Being able to effectively communicate is crucial for people of all ages. It is especially important while a child is still growing and developing. There are several signs you should be aware of that may indicate your child needs speech therapy.
Is Your Child Difficult to Understand?
This is often the first sign that a child needs speech therapy. If a person, such as a parent, who communicates with the child on a regular basis has difficulty understanding the child, it’s likely that some sort of speech therapy will be needed. Even if it’s just a few words, you should usually be able to understand what your child is saying by age two.
Does Your Child Stutter?
Stuttering may be an indication that a child is struggling with the ability to speak. While some children will outgrow stuttering, the longer a child has been struggling with this issue the less likely he or she will simply outgrow it. If a child’s stuttering is due to some sort of physical injury or disability, physical therapy may also be needed along with speech therapy.
Is Your Child Struggling Socially?
Youngsters that can’t communicate effectively might have difficulty forming friendships or getting along well with other kids. Children with speech difficulties may also be thought of as younger than they actually are. If your child is not making friends easily or has difficulty socializing with others, a speech issue may be the problem. Does Your Child have Difficulty Combining Words? By age two a child should be able to combine at least two words to form short sentences. By this age if your child is still primarily communicating by pointing or making nonsensical sounds you should have your child evaluated. Between the ages of three and four a child should be able to speak clearly using four or more words. By age four, he or she should be able to retell a short story.
Does Your Child Have Difficulty with Reading or Writing?
Sometimes a speech problem won’t manifest itself until a child has already started school. Reading out loud and pronouncing There were no Copyscape matches found. words is an element of learning new words and being able to read well. Struggling with learning to read or write may be a problem associated with speech difficulties. Different types of therapy, including speech and physical therapy, may be beneficial for a child during the important years of development. Early intervention is crucial to making sure your child gets any assistance he or she may need.