From time to time mothers and fathers ask me, “When should I begin to worry about my child’s failure to learn speech?” Don’t you think that worry never solves problems? Don’t worry, just take action. Worrying only creates tensions and anxieties that complicate the problems.
You are most likely safe in waiting until he’s 30 months old or so before you should take matters in your hands. That is if he has already gone through the babbling and lalling phases, if his other development like walking is fine and if he’s hearing well and is healthy.
I had known children who later became normal adults but didn’t begin to speak normally until they were about 3 years old. In the next posts we’ll discuss some of the reasons why a normal child may be late in acquiring speech, and some other possible causes of delay that are not so normal.
Some authors advise not to become worried until your child is 3.5 years old. But don’t you think that by waiting so long you risk his normal development? Don’t let him loose his valuable time by neglecting his speech therapy (at home).
I’d want to make sure there’s no reason for concern. Don’t guess when it’s all about your child’s future. If there’s even the smallest chance there’s something wrong with his speech development, I’d want to know what’s wrong and how to fix it.
If your child needs some medical care, you want him to have it, right? I’d surely want to know how to give him the help he needs and what I should do about speech therapy for my child.
If your child isn’t starting to use real speech by the time he’s 30 months old you should consult a speech therapist. Real or “true” speech doesn’t mean that it’s perfectly pronounced, it need to be just understandable.
Just make sure you do something about his speech problems. Speech therapy at home doesn’t have to take more than 5 minutes a day.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
My child is seven years old, and is unable to say 5 different sounds
(l, r, ch, th, s). He is a good student, but he is starting to have trouble with writing. He writes words how he says them. His teacher struggles to understand him, and many adults also have to really listen to him as well. He has been screened in school since the beginning of kindergarten. Last year they said it was a developmental delay. This year they said he was at risk, but they have no space in the program. I work with him often but he does not take me as serious as I would like him too. It ends up in a tearful dispute. I know I should pay the $30 an hour to get private lessons, but this is not in my teacher salary budget. Any suggestions?
hello
my son is 23 months, and heonly says few word. i was wondering if i should start the sppech therephy or i need to wait?