Every child establishes communication patterns at their own pace. Some children may struggle with certain aspects of speaking, which can be addressed through child speech therapy. If you’re a parent, discover some information below about what this service entails to determine if it could be right for your child.

What Should I Know About Child Speech Therapy?

What is child speech therapy?

Speech therapy for children is a practice provided by speech pathologists—experts of communication—who can identify, treat, and prevent issues with speech, language, and feeding in youths. These professionals can help children communicate effectively and improve their ability to use and understand language. They also provide parents with strategies to practice communicating with their children at home.

Which issues can it address?

This therapy can address both speech and language disorders. Speech disorders occur when a child cannot produce sounds correctly, while language disorders result when children struggle to understand or share thoughts and feelings. Stuttering and articulation issues are examples of common speech disorders in children. Speech therapy can improve how your child puts words together, interacts with other children, or even expresses themselves through body language.

Why is therapy important?

Speech and language disorders can significantly impact your child’s ability to learn and interact with the world. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are fundamental aspects of strong school performance. Thus, addressing any issues with speech or language as early as possible is important to set your child up for success.

What’s the right age for speech therapy?

There is no “right” age for speech therapy, but the earliest possible intervention is important for building effective speech and language skills in your child. Parents and pediatricians can often tell when a child isn’t meeting their communication milestones. For instance, if a baby doesn’t babble by six months, consider working with an expert to track their development. Issues such as stutters and lisps may emerge later, but can still be helped by a speech pathologist.

If you think your child could benefit from child speech therapy, turn to the team at Sounds of Success in Aiea, HI, the only preschool offering speech therapy in the area. Co-founded by a speech pathologist, this learning center provides early intervention to children experiencing speech or language challenges. Find out more about their approach to speech therapy online or call (808) 488-2211.