Speech therapy is so much more than what most people realize! A speech-language pathologist (the long official name for a speech therapist) not only assists patients with their ability to communicate, but they help them understand communication, understand appropriate social communication, and treat feeding and swallowing disorders.
Here are some very basic signs parents can look for to see if speech therapy might be needed for their child.
Babies / Toddlers:
- Not babbling by 4-7 months.
- Lack of gesturing by 7-12 months.
- Issues with verbal requests by ages 1-2 years.
- Not speaking a few two-word phrases by ages 1.5-2 years.
- Trouble making the k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds by ages 2-3 years.
- Talking very little by ages 2-3 years.
- Continued difficulty swallowing, eating, or chewing food
Children / Teens:
- Difficulty following directions and answering questions
- Low reading comprehension, slow reading speed
- Cognitive (intellectual, thinking) or other developmental delays.
- Repeating words or parts of words when speaking.
- Falling behind in school for unknown reasons.
- Trouble making any sounds after age 3.
By far, most therapy needs are discovered by parents noticing something unusual or having a concern for their child. If you are unsure if your child needs speech therapy, check with your child’s doctor, or schedule a free screening with one of our incredible pediatric speech language pathologists.
Unsure? Still curious? Call to schedule a free screening with a speech-language pathologist.