3 signs your toddler may need speech therapy!
Learn some signs to identify if you may need to seek speech therapy for your toddler!
How do I know my child may need speech therapy? First, it is always recommended families consult with the child’s pediatrician when concerns with developmental delays arise. However, as a speech pathologist, I get this question a lot and wanted to provide some general information. As a precaution, this information should not be considered medical advice, but simply to inform of some common signs and symptoms of speech and language delays in toddlers.
Delays are common! According to the CDC, around 1 in 6 children in the U.S. experience delays in at least one area of development, and research from the University of Michigan Medical School suggests that between 5% and 12% of children aged 2 to 5 are diagnosed with a speech or language delay.
Identifying Speech and Language Delays in Toddlers
Vocabulary Development (Expressive Language)
One common sign of a speech delay is limited vocabulary. If your child uses fewer words than expected and relies heavily on symbolic gestures to communicate, it may indicate a delay. Encouraging the use of words over gestures is essential for language development, and incorporating sign language or pictures can be beneficial.
At specific ages, children should reach certain milestones in vocabulary development:
By 12 months: Around 10 words and babbling
By 18 months: Between 20 and 50 words
By 24 months: At least 50 words and beginning to combine words
What Can Parents Do to Help?
Engage in active narration during daily activities, label sounds and actions during play, and use books to enhance language skills. These activities can stimulate language development in toddlers and help them reach their milestones.
Understanding and Following Simple Directions (Receptive Language)
Another indicator of potential language delays is a child's ability to understand and follow directions. If your child struggles with tasks such as identifying body parts, following simple instructions, or responding consistently to their name, it could be a sign of a receptive language delay.
Recommended Interaction Strategies:
Avoid frequent quizzing and utilize routines and tasks to give directions. Incorporating songs can also aid in language learning and engagement for toddlers.
Speech Intelligibility
Understanding the clarity of a child's speech at different ages can also help in recognizing speech delays:
By 12 months: Children are typically understood 25% of the time to all listeners
By 24 months: Children are typically understood 50% of the time to all listeners
By 36 months: Children are typically understood 75% of the time to all listeners
By 48 months: Children should be 100% intelligible to everyone
Credit to Resources:
Othman A. (2021). Child Developmental Delays and Disorders: Speech and Language Delay. FP essentials, 510, 17–21. Accessed from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34709025/#:~:text=Abstract,speech%20and%20language%20delay%20vary.
Zablotsky B, Black LI, Maenner MJ, et.al. Prevalence and Trends of Developmental Disabilities among Children in the US: 2009–2017. Pediatrics. 2019; 144(4):e20190811.
