How do I know if my child needs Speech Therapy? 

A speech and language delay/disorder that isn't treated early can result in life-long communication problems as well as learning and reading difficulties. If you suspect your child may have a speech and/or language problem, we recommend an evaluation by one of our therapists. 

Here are some examples of issues that should be evaluated by a therapist:

• Not reacting normally or consistently to sounds (she may be overly sensitive to sounds such as vacuums or hair dryers yet seems indifferent when people call her name)

By the age of 2: 

• Mispronouncing vowels, saying "coo" instead of "cow"
• Talking using mostly vowels, omitting whole consonants, saying "a" for "cat"
• Using one catch-all sound or syllable to name most things (duh or duh-duh is a common one)
• Using a word once and then not using it again
• Not pointing to objects in books (if you say, "Show me the kitty cat," she flips the page or repeats the phrase but doesn't point to the animal)
• Not seeming frustrated when you don't know what she wants (she may simply try to get the object herself or just give up very easily)
• Answering a question by repeating part of your question. If you say, "Do you want milk?" she responds by saying, "...you want milk?" instead of nodding her head or saying yes
• Not saying "bye-bye" or reacting to games such as peekaboo
• Still saying single words only, and not phrases or sentences
• Not changing or developing her language much from month to month

Some medical conditions that may require speech therapy include, but are not limited to:

• Hearing impairment
• History of ear infections
• Weak muscles around the mouth
• Cleft lip or palate
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Multiple handicaps
• Swallowing disorder
• Apraxia of speech

Common Questions