Witnessing your child’s first words is an amazing milestone in every parent’s life. When words don’t come as expected, however, it can leave parents feeling worried and confused. You may find yourself wondering if your child’s lack of speech or differences in speech are something to be worried about or if they will just “catch up”. Here’s where to start if you think your child may be behind with communication skills and need speech therapy.
Table of Contents
Speech and Language Are Different
Getting a pulse on your child’s skills compared to age expectations is the first step to determining if they need speech therapy. It starts with having a basic understanding of the difference between speech and language and knowing that these skills may develop at a different pace. Speech is the process of stringing certain sounds together to produce spoken words that communicate a child’s intentions or desires.
“Which language games will help my kid the fastest?” 👇
Goally’s tablet has some of the top language learning games & apps that help kids learn their first 50 words, practice finger dexterity & fine motor skills, AND communicate with AAC.
Language is the system of meaning a child develops to communicate with others in their world and involves not only expressing oneself (expressive language), but also understanding what others are expressing (receptive language). Children may develop an understanding of language as expected but struggle to express language using speech. These children may benefit from alternative means of expression, such as sign language or picture communication using an affordable AAC device.
Other children may express themselves with speech as expected but have trouble speaking with the level of maturity seen by others their age, either because the sounds they produce are simplified or inaccurate, or because they are using more simple sentences than other children their age. Yet others may have challenges responding to the communication of their parents or peers because they may not understand everything being asked of them, despite the presence of relatively strong verbal skills.
Explore the Range of Typical Communication Development
Now lets explore where your child’s skills fall in the range of typical development for each of these areas compared to other kids their age to see if they need speech therapy. There are several valuable resources to help you understand what skills are expected at your child’s age, including your state’s health department website. Here are a few FAQs on speech milestones that are used by professionals when screening whether a child may benefit from a speech and language assessment.
These big milestones, along with more detailed monitoring of your child’s skills as they grow, can help you identify areas of need and bring those to the attention of a professional who can help you determine in more detail whether your child needs speech therapy or would benefit from intervention in one or more areas of communication.
Read more: What Are the Types of AAC?
Connect With a Speech Therapist for Your Child
If you discover that your child’s skills are behind expectations in one or more of these areas, it is a good idea to connect with a trusted professional to help you explore further. Early identification and intervention for communication skills is key to optimal outcome in the future, but it is never too late to reach out for support. The best place to start is your child’s pediatrician. Bring your concerns and observations to a well visit and your child’s doctor can help you connect with community resources, such as early intervention providers (if your child is under the age of 3 years), school-based services, or community speech therapy providers.
A thorough speech and language assessment conducted by a qualified speech therapist (speech-language pathologist) can help determine if your child is behind age expectations and if so, what type of support would be most beneficial. Some kids may benefit most from consistent contact with a speech therapist for the short or longer term, others may benefit from practicing at home with parents who receive coaching support from a speech therapist less frequently.
Start Practicing Speech Therapy with Your Child
When it comes to communication skills development, it rarely feels right to take a “wait and see” approach. There are so many great activity ideas here on the Speakeasy Blog to explore. You can also try these simple, everyday strategies to bolster speech and language each day, regardless of your child’s age:
- Read together: families who reach together each day have significantly positive impacts on their child’s speech, language, and literacy development. Reading should be a fun, child-centered activity that lasts as long as your child’s interest does.
- Talk your way through the day: Talk about what you see, what you are doing, and what others are doing to immerse your child in language. You can ask questions, wonder about things out loud, point out what your child finds interesting.
“Which language games will help my kid the fastest?” 👇
Goally’s tablet has some of the top language learning games & apps that help kids learn their first 50 words, practice finger dexterity & fine motor skills, AND communicate with AAC.
If you’re concerned about your child’s speech development, it’s important to take proactive steps to determine if speech therapy is necessary. Understanding the difference between speech and language and assessing your child’s skills compared to age expectations can provide valuable insights. Exploring the range of typical communication development and identifying areas of need can guide you in seeking professional help. Connecting with a speech therapist and undergoing a comprehensive assessment will help determine the best course of action for your child’s communication journey. Remember, early identification and intervention are key, and it’s never too late to seek support. Embrace everyday strategies, such as reading together and engaging in language-rich conversations, to enhance your child’s communication skills. With the right guidance and practice, your child can thrive and reach their full communication potential.
FAQ’s AboutChild Needing Speech Therapy
What language milestones should a 12-month-old hit? At 1 year old, your child might try to communicate with gestures and pointing. How should a child be communicating at 18 months? A child typically uses spoken words more often than gestures and behavior by this age. How many words should a 24-month-old say? At two years old, a child is typically combining 2 words to make simple phrases. What's a normal speech milestone at 3 years old? Typically, at 3 years old, one is using simple phrases by combining 3 words or more. When should people be able to understand my child? At about 4 years old. Typically, most people can understand a child's speech by then.
This post was originally published on 10/23/2022. It was updated on 06/23/2023.
Goally
We help parents teach their kids life skills, like doing bedtime and morning independently. Backed by science, we incorporate evidence-based practices and expert-informed designs in all of our apps and content.
