Speech Language Therapy
If your child is slow to talk, doesn't string as many words together as you think would be appropriate at his age, or has trouble pronouncing some sounds and words correctly, these are common developmental concerns that can often be addressed with the help of a trained speech and language therapist.
As the name implies, speech language therapy is a type of treatment for children who exhibit signs of speech and language difficulties and can benefit from some professional assistance getting up to speed in this area.
Does Your Child Need Help?
If you're wondering if your child is a good candidate for speech language therapy, the experts recommend asking yourself a few key questions.
- Is your child's language difficult for you to understand?
- Are others able to understand your child's language?
- Does your child have trouble pronouncing certain word clearly?
- How does your child's vocabulary and sentence structure compare with his peers?
- Is your child embarrassed to talk in front of others?
- Does his language cause other children to make fun of him?
- Is your child frustrated when he speaks?
If you answered yes to some or most of these questions, it's probably time to have your child evaluated by an expert.
Give the Books a Look
You can also pick up a child development book to get an idea of where your child's speech and language development should be at this point in his life. While everyone is different, this should at least give you an idea of what milestones your child should be striving for and where he stands in relation to his peers.
Schedule an Evaluation
If you're worried about your child's speech and language ability, you should talk to your pediatrician about setting about a speech evaluation. You might also ask about having a hearing screening to be sure there aren't any auditory problems that you need to worry about.
What to Expect
If your child may benefit from some specialized speech language therapy, you can expect that the specialist you choose will develop an individualized treatment plan to address his specific needs. Often the treatment strategy will consist of regular lessons with the expert, along with some as well as exercises you can practice with your child at home to reinforce these efforts.
Sources:
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/5/12
Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing
http://www.speechhearing.org/speechFAQs.asp
International Children's Education
http://www.iched.org/cms/scripts/page.php?site_id=iched&item_id=child_speech1
