Does My Child Really Need Speech Therapy?

Hearing that your child needs a referral for Speech Therapy is often confusing and scary - but it shouldn't be! Though you may wonder, "what went wrong?", we can assure nothing is your fault, and you are definitely not alone. Speech Therapy is simply a tool to help strengthen your child's communication and speech skills as they continue to develop. 

We'll walk through the question - "Does my child really need Speech Therapy?" to help you feel more comfortable with your child's referral, and know what steps to take next. 

Speech vs Language

Speech and language, though used interchangeably, are two different areas that have different milestones and can come with different disorders. It's important to know the difference between the two so you can know what milestones to be looking for. 

Speech is how words are said. When toddlers start speaking, their speech skills are not well developed - and they shouldn't be! As children grow, they will refine how they say words. 

Language, on the other hand, is the meaning that words convey. For example, asking your toddler to touch their nose, and them knowing where their nose is. Though they may not say "nose" perfectly, they know what it means. Those are language skills. 

Language Milestones

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), language milestones include:

• Not smiling or interacting with others 
• Not babbling (4-10 months)
• Making only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7-12 months)
• Not understanding what others say (7 months-2 years)
• Saying only a few words (12-18 months)
• Not easily understanding words (18 months-2 years)
• Not putting together sentences (1.5-3 years)
• Struggling to play and talk with other children (2-3 years)

Speech Milestones

According to ASHA, speech milestones include:

• Saying p, b, m, h, and w incorrectly in words (1-2 years)
• Saying k, g, f, t, d, and n incorrectly in words (2-3 years)
• Producing speech that's unclear, even to familiar people (2-3 years)

If your child is missing milestones or showing any of these signs, we would recommend seeking a speech and language evaluation. They may need speech and language therapy to help them communicate to the best of their abilities.

So, what does this mean?

If your child isn't meeting their speech or language milestones, Speech Therapy is the solution to help them communicate at age appropriate levels. Whatever the reason might be, sometimes the extra attention and care is exactly what your child needs. Needing Speech Therapy doesn't mean they'll need it forever. 

If you've received a referral, or you're noticing that your child isn't reaching milestones as expected, give us a call at 229.207.4004 to discuss our Speech Therapy services. 

Sources: https://www.weetalkers.com/blog/does-my-child-need-speech-and-language-therapy#:~:text=Your%20child%20will%20need%20speech,don't%20(yet).