Early Signs Your Child May Need Speech Therapy

Trying to determine if a child needs treatment for speech and language delay can be difficult and stressful for parents. Each child expresses him or herself differently and it may be natural for children not to follow the expected milestones exactly as they’re described. As a parent or caregiver, the difficulty lies in telling whether your child’s lack of expressive language is a sign of comprehension problems, a weak vocabulary, or speech or sound production difficulties.

At Achieve Pediatric Therapy, we provide treatment for children with speech and language delay in Chicago and the surrounding areas. We can identify the signs that your child needs a language or speech program. Two of the signs to watch for are delayed milestones and a lack of progress in speech and language development.

Delayed Milestones

Developmental milestones show what children, on average, are capable of at different ages. Of course, a child may miss a milestone and still have normal speech and language development. After all, some children are slower in developing certain skills and faster at developing others. However, these age-related signs could indicate that your child needs treatment for a speech delay and/or a language delay. A communication assessment with a speech-language pathologist can help determine whether your child is experiencing a delay.

If your child shows any of these signs, a professional consultation is advised, at which time you can discuss a speech program for your child:

~ By 12 months, they do not babble, say any words, seem to understand or respond when you talk, or use many gestures

~ By 18 months, they do not say at least 50 words, speak in two-word phrases, or have trouble imitating sounds

~ By two years, they do not use language to express more than immediate needs, they communicate mostly through sounds and pointing, or they show signs of having lost previously established language skills

~ By two-and-a-half years, they still speak in single syllables or do not finish words (such as by dropping final consonants or syllables); you or regular caregivers are unable to understand at least half of what they say; or they speak in an unusual tone (nasal-sounding, for instance)

~ By three years, they speak using only simple two-word phrases and strangers have difficulty comprehending their pronunciation

What to Do if Your Child Is Showing Signs of a Language or Speech Delay

If you are worried your child may have a speech and/or language delay, consider bringing them in for a communication assessment at our clinic. Our speech-language pathologists can give you a better understanding of where your child’s speech or language development stands. Our communication assessments look at receptive language (what the child understands), expressive language (what they can say), nonverbal communication (gestures, body language, and facial expressions), sound development, clarity of speech, and oral-motor status (how well the parts of your child’s mouth work together for speech). Contact us today for more information or visit our web site for a list of locations.