"How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?"

Often times we ask ourselves, "what do I even look for?" Parenting is a huge responsibility and it is our job to help our kids grow and develop! Sometimes, parents aren’t sure what to look for and don’t know what is developmentally appropriate. This often rings even more true for first time parents. 

To be honest, why would parents outside of the field of speech-language pathology know what to look for? The reality is- they don’t. And guess what? THAT’S OKAY! 

I am a mom of two under three and a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist. My greatest passion is educating parents and caregivers on how to facilitate meaningful communication with their children. Keep reading to check out a few early signs of potential speech/language disorders:

• My child is 12 months old and they cannot…

  • Use at least one real word (note that animal sounds count as real words)

  • Point, wave, show/give an object

  • Respond to simple phrases/instructions like “let’s go bye-bye”

• My child is 18 months old and they cannot…

  • Identify at least one body part

  • Understand and use words for familiar people, objects, and actions 

  • Look around when someone asks “where” (example: Where is the dog?)

• My child is 2 years old and they cannot…

  • Use two word phrases (examples: bye dada, hi mommy, more milk)

  • Does not attempt to label objects with intention 

    • note that if your child is saying “wa-wa” and pointing to water or drinking water when saying that “word” consistently, this is intentional communication because there is meaning behind their word….something SLPs call an “approximation” which we can shape into correct sounds over time

  • Follow simple two-step directions such as “get your blanket and bring it to mommy”

• My child has chronic ear infections and we haven’t had a hearing test for a while

  
  

• If your child is struggling to hear, it makes perfect sense that they’re having difficulty with producing speech sounds and picking up language

If any of these things signs ring a bell, reach out to an SLP for support! If you or your child are frequently frustrated because of communication breakdowns, this is another great reason to reach out to a Speech-Language Pathologist near you. A simple call to friends who have experienced speech therapy with their kids, or even a google search for providers in your area is a great start!

Here at SpeakEasy Speech Therapy, we implement a family-centered approach. This ensures that parents/caregivers know how to enhance language development in their child’s most natural environment- their home! If you're in the Wilmington, NC area, we are just a phone call away and we can't wait to help your child "speak easy."

Stay Chatty,

Lindsay Leahr, MA, CCC-SLP