Pediatrics Association Claims Masking Does Not Delay Children’s Speech, Language Development

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that parents do not need to be concerned about their child’s social development, claiming that masking has no negative impact on speech or language development.

“Babies and young children study faces, so you may worry that having masked caregivers would harm children’s language development. There are no studies to support this concern. Young children will use other clues like gestures and tone of voice,” the medical organization said in a series of tweets on Aug. 12.

Babies and young children study faces, so you may worry that having masked caregivers would harm children’s language development. There are no studies to support this concern. Young children will use other clues like gestures and tone of voice. https://t.co/Rj1pnT6Bfk pic.twitter.com/rrO9yTujNi

— American Academy of Pediatrics (@AmerAcadPeds) August 12, 2021

The AAP didn’t give evidence for their statement, only providing a link to an article published on a parenting website that the organization sponsors. The article itself also did not cite any sources that back up their claim, instead saying that “there are no known studies that use of face mask negatively impacts a child’s speech and language development.”

The article, however, provided the reasoning that children’s other senses may be heightened to compensate for masking, giving an example that “visually impaired children develop speech and language skills at the same rate as their peers.” The article also stated that face time without masks and “dedicated time to converse” at home is enough for young children to “reach their expected milestones.”

AAP did not respond to The Epoch Times’s inquiry for data behind its masking claim.

In their new COVID-19 guidance for schools, released in July, the AAP recommended that students over the age of two wear a mask at school, unless a developmental or medical condition prohibited the use, and regardless of their vaccination status. – READ MORE