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Signs Your Child Might Need Speech Therapy
If you've been quietly wondering whether your child's speech is where it should be, you're not alone. Most parents who eventually connect with a speech therapist say the same thing: I noticed something for a while before I knew what to do about it.
You don't need a diagnosis to look into speech therapy. You don't need to wait for your pediatrician to bring it up. If something feels off, that feeling is worth following.
Speech and Language Milestones by Age
By 12 months: Says "mama" or "dada" with meaning, babbles with consonant sounds, points or gestures to communicate, responds to their name.
By 18 months: Uses at least 10 words consistently, points to show things they find interesting, understands simple one-step directions.
By 24 months: Uses at least 50 words, combines two words together, strangers can understand about half of what they say.
By 3 years: Uses short sentences of 3-4 words, strangers understand about 75%, asks why and what questions, follows two-step directions.
By 4-5 years: Speaks in full sentences, tells simple stories, strangers understand almost everything.
Signs Your Child May Benefit From Speech Therapy
Language development: Not meeting milestones above, vocabulary growing slowly, difficulty combining words, understanding more than they can express.
Speech clarity: Hard to understand even for family, dropping sounds off words, substituting sounds frequently.
Fluency: Repeating sounds or syllables frequently, prolonging sounds, visible tension when speaking.
Social communication: Limited eye contact, difficulty taking turns in conversation, talking only about their own topics.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should a child start speech therapy?
Children can begin speech therapy as early as infancy. There is no minimum age.
Do I need a pediatrician referral to start speech therapy?
No referral is required to get an evaluation or to start services at Coral Care.
Does my child need a diagnosis first?
No. An SLP can assess your child and develop a plan regardless of whether a formal diagnosis is in place.
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