A recent national poll of speech language pathologists and audiologist, done by the American Speech Language Hearing Association, or ASHA, indicates most parents are not aware of the early signs for children’s communication disorders. They are also not aware of the numerous benefits of early treatment.
Often times the ‘wait and see’ approach, hoping your child will outgrow their speech delay is outdated and has shown to cause serious challenges down the road.
“About 11 percent of preschool children are going to have a speech, language, hearing or swallowing disorder,” said Elise Davis-McFarland, president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. “If those go unaddressed, we find that about 15 percent of school-aged children will have some type of communication disorder.”
“What we know is that the sooner the issues are addressed by a professional, the better chance the child has of getting on that normal developmental progression,” she said.
Early intervention for a child means an improved ability to interact and communicate with others, advance their social skills, and enhance their emotional development. Early intervention for the parents provides support, education, and guidance.
“We know parents want the best for their children. However, they may hear messages that encourage a ‘wait and see’ approach by suggesting a child may grow out of a communication issue. Unfortunately, this often is not the case. Delaying treatment means children may miss a critical developmental window where they acquire a majority of their foundational speech and language skills, which occurs between birth and 3 years of age, ” said Elise Davis-McFarland, PhD, CCC-SLP,
In the first three years of life, a child develops a large part of their language and speech skills. Making it a critical time for brain development. If there is an issue with communication development, starting therapy during this time of brain development has significant results.
“Hearing and listening to language is the primary way young children learn. The skills achieved during this time lay the groundwork for later success with reading and writing, academics, social interactions, and career options and advancement—making early intervention for any speech/language or hearing problem, preferably well before age 3, so important.”
Don’t Delay
If you have any concerns about your child’s ability to speak, hear, or understand, don’t delay. Treated early enough, some disorders can be prevented or even reversed.
If you suspect your child may have a speech or language disorder, take the first step. Contact First Words Speech Therapy, we provide a comprehensive evaluation for a variety of speech, language, and occupational needs. We are dedicated to providing personalized care to meet your child’s speech and language needs.
