As a parent, we often overlook the signs of our child's speech and communication issues, thinking they will resolve over time. Usually, children overcome these issues while growing up; however, they become worse sometimes, leaving parents with no choice but to see a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP).
Whether due to some medical condition or an accident, speech and language difficulties can significantly impact your child’s social and academic life. However, the parent's biggest dilemma remains whether to see a specialist or will these symptoms be solved with time.
To help them out, we have created a parent’s guide to when they need to see a Speech Language Pathologist. This guide has answers to all your doubts about speech and language therapy for kids.
A speech-language pathologist (SLP), or you better know them as a Speech Therapist, is an allied health professional (AHP) who diagnoses and treats people with speech, language, and communication issues. They can help both adults and children of all ages in clinics, schools, and hospitals.
SLPs can aid people overcome communication issues due to speech developmental disorders, neurological conditions, or brain injury. They start by looking for the root cause of the problem and develop a treatment plan accordingly.
The speech therapist organizes a number of speech and language therapy sessions to help overcome the problem. They even keep track of the progress over time.
A speech-language pathologist can help kids learn:
Apart from this, these professionals can aid children with reading, writing, spelling, stuttering, memory, attention, problem-solving, sucking and chewing.
If you are worried about your child not hitting their communication milestones at a specific age, it is a clear sign they need expert speech therapy. Here are many more signs to watch out:
Normally, a baby starts to babble between the ages of 4–6 months. But if your 6-month-old hasn’t started babbling yet, it may be a sign of auditory deficits. Your pediatrician may suggest some tests to confirm. If reports suggest no sign of auditory deficits, you should next meet an expert speech-language pathologist (SLP).
A pediatric speech therapist can help you to understand the root cause of speech delay in your child. They may suggest some tips and exercises to help your child’s speech and language development.
Stuttering is a speech disorder that usually shows up around 2 years of age. It affects around 4% of the young children in Canada. Kids who stutter may repeat whole words or block altogether before saying anything.
If your pre-schooler has been showing signs of stuttering for over a month, it's wise to consult a professional speech-language pathologist. Early intervention may shorten the recovery and help your child to be more confident.
If your child prefers to play alone or doesn’t engage in group play, it may be a silent sign of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Today, modern healthcare has made it possible for early diagnosis of ASD to facilitate early intervention.
It is common for kids with ASD to experience speech delays, alongside social communication and emotional disorders. However, a professional speech-language pathologist can help your children learn the necessary skills for social interactions through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.
Kids usually develop a consistent voice by the age of five. But if you notice your child’s voice to be unusually shrill or hoarse, they may have a problem controlling the tone of their voice.
Your child may occasionally suffer from a hoarse voice due to a cough or sore throat, but if the problem persists, it is better to consult a speech therapist. A few speech therapy sessions may help bring your child’s vocal cords back to proper working order.
Toddlers often have incoherent speech, and they make new words to express themselves to their parents. These sweet gestures aren’t concerning as long as start to improve their communication abilities over time.
Incoherent speech includes the same word being repeated differently every time a child speaks. For instance, if your kid wants to say “bye,” they may end up saying “pie,” “die,” and “tie.”
If you’re noticing these signs in your child, the chances are that they may be suffering from childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). However, early speech therapy can help your child overcome this disorder and live a better social life.
By the time your child turns one, they should be pointing at objects and waving at people. While some kids may gesture less than others, if your child isn’t gesturing at all, it’s a good idea to bring this up with your pediatrician. Your pediatrician might suggest seeing a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or speech therapist. These professionals can help figure out why your child isn’t gesturing.
In some cases, a lack of gesturing can be an early sign of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). If that’s the case, starting speech therapy early can make a big difference. Speech therapy for autism can greatly improve a child’s ability to communicate and develop language skills. So, if you notice your child isn’t gesturing, don’t wait—talk to your doctor to get the right support.
Is your 3-year-old saying “fum” instead of “thumb”? Mistakes like substituting words, leaving out final sounds, or simplifying word structures are known as articulation or phonological errors.
If you notice these issues, it’s important to talk to a speech therapist. These errors could mean your child has weak speech muscles or struggles to coordinate the movements needed for clear speech.
The good news is that regular speech exercises can help strengthen those muscles. Speech therapy can also make a big difference in improving your child’s communication and social skills. So, if your child is having trouble with pronunciation, don’t wait—reach out to a speech-language pathologist for guidance.
Many kids find it hard to follow multistep instructions, but if your toddler doesn’t respond to their name or has trouble understanding simple directions like “the truck is behind you” or “Look at the TV,” it might be a cause for concern.
By this age, a toddler should be able to answer basic “what” and “where” questions. If they struggle with this, along with not gesturing or playing with others, it could be a sign of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Getting help early from a speech-language pathologist (SLP) can make a big difference. Speech therapy can help your child overcome these challenges, and it also teaches parents speech exercises they can practice at home to boost their child’s communication skills. If you notice these signs, don’t wait—reach out to a professional for support.
By age 2, strangers should be able to understand about half of what your child says. By the time they turn 3, their speech should be clear enough for others to understand at least 75% of the time. If your toddler’s speech isn’t clear or easy to understand, it’s a good idea to consult a speech therapist.
Unclear speech can sometimes point to speech or language disorders. A speech therapist can help figure out what’s going on and provide a proper diagnosis. They can also work with your child to improve their pronunciation and make their speech clearer. If you’re concerned about your child’s speech, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for help.
About 1 in 790 children in Canada are born with a cleft palate, a common birth condition that can affect feeding, drinking, and speaking. If your child has a cleft lip along with a cleft palate, it’s important to talk to your pediatrician right away.
Surgery can often fix a cleft palate and help restore normal speech functions. For older children, speech therapy might also be needed to teach or reteach them how to produce the right sounds when speaking. Early intervention and proper care can make a big difference in helping your child overcome these challenges.
Speech and language disorders are conditions that affect a person’s ability to communicate. These disorders can make it hard for children to speak, understand, read, or write. But what causes these disorders? Let’s break it down in the simplest way possible.
Sometimes, speech and language disorders run in families. This means if your parents, grandparents, or siblings have had trouble with speech or language, your child might have a higher chance of having it too. This is because of something called genes. Kids with SLI have trouble learning words, forming sentences, or understanding what others say, even though they are just as smart as other kids.
The brain is like the control center for everything we do, including speaking and understanding language. If something goes wrong with how the brain develops, it can lead to speech and language disorders.
Hearing is super important for learning how to speak. If a child has trouble hearing, they might not be able to hear words clearly, which makes it hard for them to learn how to say those words.
The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. If there’s a problem with the nervous system, it can affect speech and language.
In some cases, doctors and scientists can’t figure out exactly what causes a speech or language disorder. This doesn’t mean the disorder isn’t real—it just means we don’t have all the answers yet. Research is ongoing, and scientists are always learning more about how speech and language develop and what can go wrong.
Speech and language therapy helps people who have trouble speaking, understanding, or communicating. It can benefit both children and adults. Here are some key benefits:
Finding a qualified speech-language pathologist (SLP) is important if you or someone you know needs help with speech, language, or communication. Here’s how you can find the right professional:
If you’re looking for a trusted and experienced speech-language pathologist, consider KickStart Therapy. We have a team of qualified SLPs who work with both children and adults.
After reading this guide, you might have understood the role and importance of a speech-language pathologist in improving your child’s communication abilities. Speech and language delays not only affect the social life of a child but also affect them emotionally.
So, if you are noticing signs of speech delay or language abnormalities in your child, it's better to act fast and consult a professional speech therapist, as early intervention has proven beneficial in improving speech and language outcomes and can significantly enhance your child's communication skills and overall development.
A speech pathologist helps individuals with communication disorders, including speech, language, voice, and fluency issues. They also assist with swallowing difficulties. People may need their services due to developmental delays, neurological conditions, injuries, or hearing impairments.
The best age for speech therapy depends on the individual’s needs, but early intervention (2-5 years) is ideal for children with speech delays. However, speech therapy can benefit people of all ages, including adults recovering from strokes or managing lifelong speech disorders. Early therapy often yields faster and more effective results.
The concern arises if a child isn’t babbling by 12 months, using single words by 16 months, or forming simple sentences by 2-3 years. Difficulty understanding others, unclear speech, or frustration while communicating are also red flags. Consulting a speech-language pathologist can help identify and address potential issues early.
The most common cause of speech delay is developmental language disorder, often linked to genetic factors. Other causes include hearing loss, autism, intellectual disabilities, or environmental factors like limited exposure to language.
Most children speak fluently by age 5-6, using complex sentences and clear pronunciation. However, fluency varies among individuals. Some may achieve it earlier, while others may need more time or support.
