When to Meet a Speech Therapist for your Child's Speech Issues?

As a parent, your intuition is your best guide. If you have concerns about your child's communication, it's wise to consult a professional. Here are key signs to watch for, presented in a concise manner, that suggest an evaluation is needed:

Difficulty with Sounds:

The child's speech is unclear, even to family members. This includes consistently swapping sounds (e.g., "tar" for "car"), leaving off the ends of words (e.g., "ca" for "cat"), or an overall lack of intelligibility as they get older.

Issues with Fluency:

The child's speech has frequent interruptions, such as repeating sounds or words ("I-I-I want a toy"), prolonging sounds ("Sssssso I went to school"), or showing physical tension like eye blinking or fist clenching when they try to talk. They may also start avoiding speaking because of frustration.

Vocal Concerns:

Their voice is consistently hoarse, raspy, or overly nasal. The pitch may seem too high or too low, or they appear to strain to produce a sound.

Language and Social Challenges:

They have a limited vocabulary for their age, struggle to follow simple directions, or have trouble forming sentences. Socially, they may have difficulty taking turns in a conversation or using language to interact with others.

Trust your instincts. An evaluation can provide clarity and a path to help your child communicate more effectively.

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