The Concern Surrounding Language Delay
Most parents are concerned when their children don’t reach criticaldevelopmental milestonesconcurrently with their peers. But if there’s one milestone in particular that makes parents nervous when it isn’t reached, it’s learning to speak.Delays in speechcan range in severity from not talking at all to finding it difficult to pronounce certain words and being challenged to form sentences.
Most of these parents presume that their child’s language delay orspeech disorderwill have a long-term impact on their child’s capacity to function normally, socially and academically. But this isn’t always the case, as can be seen by a relatively unknown condition known as Einstein Syndrome.
Einstein Syndrome Defined
Einstein Syndrome is the term used to characterize a child who has a speech delay but is simultaneously gifted in other areas requiring analytical thought. Children with Einstein Syndrome eventually speak with no constraints or indications of their slow start, while at the same time remaining more advanced in other areas.
Einstein Syndrome was named for Albert Einstein, according to many the most brilliant and influential scientist of the 20th Century. Einstein, a certified genius, was also a late talker (according to some biographers). Hedidn’t speak full sentences until he was 5 years old. Einstein’s speech delay clearly wasn’t an impediment to his intellectual prowess and awe-inspiring accomplishments.
Thomas Sowell, an American economist, coined the concept of Einstein Syndrome. Sowell observed that, whereas language delay is considered a symptom ofautism, there are many children who are plagued with language delay but aren’t autistic. And amongst them are children who later on thrive, becoming very successful and highly respectedanalytical thinkers.
Characteristics
What are some of the ways to detect whether or not your child may have Einstein Syndrome? Of course, the first criterion is that your child is not meetingage-appropriate speech milestones. But there are more clues.
Sowell, in his 1997 book “Late-Talking Children,” outlines some of the general characteristics that will often be found in those children with Einstein Syndrome:
- outstanding and precocious analytical or musical abilities
- outstanding memories
- strong-willed behavior
- very selective interests
- delayed potty training
- specific ability to read or use numbers or a computer
- close relatives with analytical or musical careers
- extreme concentration on whatever task is occupying their time
Diagnosis
If you are concerned that your child is a late-talker, you need to have your child evaluated by either a therapist who delivers therapy face-to-face or one delivers online speech therapy to determine the reason for the speech delay. If the evaluation doesn’t label autism as the cause and you feel that your child is otherwise quite engaged in the world, then it is more than likely that your child fits the criteria of Einstein Syndrome.
That being said, at this point, there is no accepted medical definition of Einstein Syndrome, nor does it appear in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). While your child may indeed have Einstein Syndrome, it is unlikely that he/she will receive a formal diagnosis.
Alternatively, if your child receives a particular diagnosis from the therapist who evaluates and delivers online speech therapy, don’t hesitate to challenge a diagnosis that you feel is incorrect. And sometimes there may be a physical impairment that is impeding your child from talking that is worthy of investigation.
Treatment
Whether your child has Einstein Syndrome or another form of speech delay, face-to-face or online speech therapy is the recipe to correct your child’s condition. Besides the regular therapy sessions with a licensed clinician, there are exercises you can do at home to practice with your child to improve speech.
The therapy that will be suggested for your child will be customized per the results of the evaluation. And sometimes the speaking delay is due to a receptive/ language disorder, where the problem is not the speaking itself but rather understanding what’s being said and responding appropriately.
The Bottom Line
Although Sowell’s discovery goes a long way in explaining the phenomenon known as Einstein Syndrome, there hasn’t been enough research for it to be conclusive. At the same time, it is vital for face-to-face therapists and those who deliver online speech therapy to be aware of its existence. It not only can make the diagnosis more accurate but is a source of hope for you and your child that is reinforced by some empirical data.
Help Your Students Cope with the Crisis
The response to the COVID-19 Pandemic is unprecedented. Because of our unique role in children’s K-12 education, including online speech therapy, we feel a responsibility to do what we can to assist schools, therapists, and students with this transition to online learning and seclusion. Our therapists are providing complimentary “Support Sessions” to the country’s youth to ensure that our students remain engaged and supported. We are also assisting schools by training their therapists for remote therapy.
Learn More: Empowered Students
As you and your school consider how to meet students where they are during challenging times, onlinepsychoeducational servicesmay support your school in extending its in-person team and reaching students at home and in school.
FAQs
What is Einstein syndrome? Einstein syndrome is a condition where a child experiences late onset of language, or a late language emergence, but demonstrates giftedness in other areas of analytical thinking. A child with Einstein syndrome eventually speaks with no issues, but remains ahead of the curve in other areas.
Is it true Einstein was a late talker? ›
Einstein, a certified genius, was also a late talker (according to some biographers). He didn't speak full sentences until he was 5 years old. Einstein's speech delay clearly wasn't an impediment to his intellectual prowess and awe-inspiring accomplishments.
What are the characteristics of Einstein syndrome? ›
Characteristics of Einstein Syndrome
Strong-willed behavior, where the child does not listen to parents or teachers and always wants to do things their way. These children have an outstanding memory. Above average ability to read, use a computer, or even at numbers.
Does speech delay affect intelligence? ›
Children with speech delay is one of the concerns for many parents. Many opinions believe that children with delayed speech affect intelligence. However, so far, there has been no research to prove that children with speech delay are less intelligent.
How rare is Einstein syndrome? ›
Research concerning this disorder is currently minimal, and there is no official medical definition or criteria at present. As such, it is unknown how common Einstein Syndrome is, or whether it is caused by genetic or environmental factors.
Can a late talker be smart? ›
It's believed that a segment of children diagnosed as late-talkers outgrow this developmental delay and prove themselves to be gifted and exceptionally bright. These children would qualify as candidates for being said to have Einstein syndrome.
Do early talkers have higher IQ? ›
What the Research Says. Where early talking is concerned, it may be linked to giftedness. The Davidson Institute cites a study showing that among 241 “profoundly gifted” children, 91 percent started taking early. On average, they said their first words at age 9 months.
At what age did Einstein start talking? ›
Einstein famously didn't start talking until he was 3 years old. Other famous late talkers include mathematical genius Ramanujan, a nobel prize winner (Gary Becker), a US talk show host (G. Gordon Liddy) and even Mussolini.
Can a late talker be normal? ›
There's no obvious reason for their language delay. Researchers are looking into the role that genetics may play. Many Late Talkers seem to catch up to their peers by the time they begin school [1]. However, 20-30% of late talking children continue to have problems with language development.
What percentage of Late Talkers are autistic? ›
30-40% of late-talkers do have a physical or developmental delay or disorder. Less than 20% of late-talkers are on the autism spectrum. Some reports suggest the number is as low as 9%.
Many kids with speech delays have oral–motor problems. These happen when there's a problem in the areas of the brain responsible for speech. This makes it hard to coordinate the lips, tongue, and jaw to make speech sounds. These kids also might have other oral-motor problems, such as feeding problems.
Are late talkers gifted? ›
Einstein syndrome is when a child develops language skills later than typically expected, yet is gifted in other areas, such as musical talent or analytical skills. The term “Einstein syndrome” was developed in 1993 by American economist Thomas Sowell.
Do intelligent people talk slow or fast? ›
Slow talkers are often assumed to be less intelligent or competent than fast talkers, while very fast talkers can be seen as less truthful or kindhearted. There is no inherent connection between the rate of speech and levels of intelligence, truthfulness or kindness.
Was Einstein an ADHD? ›
Albert Einstein, Physicist & Mathematician
Although it can't be proven, many scholars and historians believe that Einstein one of the greatest minds of all-time, had ADHD. Einstein was a German physicist and mathematician who developed the special and general theories of relativity.
What is a late talker a symptom of? ›
Researchers have yet to agree upon an explanation for this specific delay. They have determined, though, that Late Talkers are more likely to have a family history of early language delay, to be male, and to have been born at less than 85% of their optimal birth weight or at less than 37 weeks gestation [1].
Why is my toddler smart but doesn't talk? ›
When 2 year olds are understanding everything, but haven't started talking it's often a sign of a developmental speech disorder, which causes children to have a harder time learning to actually pronounce sounds and words.
Was Einstein a good talker? ›
If not, why didn't he enjoy it? Einstein was never a good speaker. Language did not come naturally to him. He started talking late, and always preferred thinking in images, not words.
What age do geniuses start talking? ›
Early Language Development
Gifted children tend to begin talking early. While most children say their first word at around 1 year of age, gifted children may begin speaking when they are 9 months old. 2 Some parents report that their children said their first word even earlier than that, as early as 6 months of age.
Did Albert Einstein talk to himself out loud? ›
Albert Einstein talked to himself. He wasn't an avid social butterfly when he was growing up, and he preferred to keep to himself. Einstein.org reports that he used to repeat his sentences to himself softly.
