Do you have concerns about your child’s speech or language development? Do they have a difficult time pronouncing certain sounds of speech? Following directions or difficulty in school? Are they missing important developmental milestones or just a late talker?
Being a parent can be overwhelming, you want to make sure your child communication skill are on track. Since it becomes the backbone of academic success, expressing their feelings and thoughts, problem solving, effectively navigating social situations, and building relationships.
The American Speech Language Hearing Association has statistics about children’s communication.
By first grade, about 5% of children have a speech disorder that is noticeable
Research has shown, 20 to 40 % of children with a family history of some type of speech or language impairment have the issue themselves. This is compared to roughly 4 % of those without a family history of a speech language impairment.
Between 6 and 8 million Americans have some form of language disorder.
It may be easy to just wait and see if your child will catch up with their communication development, but that can have negative consequences.
“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,
“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 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 and nurture your child’s communication development.
