Which statement is true of a child with language delay, but not true of a child with speech delay?

• A. The child will have difficulty developing reading skills
• B. The child will have difficulty communicating with others
• C. The child will probably have difficulty developing normal relationships with peers
• D. All of the above

Answer: (A)

Language delay affects the building blocks of literacy. When a child has delays in understanding and using language—vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to form meaning—the skills that underlie learning to read, such as vocabulary knowledge and language processing, often lag as well. Reading development relies on these language foundations, so a child with language delay is more likely to struggle with reading skills. In contrast, a speech delay concerns articulation and sound production; if language knowledge is intact, reading can develop more normally, even if speech sounds are hard to hear. Therefore, the statement about difficulties with reading skills is the one that applies specifically to language delay. Difficulties in communicating with others or forming peer relationships can occur with both language and speech delays, so they aren’t unique to language delay.