Speech includes the verbal expression of oneself through speaking sounds and words. Language, on the other hand, is a more complex process of making oneself understandable and understanding others through verbal and non-verbal communication. Toddlers who have speech delays may face challenges creating certain sounds and pronouncing words. A child who experiences language disorders may pronounce words correctly but may have difficulty putting together sentences to communicate ideas. At TEAM 4 Kids, our pediatric specialists are committed to helping your child with his or her speech needs through our speech therapy services.
It is important for parents to understand speech and language development with their children and watch out for signs of potential signs, particularly in a child’s first few years. Some of the signs to keep an eye out for that may indicate your child is experiencing difficulty with speech or language include:
Number of Sounds
If your child pronounces all words using just a few sounds he or she may be having trouble with articulation.
Number of Words
If by the age of 18 months your child uses fewer than 20 words and by the age of 2 fewer than 50 words, he or she may have some speech delays.
Understanding Words and Sentences
Children who are 2 years old generally understand at least 300 words or more. If your child is having trouble understanding simple sentences such as “get your socks,” he or she may have a speech disorder that needs to be solved.
Immature or Unclear Speech
By the age of 2, your child should be communicating at a volume that is not difficult to hear and also have the ability to combine different words to express clear thoughts.
Speaking in Social Situations
If your child has difficulty using language in a social setting or talks very infrequently, he or she may have speech delays that need to be addressed.
If your child exhibits one or more of the signs mentioned above, or other speech/language disorders not covered here, it may be beneficial to explore how speech therapy can help improve your child’s communication skills.
To learn more about the speech therapy services we offer for children, call us today at 1-800-376-3440. Or, you may leave us a text at 602.919.1060 or send us an email to [email protected].