Three popular myths about language development

Abstract

Important clinical decisions are based in part on the information parents provide about their children's developmental language history. There are several myths about speech and language development, however, that cause parents to provide inaccurate information. Three of these myths are discussed in this paper: the First Word myth, the 'Older Sibling as Inter preter' myth, and the First Sentence myth. Familiarity with the mis conceptions that underlie these myths should help clinicians notice when parents might be providing inaccurate developmental language informa tion. The ability to recognize an inaccurate parental report should eliminate the diagnostic enigmas associated with these myths and thereby lead to more accurate diagnoses and appropriate intervention decisions.

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