FOR parents, the joy of hearing their child say “mama” or “daddy” is a moment they would cherish forever, a small word carrying immeasurable love, proof that their child is beginning to find their voice in the world.
But for some families, that moment does not arrive as expected. The silence lingers. The wait stretches from months into years. What should be a natural milestone becomes a source of anxiety, fear and sometimes heartbreak.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a quiet yet undeniable concern has been making its way into Malaysian homes, parenting forums, school corridors and paediatric clinics: the noticeable rise in speech delays among young children, especially those under the age of five.
Once regarded as uncommon, speech delay is now one of the most frequent concerns raised in consultations with paediatricians, speech-language therapists, and child development specialists.
What exactly is speech delay?
According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), speech delay occurs when a child fails to achieve expected milestones, such as babbling, saying their first words, or stringing together simple sentences, within the typical developmental timeframe.
By the age of two, most children should be able to say at least 50 words and begin combining them into simple phrases like “want milk” or “go out.” If these benchmarks are not met, parents are encouraged to seek early assessment.
It is important to note that speech delay is not identical to language delay. A child may understand instructions perfectly well like fetching a toy when asked but still struggle to express themselves verbally. Others may face broader developmental challenges that affect both understanding and expression.
Yet in many homes, especially in Asian cultures, speech delay is often brushed aside as “normal.” Parents are reassured with phrases like “boys talk late” or “just wait, they’ll speak when ready.” While meant to comfort, such reassurances can be dangerous. Waiting too long may cause families to miss the golden window for early intervention, a stage when therapy is most effective in rewiring how a child learns to communicate.
How the pandemic changed childhood
Childhood language development thrives on social interaction: playing with peers, listening to conversations, exchanging emotions through facial expressions, and hearing the rhythm of spoken words.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this natural cycle. Lockdowns kept children indoors, isolated from playgrounds, preschools, and social gatherings. Many first words were spoken not to another child, but to a gadget screen.
According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, reduced exposure to human interaction during the crucial early years can significantly slow a child’s ability to learn and use language.
Health data company Komodo Health reported that in the United States, cases of speech delay among children aged 0 to 12 surged by 115% in 2022 alone.
Before the pandemic, nine children out of every 100 speech assessments were diagnosed with speech delays. In 2022, that number jumped to 21 out of every 100 assessments. The ripple effects are likely similar in Malaysia, judging by the rising number of parents now seeking speech therapy services.
A mother’s journey: From silence to sentences
For me, this is not just a statistic, it is personal. My own son, Al Qhaleefa Hafeez, now seven, once struggled in silence. Born with a tongue tie, his early years were marked by frustration. He wanted to speak but could not. His thoughts were trapped, his emotions often expressed only through tears.
As a mother, it was heartbreaking. I wondered if I had done something wrong, if I hadn’t spoken to him enough, or if I had failed him somehow.
“Mommy, adek does not know how to read,” he once told me. That really broke my heart and it left me in tears.
But when he entered Morning Bell Kindergarten in 2024, something changed. Even though he joined almost halfway through the year, his progress was nothing short of miraculous. Within months, his vocabulary grew. He began forming sentences, counting numbers, and even reciting in Mandarin.
Today, he chats with me about his day, writes small stories, and even cracks jokes.
I said to my husband, I’ll never expect too much from Qhaleefa. Everyone has his or her own pace.
Watching him bloom has been the most precious gift. I will forever be grateful to his teachers for their patience, encouragement, and belief in him.
By sharing my journey, I hope other parents will learn to recognise the signs of speech delay early. Awareness is the first step, and early action can transform silence into sentences, and fear into hope.
Stories from other families
For 35-year-old mother Nur Ayka, her journey began with worry. Her son, now six, could only say the word “mama” when he was two.
“It was at that moment I realised something was different. Other children his age were already talking in short sentences. I felt nervous and afraid about his future,” she shared with Sarawak Tribune.
Determined not to wait, she sought help from both private and government services. Through therapy at the One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC), her son gradually began to form sentences. Today, he is more confident and capable of handling daily life.
Still, the journey has not been easy. “His therapy sessions often clash with school hours, so we sometimes have to pull him out of class. But to me, it’s worth it. Every progress he makes is a victory,” she said.
Her advice to parents is firm: “Don’t wait. Get your child assessed. Enroll them in school early so they can interact with other children. Early action makes all the difference.”
For Noor Syaffarina Ossen, 29, the signs first appeared when her daughter, Adeena, was one and a half years old. During routine check-ups, she realised Adeena wasn’t speaking yet, she only pointed when she wanted something.
“I blamed myself,” she admitted. “As a working mother, I thought I hadn’t given her enough attention. The guilt was heavy.”
But instead of staying in denial, she sought help at Klinik Kesihatan Petra Jaya and OSEIC. Within months of therapy, Adeena began speaking. By age two, she was fluent in both Malay and English.
“Now she talks non-stop!” Noor laughed. “It was such a relief. Therapy not only helped her, but also taught me how to engage with her properly.”
The experience reshaped her entire life. “After work, I now prioritise time with Adeena Sofea. We go to the playground, travel together, and explore the world. I’ve learned that nothing is more important than being present with your child.”
Her message to other parents is clear: “Don’t let denial steal your child’s future. Avoid overexposing them to gadgets. Be attentive, be patient, and most importantly, act early.”
Breaking the silence
The voices of these parents echo a shared truth: speech delay is no longer a rare issue, but a growing challenge in Malaysia’s post-pandemic landscape.
It is a struggle filled with guilt, stigma, and uncertainty. Yet it is also a journey of hope, proof that with early detection, therapy, and parental support, silence can be broken.
To every parent waiting for their child’s first words, know this: you are not alone. Help exists. And sometimes, the smallest word spoken after years of waiting can mean more than a thousand others.
Because when words don’t come, love must fill the silence until they do.
