Pediatric speech therapy may sometimes be necessary to assist children who are having difficulty speaking. When your child does not develop in a way that is considered normal, it can be depressing for you as a parent, and understandably so. However, problems with speech can be treated especially when they are identified early. You may be wondering how you can be sure that your child does in fact need speech therapy. Here is a look at some of the major clues.
No Babbling
Your child should be babbling by the time they are 4 to 7 years old. If they are not babbling or making any sounds, they may be showing signs that they have a language disorder. Take your time to observe your child, and if they are too quiet, you may need to seek help.
Lack of Gesticulation
Gesticulation is one of the major signs that your child is developing language skills. When young children want something, they may start gesturing, pointing, and even waving. If you notice that your child is not doing any of this when they are between 7 to 12 months old, it's possible that they may have a speech problem.
Lack of Sentences
When your child is between 1 to 2 years old, they should be able to start forming simple sentences. If your toddler is going through a lot of struggle to construct simple sentences, it may be time to have them tested for a speech disorder. At this stage, children should at least be putting together sentences that have three or four words.
Difficulty Making Letter Sounds
When your child has trouble with specific sounds, it may be a sign that they are having a speech is a problem. In particular, children who are struggling with making individual sounds from the alphabet may be showing signs of a speech disorder. You can test your child with the letter sounds yourself to confirm the issue.
Get help
Although it can be quite depressing for you as a parent to see your child not progressing with their speech, there is no need to despair about it. This is because help is readily available. If you suspect that your child is having a problem, speak with your pediatrician, and they will recommend to you a pediatric speech therapist who can assist your child and get them on the right track as quickly as possible.
Share