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Twins, One Has A Speech Delay And One Doesn't!

"What do I do when I have 3 year old twins, and one is apraxic, and learning to say "ma," and the other is not apraxic, and has mastered English and is now learning French?!" 

Twins/Multiples: Speech and Language Development

Speech Delays in Twins/Multiples by Suzie Chafin
Identifying Speech Problems In Your Children
Solving Your Multiples' Speech Problems
Five Ways to Enhance Speech Development
Suzie's Story

Language Development in Twins, Triplets & Higher Order Multiples- Presentation by Paula Moss: Speech-Language Pathologist and Mother of 10 month old twins on November 26, 1998

Twins and language development
Late onset of speech, and speech and language difficulties, including stuttering, are more common in twins than in singletons. This is because twins are frequently premature or low birth weight babies, and their parents may have less time to attend to them individually and to help them develop verbal skills.

Twins Study@Harvard
The Twins Study @ Harvard is a long-term study of language development in twins, supervised by Jennifer Ganger, Ph.D., and Professor Steven Pinker, Ph.D. The goal of the project is to study identical and fraternal twins to determine the relative importance of nature and nurture in language development.

Are Twins Delayed in Language Development?
A review of relevant published studies at Harvard.

Speech and Language Development
In the preschool years all children develop language skills. Over the last 70 years many studies have indicated this is the area where twins and higher multiples are most likely to be different from singleborn children. Thus language is the main focus of this section.

Twin Study--Genetics Key Factor In Speech Learning- A team of American and British researchers studying 2-year-old twins has found that genetics, not the environment, plays the major role in the delayed acquisition of language among children who are having the most difficulty learning to speak.

Autonoumous Language of Twins- this is known as twin language, idioglossia or cryptophasia. In most cases, however, what the twins are speaking is not an entirely new or separate language. It's actually a matter of delayed or poor speech development in either one twin or both.

Twins/Multiples: Special Concerns

Multiples and Speech
Learning to Talk – What to Expect

Supporting Multiples with Special Needs
Every family regards their multiples as special. Unfortunately in some of the families, one or more of the children are particularly special because of some physical, intellectual or behavioural disability which makes them different from the rest of the community.

Multiplicity
The Special Challenges of Parenting Twins & More Loss, Prematurity and Special Needs- Elizabeth A. Pector, M.D.

Raising Special Needs Multiples
Article by Dr. Elizabeth A. Pector , a family physician and medical writer

Twins/Multiples: Associations, Support and Related Sites

Articles on Twin Care and Development
Twin Services is pleased to bring you the following articles on a variety of issues important to multiples. Many are from Twin Services’ Twin Care Handout Collection for Parents. Articles on topics of particular interest to parents written by others are also included. For more information see the wonderful new book for parents The Art of Parenting Twins by Twin Services' founder, Patricia Malmstrom

Triplet Connection
This organization is geared to provide support to those parents of Triplets or higher multiples

The Twins Foundation is an International membership organization and primary research information center on twins and other multiples.

Australian Multiple Birth Association
Special Needs information page for families with multiples.

Multiple Births Canada
Multiple Births Canada/Naissances multiples Canada exists to improve the quality of life for multiple birth individuals and their families in Canada.

Parents of Multiples across Canada
Multiple Births Canada strives to improve the quality of life for multiple-birth individuals and their families in Canada. With an extensive network of local chapters, health care professionals and organizations, we are the source for information on multiple-births in Canada.

The Northwest Association of Mothers of Twins Clubs
The Northwest Association of Mothers of Twins Clubs was formed in 1963 to create an alliance between clubs within the Northwest States and Northwestern Canada. Enabling them to share ideas and twin information on a larger scale. Over the years the Northwest Association has stimulated the foundation of many area clubs, and now includes 38 clubs with over 1250 members.

The Multiple Births Foundation is an independent charity based at Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital in West London. A vital resource to professionals and families alike, it aims to improve the care and support of multiple birth families through the education of all relevant professionals.

Twinsworld and Multiple Birth Resources
Links to Twins resources around the world.

Twins/Multiples: Books and Magazine Resources

Book List for Loss & Special Needs in Multiples--fiction for pre-teens & teens

Children's Books TWINS® Magazine offers books especially for and about twins.

TWINS® Magazine Online articles for Parents of Mutilpes.