Our lives here in Orlando are busy and it’s not always easy to be a parent. It has become easier to just look up information about your child’s speech on the internet, rather than going to the speech therapist. Deciphering if your child has a speech delay or language challenge isn’t always straightforward.
Children develop and learn at their own pace, making the range of what is considered normal very broad. While it is perfectly normal to mispronounce words on occasion, it is easy to overlook any issues.
While it is easy to overlook any issues, delays in children/s speech and language development have become prevalent in America. The key to success is early intervention.
Early intervention can help children with speech and language disorders meet higher social and academic potential.
The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) says: “The earlier a child’s speech and language problems are identified and treated, the less likely it is that problems will persist or get worse. Early speech and language intervention can help children be more successful with reading, writing, schoolwork, and interpersonal relationships.”
When it comes to a the development of a child’s speech and language, experts don’t recommend the “wait and see” approach.
“Parents should take children for a speech evaluation any time they’re concerned,” says Diane Paul, PhD, Director of Clinical Issues in Speech-Language Pathology at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
“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,” said Elise Davis-McFarland, president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association..
Testing For Speech Sound Disorders
The first step is getting evaluated by a pediatric speech-language therapist to determine the need for speech, language, and occupational needs. A therapist will listen to your child, observe how they move their tongue, jaw, and lips. Depending on the age, test their language skills. For instance, listen to them tell a story or see how well they follow directions.
If you suspect your child has a speech -language disorder, early intervention makes all the difference. At First Words Speech Therapy we are dedicated to meeting your child’s speech and language disorder with personalized care.
