As a parent, it’s easy to worry about your child’s development. Some children simply take longer to develop than others, and it can be misleading to compare your child to other kids at certain stages for a variety of reasons.
The development of a child’s speech is one characteristic that varies from one youngster to another. If you have an inclination that your child might need a speech therapy evaluation, there are several signs you should look for before making the decision to contact a speech therapist for formal advice. Below are several indicators to consider.
1. Limited or a lack of babbling as an infant
Research shows that infants will typically start to babble within four to seven months. If your child is not babbling at all or seems to be trailing behind other kids at the end of this timeframe, there is a chance a speech therapy evaluation could benefit your child.
2. A lack of physical gesturing
It might not seem as relevant to speech, but physical gesturing with one’s hands is a big part of speech communication. So, if your child does not appear to be pointing, gesturing, or waving much or at all, this could be a sign of delayed speech development, and a speech therapy evaluation might be in order.
3. Struggling to verbally request things
Does your child struggle to ask questions or verbally request something he or she wants from you? This could be anything from a certain food item, to a toy, to trying to explain if he or she feels sick. A struggle to make these verbal requests could be an indication that a speech therapy evaluation would be beneficial.
4. A lack of using sentences when speaking
While children develop speech patterns over time and ultimately should learn how to speak in sentences, they should start developing this language sooner than later.
Perhaps your child only says a few words at a time when trying to express themselves. Maybe they are not finishing sentences that should be completed to communicate a certain message properly. These could be signs of a speech delay or some other communication challenge, and a speech therapist might have some ideas on how to improve this communication.
5. Inconsistent speech
Incoherent speech is very common in young children. However, if your child is not consistently saying words the same way, there could be a cause for concern.
One example is if your child says the word “yes.” Over time, they say “mess” or “less” when they actually do mean to say “yes” in the affirmative. Other factors to keep an ear out for include if your child’s voice is regularly hoarse or if they tend to consistently vary in the volume of their voice. Getting speech therapy for your child in a case like this can help them speak words more consistently.
6. Struggling to make certain verbal sounds
Learning a language can be complicated for any child, especially the English language. Remember that speaking a language does not simply involve words. How words are pronounced and inflection are also important when it comes to effective speech communication.
If your child is struggling to make certain sounds with his or her mouth, such as the “s” or “th” sounds, you might need to consider a speech therapy evaluation.
7. Stuttering
By the time a child reaches age two, stuttering can start to develop. Common forms of a stutter include repeating certain syllables of a word or repeating a whole word. Some people also simply have trouble getting words out if they have a stutter.
If your child’s stutter does not go away over time, or if it seems to become even more pronounced, consulting a speech therapist might be a good option.
8. Not engaging in group play
Children typically enjoy playing and interacting with other kids their age. If you’ve noticed that your child seems to keep to themselves or plays alone in the presence of other kids, a speech therapy evaluation might shed some light on any communication challenges going on.
LEARN MORE: Check out this WebMD article on communication and developmental delays in children.