When you’re a parent of a little child, life can be super overwhelming. I know I always felt like I was not doing enough, not paying enough attention, not caring for my children in the best way possible. If you have concerns about your child’s development, that feeling can be even more intense.
When you’re a parent of a little child, life can be super overwhelming. I know I always felt like I was not doing enough, not paying enough attention, not caring for my children in the best way possible. If you have concerns about your child’s development, that feeling can be even more intense.
First of all, there is a WIDE range of development for little ones. It’s really hard to judge what your child should be doing versus another child. Siblings can be so different! Some children love to move, so their motor development clicks along, but they’re not so into communication. Some littles like to chatter away and their interests make their communication come faster.
Speech therapy can help many children. And a good speech therapist can help you determine if your child needs a little more support or is just going along at their own pace. It is important to note that early support can lessen a child’s needs as they get older. Also, early support can help a child lessen their (and their parent’s!) frustration.
Speech therapy for little ones is generally play-based and fun. Most speech pathologists who specialize in littles can share ideas for practicing at home and, most importantly, act as a support for you, the parent.
So, would your little benefit from speech therapy? Read on to learn more.
1) Difficulty with eating
Many people don’t know that speech therapists can help when children are having trouble chewing and swallowing. Sometimes babies nurse or take a bottle well, but later have more difficulty changing over to solid foods. Occupational therapists also address this need. Feeding therapy can help little ones with a range of challenges including “picky” eaters, difficulty with chewing and swallowing, and sensory issues. Some speech pathologists and occupational therapists specialize in this field.
If your child is over a year old and struggles with eating solid foods, such as finger foods like Cheerios, they may benefit from speech or occupational therapy. Speaking to your pediatrician about these concerns is the best way to get started.
2) Rule of Thumb for Language
This is a very general guidepost that may indicate your child may benefit from some speech therapy support. In very broad terms, by one year of age, children are using saying single words to communicate. For example, “Da!” for “Daddy.” By two. children are often using 50-100 words and putting two words together in short phrases, such as “Dada up!” to indicate they want Daddy to pick them up. If your child is not yet doing this by 2, it may be helpful to speak to your pediatrician or reach out to your state’s Early Intervention Program. Again, this is not a hard and fast rule, but getting help earlier is typically helpful to reduce frustration and long-term challenges.
3) Speech Clarity
How easily can your child be understood? By the age of 3, a familiar adult can typically understand about 50% of what a child is saying. By the age of 4, adults can understand 90% or more of what a child is saying. If you are struggling to understand your 3- to 4-year-old, they may benefit from some speech therapy. By teaching them some strategies, speech therapy can greatly reduce their frustration and help your little’s confidence.
For more specific information on how children develop speech sounds, see the Early Speech Sound Development and Common Speech Patterns posts.
4) Foundation Skills
If your toddler or preschooler is having trouble developing foundational skills needed for good communication, they may benefit from some speech therapy support. Foundation skills include: 1) attending to language- Does your child show interest in language, such as adult’s speaking? 2) Eye contact- Does your child look toward you or check in with you when you say their name or when you are speaking to them? 3) Imitation of words- Does your child attempt to imitate your actions or words? 4) Initiating language- Does your child try to get your attention by using their voice?
These skills help build the foundation for good communication as your child gets older and moves into school. If your child is a toddler or preschooler and is not showing solid foundation skills, they may benefit from speech therapy to help develop these skills. For more information on Foundation Skills, see the blog post Building a Solid Foundation.
This handout, Building a Solid Foundation, has some strategies to help to develop some of these skills.
5) Trust Your Gut
This is the MOST important sign. You know your child best. Are you concerned? Is there something you’re worried about? Then reach out to your pediatrician to discuss your concerns. If your child’s doctor is not concerned, there are other options as well. Every state has an Early Intervention Program where your child can typically have an assessment done in your home at no cost. Most Early Intervention Programs will assess and provide therapy for children from Birth to 36 months. If your little is older, you can reach out to your local school system instead. You can also go to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to find a local provider who can provide information, do a communication evaluation and/or provide speech therapy. ASHA is the professional organization for speech language pathologists and audiologists that has resources for families as well on their website. Health insurance can typically be used for speech therapy, but please check with your plan.
