Covid-19 pandemic hurt children’s speech and language skills, UAE doctors say

Covid-19 pandemic hurt children’s speech and language skills, UAE doctors say

Children under the age of five could suffer developmental problems owing to long periods of social confinement during the pandemic.

Paediatricians and speech therapists reported an increase in the number of young children requiring sessions after spending much of last year learning from home.

Some children and infants failed to meet their developmental milestones because of social distancing, restrictions on play dates and nurseries and minimal contact with extended families, experts said.