When Should Your Child See a Speech Pathologist?
Speech therapy covers a range of areas including articulation (speech sounds), language (using and understanding language), social communication, feeding (in the area of swallowing and mouth structures), and augmentative and alternative communication (alternative forms of communication).
Here are some key indicators in each age group that may prompt you to see a speech pathologist with your child.
0-12 months:
If your child is having difficulty with the transition from breast milk or formula to solids.
If your child is not responding to their name or they are not demonstrating signs of babbling or copying different sounds and noises
12-24 months:
If you child has less than 30 single words that they can use to communicate
They are having difficulty following simple instructions
They are unable to point to familiar objects when names
2-3 years old:
If your child has fewer that 50 single words or they are having difficulty using 2 word phrases
They are having difficulty following simple instructions
They are difficult to understand to familiar listeners
They are beginning to become frustrated when they are communicating
They are mainly repeating what you are communicating to them
3-4 years old:
They are having difficulty following directions in a range of environments
They are having difficulty responding to ‘wh’ questions such as what are you doing or where do you want to go.
They are beginning to become frustrated when they are not understood
They are having difficulty to engage in play with their peers
They are copying scripts they are you using at home or that they have heard from a video or TV show
They are not understood by familiar and unfamiliar listeners.
4-5 years old
They are having difficulty connecting with their peers in the kinder and school environments
They are having difficulty using sentences to communicate with others
They are having difficulty asking questions about what others are doing or to negotiate
They only understood by familiar and unfamiliar listeners some of the time
They are having difficulty following multiple step instructions such as put your socks and shoes on.
They are finding it difficult to participate in turn taking conversations with increasing length.
Using past tense verbs
Other times to see a speech pathologist:
If your child is having difficult with swallowing food or drink
If your child has a limited diet and you are wanting to explore strategies to build on their diet
If you have any questions about your child’s speech progression, you can chat to the team at Pace.
