For new parents, watching as your child starts to talk is a one-of-a-kind experience. But for children with speech disorders, the road to communication can be much longer. Many of these families turn to speech therapy, which gives children who struggle with speech the extra support they need and helps them develop effective communication skills.
In the article “Is Your Toddler Communicating With You?” posted on the South Philadelphia Pediatrics website, the author notes that delays in language development are the most common kind of developmental delay, affecting one out of five children.
These delays can be temporary, in which case it’s important to encourage your child to communicate with you in whatever way they can. But sometimes, speech delay can be a sign of a more serious issue, such as hearing loss or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Milestone Therapy Group, which operates out of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, notes that early intervention is key for children with speech delays. Speech therapy can also have more benefits than just improving your child’s speech, as it can help them develop self-confidence, social skills and can even assist their academic performance.
Signs that your child might benefit from speech therapy
- Limited babbling, cooing or other noises as a baby
- Limited vocabulary
- Difficulty making certain sounds
- Reluctance to interact or socialize with peers or adults outside of the family
- Stuttering or pausing for long periods of time
- Inability to respond to questions
- Difficulty with making and/or holding eye contact
- Inability to point or gesticulate with body
