As children grow and learn to speak, some mispronunciations are common and completely normal. But other speech issues could be signs of a significant delay. So how do you know when your child may need speech therapy? Here are a few important clues it’s time to visit a speech pathologist.

When to Visit a Speech Pathologist

1. Unusual Reactions to Sounds

If your child doesn’t show much of a reaction to sounds and voices, this may point to a hearing or auditory processing problem. On the other hand, overreaction to noises can indicate several neurological conditions. Either of these issues will contribute to a speech delay.

2. Wrong Vowels

Around age 3, your child’s speech should be reasonably understandable; in particular, they should be able to imitate vowels reliably. If your child’s vowel sounds are wrong—for example, “bah bah” instead of “bye bye”—a speech pathologist can help them form the correct sounds.

3. Omitted Consonants

By about the same age, your child should be able to produce either the correct consonant sounds or substitutes in most words in their vocabulary. A professional evaluation is in order if they are saying only the vowel—for example, “ah” for “ball.”

4. Word Combinations

At 18 months to 2 years old, many children begin stringing together combinations of two words, like “my car” and “Dada go.” By 3 to 4 years, they should be using more complex phrases. A child with a significant delay in these areas will often benefit from speech therapy.

5. Lack of Progress

No matter what your child’s age or how their speech compares with their peers, there should be a trend of improvement over time. Stalled speech skills may lead to deficits in other areas of development, due to communication difficulties.

If your child needs a speech pathologist or another form of rehabilitation, get in touch with the Family Physical Therapy & Sports Center in Kearney, NE. Their pediatric practice, Tree Top Therapy, addresses special needs from sensory integration therapy to speech therapy.  This practice also provides physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation services for adults with acute and chronic conditions. To schedule an appointment, call (308) 236-5884 or reach out online.