For parents, nothing is sweeter than when your child hits those early milestones just as the baby books and blogs tell us they will. Sleeping through the night, moving onto solid foods, taking those first steps, and saying their first words. These are just a handful of the milestones our kids attain and we check off our list as an achievement. It truly is a wonderful thing when these things just happen developmentally, but they do not always.
Some of our children need a little help, a little intervention in one area or another. At OTA- Wakefield/Kingston we are here to help your child attain their developmental milestones and thrive at home and throughout their academic years.
Communication is the key to your child’s ability to thrive in all facets of their life. It is essential for them to have a way to express their wants, needs, and feelings. That is why it is so important to know the signs of speech and language disorders and detect them early.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has compiled this list of some common signs of speech and language disorders in children between birth to 4 years of age, an important stage in early detection of communication disorders. This is the list they share with families on their Identify the Signs website.
Signs of a Language Disorder
• Does not smile or interact with others (birth and older)
• Does not babble (4-7 months)
• Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7-12 months)
• Does not understand what others say (7 months-2 years)
• Says only a few words (12-18 months)
• Words are not easily understood (18 months-2 years)
• Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5-3 years)
• Has trouble playing and talking with other children (2-3 years)
• Has trouble with early reading and writing skills* (2.5-3 years)
*Early reading and writing skills include:
8 months–1 year: Likes to hear you talk and read; looks at pictures in books when you read
1–2 years: Makes sounds or words when looking at pictures in books; points or touches pictures in books when you name them; turns pages in books
2–3 years: Knows that books have a front and back; enjoys books that have rhymes; points to and names many pictures in books
What Parents Can Do
• Listen and respond to your child
• Talk, read, and play with your child
• Talk with your child in the language you are most comfortable using
• Know it is good to teach your child to speak a second language
• Talk about what you are doing and what your child is doing
• Use a lot of different words with your child
• Use longer sentences as your child gets older
• Have your child play with other children
Signs of a Speech Sound Disorder
• Says p, b, m, h, and w incorrectly in words (1-2 years)
• Says k, g, f, t, d, and n incorrectly in words (2-3 years)
• Produces speech that is unclear, even to familiar people (2-3 years)
What Parents Can Do
• Say the sounds correctly when you talk—it is okay if your child makes some mistakes with sounds
• Do not correct speech sounds—it is more important to let your child keep talking
Signs of Stuttering (Disfluency)
• Repeats first sounds of words—“b-b-b-ball” for “ball”
• Speech breaks while trying to say a word—“—–boy” for “boy”
• Stretches sounds out—“ffffff-farm” for “farm”
• Shows frustration when trying to get words out
What Parents Can Do
• Give your child time to talk
• Do not interrupt, stop, or tell your child to slow down while they are speaking
• See a certified speech-language pathologist if you are concerned
Signs of a Voice Disorder
• Uses a hoarse or breathy voice
• Uses a nasal-sounding voice
What Parents Can Do
• See a doctor if your child sounds hoarse or breathy or has a nasal-sounding voice
• Tell your child not to shout or scream
• Keep your child away from cigarette smoke
If you feel like your child would benefit from speech/language services please talk to your child’s PCP and express your concerns and/or contact OTA- Wakefield/ Kingston for a screening today. We will be happy to discuss your child’s development and guide you in the process of receiving treatment if it is necessary. We want all children to achieve the milestone of functional COMMUNICATION and we are happy to help you.
Also, I lied…. there is something sweeter than your child meeting a milestone developmentally on their own…. It is when your child achieves a milestone that they have struggled with and received intervention for and worked so hard to get. That my friends is the sweetest success a parent can celebrate.
At OTA Wakefield – Kingston, we provide Occupational and Speech Therapy services that help your child take small strides that make a big difference. OTA Wakefield - Kingston is located at 68 Evergreen Street in Kingston, MA and 607 North Avenue in Wakefield, MA. They can also be reached at (781)-245-4446 and don't forget to follow them on Facebook too.
The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of medical advice provided by your physician. OTA Wakefield - Kingston and Macaroni Kid LLC cannot be responsible for inappropriate use of information provided in this email. This article does not provide any medical advice.
