself. While daydreaming, you can picture yourself at your favorite spot such as at the beach or in your backyard, basically whatever brings you peace.&nbsp;

<div>&nbsp;</div>

With daydreaming, you can approach your problems with a fresh perspective. In one study that tracked internal thought patterns, researchers concluded that daydreaming is beneficial and leads to new ideas<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>. While this may sound quite unusual, rather than focusing on the problem, wandering thoughts can help us solve problems.&nbsp;

Drifting away from your thoughts can help with overlooking the archives in your brain. When you&#39;re daydreaming, your mind may think of something you read many years ago or a memory that may help you solve a problem. In simpler words, daydreaming can lead you to all sorts of insights that may prove helpful when you are stumped by a problem.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div>&nbsp;</div>

A study highlighting the positives of daydreaming correlated daydreaming with higher levels of creativity<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>. In addition, a social experiment on the creativity of college students concluded that 41% of the participants who daydreamed first did better at generating more creative ideas<a href="#accordion">[5]</a>. When your mind is allowed to wander, it reorganizes information, creates different perspectives, and fosters creativity.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Daydreaming can be harmful if your mind is constantly wandering to negative thoughts. While most people dream about fantasies, some may picture negative thoughts that can be harmful to their mental health. In some cases, it may cause people to lose focus and forget important information. Moreover, at certain times, if you&rsquo;re trying to finish an important task, daydreaming can slow you down and interfere with your productivity.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Conclusion

People tend to think of daydreaming as a bad thing. While it has certain negative nuances to it, research has shown that daydreaming fosters creativity and problem-solving skills, and alleviates stress and anxiety. If you are annoyed by a problem or are just looking for a channel of creativity and imagination, give daydreaming a chance.&nbsp;

[1] Marcusson-Clavertz, D., West, M., Kjell, O.N. and Somer, E., 2019. A daily diary study on maladaptive daydreaming, mind wandering, and sleep disturbances: Examining within-person and between-persons relations. PloS one, 14(11), p.e0225529

[2] Harvard Health Blog: “Brain science suggests “mind wandering” can help manage anxiety”.

[3] Kam, J.W., Irving, Z.C., Mills, C., Patel, S., Gopnik, A. and Knight, R.T., 2021. Distinct electrophysiological signatures of task-unrelated and dynamic thoughts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(4).

[4] McMillan, R., Kaufman, S.B. and Singer, J.L., 2013. Ode to positive constructive daydreaming. Frontiers in psychology, 4, p.626.

[5] Baird, B., Smallwood, J., Mrazek, M.D., Kam, J.W., Franklin, M.S. and Schooler, J.W., 2012. Inspired by distraction: Mind wandering facilitates creative incubation. Psychological science, 23(10), pp.1117-1122.

Staff Writer

Madeeha Syed

This article or video has been vetted and verified by Meri Sehat’s specialists. It contains citations and research from validated sources.

How Your Brain Re-draws Its Neural Map When You Grieve

Overview

Grief is a powerful and complex emotion that we all experience at some point in our lives. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a significant life change, grief can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. One of the ways that our brain copes with grief is by re-drawing its neural map.

The neural map is the network of connections in our brain that allows us to process information, make decisions, and regulate our emotions. When we experience grief, this network is disrupted, and our brain must adapt to cope with the loss. This adaptation process is known as neural plasticity, and it is a crucial aspect of the grieving process.

So, how does our brain re-draw its neural map when we grieve? Let&#39;s take a closer look. 
&nbsp;
<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>

The Impact of Grief

Grief affects different parts of the brain, including the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus. The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions, including fear and sadness. When we experience grief, the amygdala is activated, and we may feel overwhelmed by our emotions. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making and planning, and it may be impaired during the grieving process. Finally, the hippocampus is responsible for memory, and it may be affected by grief as well.

During the grieving process, the brain must adapt to these changes and re-organize its neural connections in order to cope with the loss. This process of neural plasticity is what allows us to heal and move forward. 
&nbsp;
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The Role Of Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that help to regulate mood and emotion. During the grieving process, there are changes in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. For example, the levels of serotonin, which is responsible for regulating mood, may decrease, leading to feelings of depression and sadness.

On the other hand, there may be an increase in the levels of dopamine, which is responsible for regulating pleasure and reward. This may explain why people may engage in activities like comfort eating or substance use during the grieving process.

The process of re-drawing the neural map during grief is influenced by these changes in neurotransmitter levels. It is a complex process that involves the rewiring of neural connections to help regulate emotions. 
&nbsp;
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Neural plasticity is the process by which the brain adapts to changes in the environment or behavior. During the grieving process, this process allows the brain to adapt to the loss and re-organize its neural connections.

One of the ways that this happens is through the process of neurogenesis, which is the creation of new neurons in the brain. This process occurs in the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory. By creating new neurons, the brain can adapt to the loss and create new memories that incorporate the experience of grief. 
&nbsp;

Another way that neural plasticity occurs during grief is through the process of synaptogenesis, which is the creation of new connections between neurons. This process allows the brain to re-wire its neural map in response to the loss. For example, the brain may create new connections between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala in order to better regulate emotions.

Finally, the brain may undergo the process of neuroplastic remodeling, which is the re-organization of existing neural connections. This process allows the brain to adapt to the loss by re-organizing its neural map in a way that allows for more efficient processing of emotions and information. 
&nbsp;
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While the brain is capable of re-drawing its neural map during the grieving process, this is a complex and difficult process that takes time and support. It is important to allow yourself time to grieve and to seek support from friends, family, or a therapist.

One way to support neural plasticity during the grieving process is through mindfulness practices. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to increase neural plasticity in the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. By practicing mindfulness, you can help your brain adapt to the loss and regulate your emotions more effectively. 
&nbsp;

You can support your neural plasticity through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a form of therapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. By working with a therapist to identify and challenge negative thoughts and behaviors related to grief, you can support the process of neural plasticity and promote healing.

It is important to note that grief is a unique and individual experience. While the process of neural plasticity is a natural and important aspect of the grieving process, it may look different for each person. Seek support and to allow yourself time and space to process your emotions in your own way. 
&nbsp;
<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>

The process of grieving involves much more than just our emotions. Our brains are complex organs that adapt and re-organize themselves in response to our experiences, including the experience of grief. By understanding the process of neural plasticity during grief, we can better understand and support ourselves and others during the grieving process. With time and support, our brains are capable of healing and adapting to loss, and we can move forward with new neural connections and a renewed sense of resilience. 
&nbsp;
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Umna Salah

If your gut tells you to jam to &quot;baby shark doo doo&quot; and &quot;wheel on the bus&quot; with your kid, whether at home, in a car, or going up the lift at a mall, you go ahead and do it. Because, guess what? You ARE on the right track, mommy!&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;

When you speak in baby ways, you draw your infant&#39;s attention better than a monotone. Not only that, it elicits a more enthusiastic response and more high-pitched laughter from your baby.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Remember, for the growth of your little one, it is&nbsp; extremely vital for you to:

<ul>
	<li>Engage in &quot;peek-a-boo&quot; play</li>
	<li>Strike a conversation while changing their clothes or diaper</li>
	<li>Sing while cradling them to sleep 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

It&rsquo;s funny how something that appears &ldquo;gibberish&rdquo; at first could be so common around the world! Yes, according to a linguistic study, baby talk has similar properties across 36 languages<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

This baby talk, infant-directed speech, motherese, call it whatever you may; the way adults adjust their way of speaking and use specific words like &ldquo;choo-choo&rdquo;, while addressing a baby means it&rsquo;s a type of pidgin<a href="#accordion">[5]</a>. That is, it&rsquo;s a common blended language that is relevant for both communicators in a child-adult conversation.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Understanding The Benefits Of Baby Talk With A Toddler

The term &quot;baby talk&quot; is actually misleading since it refers to adult communication with toddlers (aged 0 months to 3 years). It is a universal phenomenon and its features can be divided into 5 broad categories<a href="#accordion">[13]</a>: 
&nbsp;

1. Prosodic Factors

It involves a higher pitch, a more comprehensive frequency range, and more variety in intonation. 
&nbsp;

2. Lexical Attributes

Unique forms such as &ldquo;potty&rdquo; and &ldquo;nana&rdquo; provide a word&#39;s meaning. 
&nbsp;

3. Complex Characteristics

There are fewer verb auxiliaries, embedded clauses, and smaller utterances, such as &ldquo;oh no,&rdquo; &ldquo;all gone,&rdquo; &ldquo;my turn,&rdquo; and &ldquo;all done.&rdquo; 
&nbsp;

4. Redundant Elements

The exact words or phrases are repeated more frequently over time. 
&nbsp;

5. Content Features

It is restricted to subjects relevant to children&#39;s lives.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Nearly 80% of your baby&rsquo;s brain develops by the age of 3. That is, as your baby goes from being a newborn to becoming an infant and then a toddler, their brain grows to form the necessary connections or synapses for thought, learning, and information processing. During these years, their synapses grow at an incredibly high rate of 700 per second.

&nbsp;

Therefore, talking to your infant helps to activate crucial connections in their brain that are responsible for language. The more words they hear, the stronger these connections in their minds become. If you&rsquo;re talking, singing, even thinking out loud in their presence, you&rsquo;re improving your child&#39;s general learning capacity and future linguistic abilities. It&rsquo;s backed by science, too; according to research, if your baby&rsquo;s responding more and more to baby talk, chances are they&rsquo;ll be more literate than their class fellows by the time they start going to school at 2 years of age.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Here are a few suggestions according to your infant&rsquo;s age<a href="#accordion">[10][11]</a>: 
&nbsp;

0-6 Months Old&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Talk to your little one while holding them close. Your only focus should be your baby. Babies enjoy looking at faces, so they will listen to you talk and respond.</li>
	<li>Talk as you feed, clothe, and bathe them. This inculcates listening skills and teaches them about having turns in a conversation.</li>
	<li>Sing so they can become accustomed to the language&#39;s rhythm.</li>
	<li>Repeat the tones or words your baby makes back to them.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A sing-along-style conversation will help you hold your baby&rsquo;s interest. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

6-12 Months Old

<ul>
	<li>Identify objects you can see and point to them. For example, &quot;Look, a cat.&quot; This is the way your infant picks up new words, and eventually, they&#39;ll start to imitate you. Add more descriptions as your child becomes older, like, &quot;Look, a black cat.&quot;</li>
	<li>Read to your child. You don&#39;t have to read entire books; just describe what you see in the pictures.</li>
	<li>Educate through play. Games like &quot;round and round the lawn&quot; and &quot;peek-a-boo&quot; teach about sharing, paying attention, and listening. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

12-18 Months Old&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Correct your youngster when they try to say a word but get it wrong. Use the correct term. For instance, you should answer &quot;Yes, it&#39;s a cat&quot; if they point to one and say &quot;Ca!&quot;. Do it frequently, but not always, so they can learn.</li>
	<li>Give them options, such as, &quot;Do you want an apple or a banana?&quot; to expand their vocabulary.</li>
	<li>Reading and musical toys improve your tot&rsquo;s listening abilities.</li>
	<li>As your child grows, take pleasure in singing nursery rhymes and songs together, particularly ones that include activities like &quot;Pat-a-cake,&quot; &quot;Row, row, row your boat,&quot; and &quot;Wind the bobbin up.&quot; They will remember the words better if they perform the actions. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

18-24 Months Old

<ul>
	<li>Repeat phrases like &quot;Let&#39;s put your jacket on&quot; and &quot;Are you wearing a blue jacket today?&quot; Your toddler will learn words more easily when they are repeated often.</li>
	<li>Use clear instructions. At this age, your child can grasp requests like &quot;Get your coat&quot; or &quot;Shut the door.&quot; Just ensure the instructions are brief and straightforward so they are easy to comprehend and follow.</li>
	<li>Ask them to point to their ear, nose, foot, etc. when you say, &quot;Where&#39;s your...&quot;</li>
	<li>If your toddler is under 24 months old, keep their daily TV time under 30 minutes. When infants are learning to talk, it&rsquo;s more beneficial for them to just play with and hear stories from people around them. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

2-3 Years Old&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Encourage your child to build complete sentences. Your child will start to put simple sentences together at around age 2. Try to reply using sentences that are a few words longer. For example, if they say, &quot;sock off&quot;, respond with &quot;yes, we&#39;re taking your socks off&quot;.</li>
	<li>Call your child&rsquo;s name before starting any sentence. Moreover, allow them time to think and compose their answer in their mind first.</li>
	<li>Teach them about words that go together. For example, you can show them a ball, teddy, and a rattle and then say the word &ldquo;toy.&rdquo;</li>
	<li>Use symbolic sounds. They will help your child understand the meaning behind the sentences. Like saying &quot;Hurrah&quot; when you are reacting to any achievements, or &quot;uh-oh&quot; when you drop something accidentally.</li>
	<li>Keep the radio and TV off especially when you are engaged in a conversation with your child to reduce background noise.</li>
	<li>Children at this age love to help. So, you can attend to household chores together, like cleaning, cooking, and shopping, and talk as you complete them. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Toddlers develop their speaking abilities at different ages. That said, some kids have developmental delays, which can affect their speech as well. Speak to your GP or pediatrician concerning your child&#39;s language development. They will assess your child and suggest if speech therapy is required. You might also ask the speech and language therapists in your area for suggestions. 
&nbsp;

<h5>Is Late Speech A Sign Of Autism?&nbsp;</h5>

Most autistic children will have speech difficulties, but not all kids with speech difficulties will be autistic<a href="#accordion">[8]</a>. Speech difficulties in autistic people typically coexist with other communication problems, such as lack of gestures, not responding to their names, and showing little interest in social interactions. However, speech delays can simply be a developmental delay or due to an underlying issue like hearing loss. 
&nbsp;

<h5>Is Your Baby Tongue Tied?</h5>

Let&#39;s define a tongue tie (also known as ankyloglossia) first. A tongue knot appears when the lingual frenulum or the tissue that connects part of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter than usual.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Some medical experts think that a tongue tie is a potential cause of speech delays since it limits the tongue&#39;s range of motion. This is why medical professionals perform a surgical treatment called frenotomy (also referred to as tongue tie clipping), claiming that this will help the child to overcome speech delay and/or speak clearly. 
&nbsp;

How do you know your baby is not irritated or frustrated with how you speak to them? Well, scientific data suggests that babies adore hearing adults speak. So, how can your baby not enjoy your speech? Especially when you&rsquo;re talking to them specifically and that, too in a kind, positive manner! They also love to imitate the voices and different noises they hear from surroundings. Therefore, the more you talk to them, the more quickly your baby will be able to pick up speech. 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Natural baby speech imitates the female voice, which infants around the world identify with comfort and feeding.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Using &quot;baby speak&quot; won&#39;t stop or postpone your baby from picking up adult speech in the future.</li>
	<li>Chatting with your infant frequently throughout the day, discussing your activities, and talking while feeding, dressing, or washing them are all part of baby speech. Your baby will start to connect these language sounds to regular items and activities.</li>
	<li>Simple words like &quot;mom&quot; and &quot;bottle&quot; should be repeated frequently to help your infant become accustomed to them and learn what they mean. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Did you know your baby can grasp the meaning of what you&#39;re saying even though they cannot talk effectively yet<a href="#accordion">[9]</a>? This is because they are attuned to emotional tones as well. Thus, give them your undivided attention and support their early attempts to communicate with you:

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Make sure to smile at them when your baby is gurgling, cooing, or otherwise vocalizing with baby talk.</li>
	<li>Pay attention to your infant as they squeal and giggle instead of averting your eyes, interrupting, or chatting to someone else.</li>
	<li>Be patient as you try to interpret your baby&#39;s nonverbal cues.</li>
	<li>Give your infant enough loving attention so they can communicate with you even while you&#39;re busy with other things. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Talking to a baby should always be a two-way street. If you&rsquo;re too tired to sing a song or engage in energetic storytelling, you can mimic your infant to keep them engaged. This action conveys a crucial message: you care about what they are trying to say and how they are feeling<a href="#accordion">[9]</a>.

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Use baby talk to show them how adult discussions work.</li>
	<li>Replicate the baby&#39;s cries, such as &quot;ba-ba&quot; or &quot;goo-goo,&quot; then listen for another sound before repeating it.</li>
	<li>Even if you don&#39;t grasp what your kid is trying to say, make an effort to react.</li>
	<li>Smiles and other facial expressions strengthen communication.</li>
	<li>Baby gestures are an attempt at communication, so try to mimic them as well. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h5>Speak Multiple Languages</h5>

It&#39;s crucial to communicate with your child in the language you feel most comfortable with. However, it&rsquo;s also extremely helpful if you&rsquo;re using multiple languages with them. While it won&rsquo;t change how quickly or late your child learns to speak, being bilingual or even multilingual at a young age has multifold benefits. For instance, they&rsquo;ll be proficient in all their languages. Also, at school or otherwise, it will improve their focus, creativity, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities<a href="#accordion">[7]</a>. 
&nbsp;

Baby babble or baby talk is helpful when the child is at the stage where they don&rsquo;t understand the meaning of words. However, when kids reach the stage of full language development around the age of 15 months, the significance of baby talk disappears. It is replaced by a connection of love and emotions expressed via language. According to experts, there is no &quot;appropriate time&quot; to quit using baby talk with your child, but it&#39;s crucial to modify your kid-speak as they get older, specifically when emotions and understanding is developing. 
&nbsp;

The first year of your baby&#39;s life will be full of change &ndash; and not just diaper changes. From the earliest grins, gurgles, and coos to learning to pronounce &quot;mama&quot; or &quot;dada,&quot; your baby will slowly learn to communicate with you. What&rsquo;s more, they will expect you to respond in the same manner, i.e., &quot;baby talk&quot; to them.

&nbsp;

You will need to take a lot of steps to support your baby&#39;s communication abilities, especially throughout their first year. However, these &ldquo;steps&rdquo; are quite simple. You only need to play, sing, converse, and smile at your child!&nbsp;

&nbsp;

You should prioritize talking to your infant because reading, writing, and interpersonal skills can be successfully inculcated during early childhood when speech and language abilities are vital.

&nbsp;

The only thing to remember is that every child develops communication skills at their own rate. Don&#39;t worry too much if your child isn&#39;t talking as rapidly as you had anticipated. However, don&rsquo;t hesitate talking to your doctor about any concern you have. 
&nbsp;

Key Points

<ul>
	<li>When an adult speaks to a child between the ages of 0 months and 3 years, it is called &quot;baby talk&quot;.</li>
	<li>Engaging in the baby talk can be fun, but it can also be frustrating at times; either way, it is essential for you to indulge in baby talk for your child&rsquo;s growth and development.</li>
	<li>Many infants pick up things rapidly through baby talk. Each infant, however, reacts at its own rate.</li>
	<li>If you think there&rsquo;s any developmental issue with your baby, consult with a doctor immediately.</li>
</ul>

[1] Culbertson GH, Caporael LR. Baby talk speech to the elderly: Complexity and content of messages. Personal Soc Psychol Bull. 1983;9(2):305–12.

[2] de Rosnay M, Hughes C. Conversation and theory of mind: Do children talk their way to socio-cognitive understanding? Br J Dev Psychol. 2006;24(1):7–37.

[3] Barbeau EB, Meilleur A-AS, Zeffiro TA, Mottron L. Comparing motor skills in autism spectrum individuals with and without speech delay. Autism Res. 2015;8(6):682–93.