Parenting here in Central Florida isn’t always easy. Our lives are very busy and the convenience of looking something up online seems to be the go-to diagnostic, instead of the traditional trip to the doctor’s office.
Unfortunately, trying to figure out if your child has a speech or language challenge is not always easy. Many parents wonder, is it just a phase or will they outgrow it.
Here are a few questions parents ask about their child’s speech and language concerns
What age do children typically go to a speech therapist?
Speech development starts well before a child’s first birthday. Though it is limited such as, cooing, babbling, and jargoning.
While most concerns about speech and language come between 18-24 months of age. This is when parents usually compare their child’s speech to that of other children about the same age. Other concerns start later and are related to reading, articulation, and pronunciation.
When it comes to communication challenges, how important is early intervention?
Early intervention is very important, 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, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 2018 President.
“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.”
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.
