Is My Child Behind? Signs Your Child Would Benefit from Speech Therapy

How do you know if your child needs to catch up in language development? This question is on the minds of many parents, and you may not always know what to believe from what you read online. Going down a search engine rabbit hole in the electronics and media age can be overwhelming. As a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, I’m here to put your mind at ease and answer this question as simply as possible. 

Each child is expected to achieve specific language developmental milestones as they grow older. You can start tracking this when they are born, but it doesn’t have to be daunting or overwhelming. Use the following questions to help guide you as you ask yourself, “Will my child benefit from Speech Therapy?” If you answer “no” to more than two of the following questions within your child’s age range, it may be worth considering a further language evaluation by your local Speech Therapist.

1 YEAR OLD:

(Birth-3 Months)

• Does your child react to loud sounds?

• When you talk to your child, does your child quiet or smile?

• Does your child seem to take turns making sounds back and forth with you?

• Does your child coo by making sounds such as “ahh” or “ohh”?

• Does your child seem to recognize your voice, and is he/she able to calm down if crying?

(4-6 Months)

• Does your child react to toys that make sounds?

• Does your child laugh?

• Does your child respond to facial expressions or changes in tone of voice?

• Does your child look at objects of interest and follow them with his/her eyes?

• Does your child babble in sounds that begin with “p,” “b” or “m”?

(7-9 Months)

• Does your child look at you when you call their name or turn in the direction of sounds?

• Does your child hesitate or stop when you say words like “no”?

• Does your child babble in varying strings, such as " baba,” “mamma,” or “dada?”

• Does your child recognize the names of everyday objects?

• Does your child gesture to indicate they do not want something (i.e., push away an object)?

(10-12 Months)

• Does your child try to reach/grab objects?

• Does your child use gestures like waving or holding up his/her arms to communicate?

• Does your child engage in social games such as peekaboo?

• Does your child try to imitate sounds and/or words they hear?

• Does your child say simple words with intention like “mama,” “dada,” “hi,” or “bye”?

2 YEARS OLD:

(13-18 Months)

• Does your child follow simple directions such as “Come here” or “Show me your nose”?

• Does your child identify major body parts when asked?

• Does your child use playful gestures such as clapping or giving a high-five?

• Does your child understand/point to everyday objects in pictures when named?

• Does your child use speech-like inflection when using a combination of sounds and words to communicate?

(19-24 Months)

• Does your child understand and use at least 50 words?

• Does your child put two or more words together (i.e., “go car” or “more milk”)?

• Does your child follow two-step directions (i.e., “go to your room and bring me a diaper”)?

• Does your child use words to ask for help?

• Does your child use possessives such as “Mommy’s shoe”?

3 YEARS OLD:

(25-36 Months)

• Does your child use three or more word phrases such as “I want milk” or “car go fast”?

• Does your child use words to get your attention, such as “mommy look” or “look at that”?

• Does your child use plural words appropriately (i.e., babies or horses)?

• Does your child use verbs ending in -ing, like “running” or “playing”?

• Does your child add an -ed at the end of words to talk about the past, like “played”?

• Does your child understand reasons for things such as needing to put on a jacket when it is cold outside?

• Does your child ask why and how questions? 

• Does your child appropriately respond to questions such as “What do you do when your hands are dirty?” or “Which one can you eat”?

• Does your child make consonants (p, b, m, n, t, d, w, h) and vowel sounds accurately?

• Does your child speak in a way that family and friends understand?

Did you answer “no” to two or more questions in your child’s age range? If you did, there is no need to panic! Early Intervention exists to help your child meet their language needs in receptive and expressive language. I firmly believe that you should start speech services earlier rather than later. The wait-and-see method will only increase the chances of a further delay.

Along with an early intervention mindset, the best approach is through play. If your child engages in a playful activity, they will quickly learn and improve their targeted goals. Finding a therapist with a strong belief in child-led and play-based approaches will benefit your child during their early intervention journey.

Sources:

“Communication Milestones: Age Ranges.” ASHA, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones/. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024. 

Grace Goldston earned an undergraduate degree in Teaching Theater K-12 and a Master of Science in Speech Therapy from Appalachian State University. Grace provides services to clients with a variety of diagnoses, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Speech-Sound Disorders, Expressive and Receptive Language Disorders, Early Language Intervention, and AAC. Her therapeutic approaches are diverse and tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual she works with. With her background in teaching theater, she enjoys implementing a creative approach to make therapy sessions engaging for each client.