Talking to you is one of the most important things your child can learn as they grow up. Speech and language skills are very important in everyday life. They help us say what we need, make friends, and do well in school. What happens though when those skills don’t improve as quickly as planned?
Many parents find themselves asking the same question: Does my child need pediatric speech therapy?
If you’ve noticed possible speech delay signs or your child is struggling to communicate effectively, this guide will help you understand what to look for, what’s normal, and when to seek speech therapy.
What is speech therapy for kids?
Pediatric speech therapy helps kids get better at talking, using body language, making facial movements, and getting what other people say. For some kids, problems may be with how they say words, while for others, they may have more general communication challenges with words, understanding, or sentence structure.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) help kids with
- Delays in speech development
- Problems with both expressive and receptive language
- Stuttering or problems with speaking
- Problems with social interactions
- Issues with feeding or oral-motor skills
Speech therapy is meant to be fun, interesting, and built on play so that your child can grow in a safe and positive setting.
Common Speech Delay Signs to Watch For
Every child develops at their own pace, but certain patterns can signal that extra help may be beneficial. Some of the most common speech delay signs include:
- Not enough words for their age
If your child doesn’t seem to be adding new words regularly or uses fewer words than you would expect, this could be a sign of speech development delays.
- Having trouble understanding the directions
Kids who have problems with both verbal and receptive language may find it hard to understand new ideas, follow directions, or answer questions.
- Problems with pronunciation that make it hard to understand
Young children often say some sounds wrong, but if your child’s speech makes it hard for even familiar ears to understand, it may be time to get help.
4. Having trouble putting together sentences
It could be a sign of expressive language delay if your child speaks in short sentences or has trouble putting words together.
- Not interacting with other people
Kids who have trouble with language may avoid talking to others, play with others less, or act angry when they try to say something.
Early Signs in Toddlers: When Toddler Speech Therapy May Help
Early childhood is a very important time for language and speech development, and many parents start to notice problems when their child is a baby. You might want to look into baby speech therapy if your child is between the ages of 1 and 3 and:
- Aren’t talking or pointing by 12 months
- Say less than 20 words by 18 months
- Have trouble expressing basic needs
- Rarely copy sounds or words
- Get angry when trying to talk to others
Early help can make long-term results much better and stop learning problems from happening in the future.
What does a speech screening look like?
A speech-language pathologist does a short, informal test called a speech screening to see if there may be [evaluating speech needs] that need a more in-depth evaluation. The therapist may see the following during a screening:
- Word use and language
- Being able to understand questions
- Making sounds
- Communicating with others
- Meeting goals that are appropriate for their age
Testing people through screenings is an easy and quick way to see if more testing would be helpful.
What Takes Place During a Child Speech Evaluation?
If a test shows possible problems, the next step is a full child speech assessment. In this case:
- Talking to your child in a conversational setting
- Watching your child play
- Standardized tests for language understanding and expression
- Checking speech sounds and grammar
- Checking memory, listening skills, and social communication
The goal is to find out what your child is good at, what they need help with, and whether therapy will be helpful.
When you should go to speech therapy
Parents often don’t know when to take their kids to speech therapy. You don’t have to wait until a problem is “big enough” to do something about it. Early help can make a big difference if your child is having trouble communicating, is showing signs of being behind, or is falling behind their peers.
You should have a professional look at it if:
- Your child isn’t achieving developmental goals
- Their speech is hard to understand
- They have trouble with both verbal and receptive language
- You see ongoing delays in speech development
Concern has been shown by teachers or parents. You have a feeling that something is wrong.
Therapy can help your child improve their speaking skills by giving them direction, support, and a personalized plan.
Why Early Help Is Important
Communication is the key to learning, expressing feelings, and making friends. Finding and helping kids with speech and language problems early on is good for them because:
- Boost self-esteem
- Make friends better
- Engage more in school
- Get better at reading and writing
- Lessen anger or behavior problems
Children can make quick progress and learn skills they will need for the rest of their lives with the help of professionals and a caring setting.
Finally, some thoughts
If you’re noticing speech delay signs or wondering whether a child speech assessment could help, you’re not alone—and you’re taking an important step by exploring your child’s needs. You’re doing a great thing by taking the time to find out what your child needs. Pediatric speech therapy is a friendly, supportive, and very successful way to help kids talk clearly and with confidence. Call us 406.624.6669 or contact us
