How does age typically affect speech and language development?

• A. Younger children acquire speech and language skills rapidly, while older individuals may experience declines
• B. Speech and language ability remains constant throughout life
• C. Older adults tend to acquire new language skills more quickly
• D. There is no significant relationship between age and speech development

Answer: (A)

Age shapes speech and language development in a stage-like way. In early childhood there is rapid growth in sounds, words, and grammar because the brain is highly plastic and children are continually interacting with language. As people reach adulthood and especially older age, language abilities tend to be more stable, though older adults may experience declines in word retrieval, processing speed, and the ability to learn new language skills, often influenced by hearing changes or cognitive shifts. Vocabulary and grammar generally stay strong, but the pace of acquiring new language slows with age.