If your child is unable to pronounce certain words or is facing speech and language difficulties, it is time to start speech therapy for toddlers. But is this the only factor to decide if my child needs speech therapy sessions? Well, there are more specific signs that you should consider starting speech therapy.

The development of language and speaking ability in children is an important and natural process. However, some children are slower in this area than their peers. In such a situation, it is necessary to help them in time so that their language development is in the right direction and there is no problem in the future.

Therefore, if your child shows language and speaking problems, then it is very important to start speech therapy for him in time.

Speech therapy at Age of 1.5 or 2

Starting speech therapy on time helps a lot in the language development of the child. If the child’s language problems are identified and treated as early as possible, then he can adjust himself well with his peers and he will not face any problem in the future. Apart from this, speech therapy started on time also gives confidence to the child and he is able to express himself in a better way in front of others.

Generally, if a child does not start speaking without any clear words even by the age of 18 months, then it is advisable to consult with a speech and language pathologist. However, if the child has a hearing problem or any developmental disorder, speech therapy should be started as early as possible. Also, if the child is unable to speak sentences even by the age of 2, speech therapy is necessary for him.

Signs that Confirm your Child Needs Speech Therapy

There can be many reasons for language and speech problems in children. Some children suffer from hearing problems from birth. Some children have mental disabilities which affect their language abilities. Some children delay speaking because they are not emotionally mature.

Apart from this, less interaction with the baby in families can also be a reason. Some specific signs to look for include:

• Difficulty understanding simple instructions or words
• Struggling to express needs or wants
• Limited or no use of words
• Struggling to imitate words or sounds
• Difficulty with early reading skills, such as recognizing letters or sounds

If a toddler is experiencing any of these issues, it may be a good idea to speak with a speech-language pathologist or other healthcare professional to discuss the possibility of starting speech therapy.

Role of Speech Therapist

Here a speech therapist will set some milestones, which will improve the speech skills of a toddler. Some specific milestones to look for include:

• Using a combination of sounds and gestures to communicate
• Saying at least 50 words by the age of 2
• Using two-word phrases by the age of 2
• Using three-word phrases by the age of 3

When a child takes speech therapy, he is mainly taught three things – listening, speaking and understanding language. Speech therapists train the child in different ways according to his problem.

For example, if the child has a hearing problem, then special exercises are done to develop auditory skills. Similarly, if the child is unable to speak the words in the correct order, then he is trained to form word order and sentence structure.

Speech therapists also give the child an opportunity to learn through games so that he can learn with interest.

Finally, it is very important to identify and treat language and speech problems in children in time. Speech therapy started on time not only solves the child’s problems but also develops his language properly and he is able to adjust himself better with his peers.

Therefore, if your child has any language and speech problems, then start speech therapy for him without any delay and for this consult with nearest and experienced speech therapist today!