(Your Child’s Speech – What You Need to Know first appeared in a September 2014 print edition of the Public Opinion Newspaper.)
Is your child on track for developing his or her speech and language skills? Cathy Prieston, speech and language pathologist at Keystone Audiology and Speech, shares tips on what to look for and when to seek help for speech and language difficulties.
What is a disorder?
A speech disorder or articulation disorder occurs when a child incorrectly substitutes, omits, and/ or distorts sounds. A language disorder occurs when a child has difficulty understanding what is being said and/or is not able to communicate his wants, needs or ideas into words. Fluency disorder happens when a child has difficulty speaking by hesitating or repeating syllables or words.
Every child is different
A child’s speech and language skills develop at different age levels which can make it difficult to know what is considered a speech disorder. Seeking help from a speech and language pathologist is best if you suspect a problem. It is very important to intervene early by scheduling an evaluation for your child’s speech as well as having a hearing evaluation.
How to help your child
Speech/ language disorders affect a child’s ability to communicate their needs and ideas to others which can also affect their social development, early literacy skills, and academic skills. To help your child grow and develop, parents and caregivers should provide good speech models throughout their daily routine. The more you talk and listen to your child, the better.
More suggestions
Some additional suggestions for helping your child’s speech development include: Read to your child frequently to encourage listening skills and good language development. Get down on your child’s level and play with him. Play encourages talking, socialization, and learning. Sing simple songs and recite nursery rhymes with your child. Encourage and praise all attempts to speak.
When to seek help
If you suspect a problem with your child’s speech or hearing, don’t wait to see if it will get better. Talk to your child’s health care provider and share your concerns. Your health care provider can refer you to a speech language pathologist or audiologist for evaluation and treatment if necessary. A physician referral is often necessary for these services.
For more information about Keystone Audiology and Speech services, visit www.keystoneaudiology.org.
