May is Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM), so it’s as good a time as any to learn the signs that your child needs speech therapy support. Gordy Rogers, founder of Speech Buddies, share this important information.
In support of Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM), Speech Buddies Connect, a new resource for instantly scheduling speech therapy appointments with qualified speech therapists, urges parents to understand the signs of a speech delay in young children. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, approximately 8-9 percent of preschoolers have a speech or language challenge. Research suggests that the first 6 months of life are the most crucial to a child’s development of language skills. For a person to become fully competent in any language, exposure must begin as early as possible, preferably before school age.
While most parents recognize that children develop at their own pace, it’s still sometimes difficult to stop ourselves from comparing our kids’ milestones against others in their peer groups. We’ve all been there! The next time you come across a preschooler at the playground who appears well on her way to a career in professional orating, remember that the speed and clarity of language development isn’t a contest.
With this in mind, we may wonder how we can give children the support and guidance necessary to grow on a timeline that’s uniquely right for them while also being aware of the importance of early intervention when there are genuine delays. Knowing what to look for is key.
Think it could be time for an evaluation with a speech-language specialist? The following are a few red flags to look for in a child between the ages of 20 and 24 months:
- Mispronounces vowel sounds or talks using primarily vowels
- Uses a single sound or syllable as a catch-all to name what’s in his or her environment
- Uses a word only once without frequent re-use
- Doesn’t show much progress from one month to the next
- Doesn’t answer questions beyond repeating back all or part of what’s been asked
- Still speaks using only single words
While keeping an eye out for any of the above, understand that children under the age of 3 are still learning! During that process, they will typically mispronounce many words, will have difficulty using complete sentences regularly, and will sometimes say things that are unintelligible even to your well-trained parental ear. Substituting one consonant sound for another, blending consonant sounds, or mixing up longer words are common attributes of the language-development process, even in kids as old as 6.
For a child between the ages of 2 and 3, an evaluation is a good idea if a child shows some of these signals:
- Says only specific words or word sounds repeatedly
- Only imitates speech or actions without using new words or phrases
- Is unable to follow simple directions or commands
- Is more difficult to understand than other children of around the same age
- Has a raspy, nasal-sounding, or otherwise unusual tone of voice
By age 5, be on the lookout for these markers:
- Not being able to give his or her first and last name
- Not being able to correctly use plurals or past tense verbs (most but not all of the time)
- An inability to understand two-part commands that include prepositions
- A lack of asking 5-W questions (such as “what?” or “why?”)
- Difficulty talking about what he or she has done during the day or in a given situation
Recognizing speech delays is a nuanced process and often isn’t as simple as checking off boxes from a list. Above anything else, trust your instincts. If you’re feeling worried, it’s better to play it safe and make an appointment with a speech-language pathologist.
Local parents seeking a speech therapist in the Brooklyn and Manhattan areas are encouraged to take advantage of the Speech Buddies Connect program, which matches parents with highly qualified, vetted speech therapists. Initial consultations are offered for only $25.
Each May, Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about speech and communication disorders.
Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP, is the founder of Speech Buddies.