How do I Know if My Child Needs Early Intervention Speech Therapy?
It wasn't easy when I first approached the subject with my sister.
"Maybe it's time to consider an evaluation for her," I gently suggested.
Reluctantly, she agreed. When my niece was eventually evaluated, the speech-language pathologist confirmed what I had quietly feared: Kasey had a language disorder and needed early intervention speech therapy services.
As a speech-language pathologist, spotting the signs in Kasey was part of my professional training. But I often wonder, what about parents, guardians, or relatives without this background? How can you tell if a child needs speech therapy?
I’m glad you’re here seeking answers! Let’s dive into understanding speech and language, and explore some guidelines to help you make informed decisions as a caregiver.
Understanding Speech and Language
Ever wondered why we differentiate between speech and language in our profession? Although they are related, they are distinct elements of communication!
Take a look at this diagram with the labels Speech and Language. This diagram shows us how these components are intertwined yet separate.
.Think of language as a mental toolbox that equips us to share our thoughts, feelings, and ideas. It combines vocabulary and grammar, enabling us to ask questions, give instructions, or recount stories, crucial for both expressing ourselves and understanding others.
Speech on the other hand, involves how we produce and use speech sounds correctly. If you think of language as a toolbox, then speech can be thought of as a code. This code is created by using the tools within our toolbox. When we share and understand the meaning of this code, this gives speech meaning and makes communication possible.
It's important to remember that communication isn't limited to speech alone. All behavior is a form of communication! Non-verbal behaviors, such as pointing, eye-gazing, and even emotional expressions like excitement or frustration, all convey messages. Recognizing these forms of communication is just as important, particularly in children who may not speak yet.
Understanding the difference between speech and language gives us a starting point to identify whether children would benefit from speech therapy as part of early intervention.
How to Tell if your Child Needs Early Intervention Speech Therapy Services
Your child will need early intervention in speech therapy if they show signs of a speech sound disorder or developmental language disorder. If you are concerned about their development, start by referring to developmental milestones in speech and language. Determining whether your child has mastered these milestones will help you determine if it's time to schedule an evaluation with a speech therapist.
Speech Milestones
Consider how intelligible (how easy it is to understand) your toddler is to you and strangers. Parents often rate the intelligibility of their children much higher than less familiar listeners (think: extended family and strangers). Below shows the 50%, 75% and 90% intelligibility of children to unfamiliar listeners in sentences. If you rate your own understanding of your child less than these numbers, this indicates a need for an evaluation by a speech therapist to identify the need for early intervention.
Speech sound development is another key area to pay attention to as a parent. For American English-speaking children, over 90% of children have the below sounds by these ages:
/p, b, d, m, n, h/ and /w/ by 2 years
/t, k, g, ng, f/ and /y/ by 3 years
/v, s, z, sh, ch, j/ and /l/ by 4 years
voiced /th, zh/ and /r/ by 5 years
voiceless /th/ by 6 years
Language Milestones
When we think about language sills, there is a lot to consider. Below is a list of the most common areas you will want to pay attention to as a parent.
12 months: a child understands their name, uses their first true word, understands a few phrases and waves ‘hi’ and ‘bye’.
18 months: a child follows simple directions, points to make requests or comment, shakes their head for ‘no’ and uses long streams of sounds.
24 months: a child has around 50 words (mostly nouns with some other words), combines words to form simple sentences (two words each), follow two-step directions, uses possessives (doggy’s ball).
36 months: A child combines words often, uses some plural words (cats; shoes), uses -ing (playing; singing) and past tense -ed (tied; danced), says their name when asked, answers increasingly longer questions and asks who and why questions.
48 months: A child uses -er (bigger; faster), understands and uses location words (under; in; behind), uses a and the, recognize common signs (like the McDonald’s arches or stop signs) and pretends to read and spell.
Contact a Speech Therapist About Early Intervention Today
Concerned about your child's speech and language development? Every moment counts. Act now to give your child the support they need during this critical time. Email us to book an appointment or call us at (385) 229-7895 to schedule a comprehensive evaluation. Early intervention speech therapy can make a significant difference. We understand this might feel like a big step, but you're not alone. We are here to guide and support you and your child towards clearer communication and improved confidence. Getting started is easy—reach out today, and let us take care of the rest.
References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Communication milestones. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones/
Crowe, K., & McLeod, S. (2020). Children's English consonant acquisition in the United States: A review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(4), 2155-2169.
Hustad, K. C., Mahr, T. J., Natzke, P., & Rathouz, P. J. (2021). Speech development between 30 and 119 months in typical children I: Intelligibility growth curves for single-word and multiword productions. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 64(10), 3707-3719.
