How Do I Know if My Child is Speech Delayed?

By Allison Winters, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
You know your child best. As a parent, you know that children all develop at their own pace, but you still can’t stop that question. Whether you are at play groups, watching other kiddos on the playground, or when you think about your other children’s milestones, your child has always seemed a little behind others in pronouncing words or expressing ideas. You’ve had that gut feeling for a while now. 

The people you’ve mentioned it to – maybe a family member, or pediatrician – have advised that she’s “just like Aunt Kathy was at that age,” and she’ll out grow it, or that he’s probably a late bloomer. But you continue to ask yourself: Does my child need speech therapy? Could there really be a problem, or is this just normal speech or language development? How do I know for sure, and where can I go to for help if my child is delayed?

If you have a concern your child is behind others his age, the best practice is to check it out rather than wait. If there is a delay or problem in speech or language, getting help early is best. If what you are seeing is part of normal development, you will feel better knowing that for sure, and learning what to expect of your child from someone who is specially trained to help.

Okay, but who do I talk to? What do I do first?
  • Get a Hearing Evaluation. Your pediatrician may be able to screen your child’s hearing, or can refer you to an audiologist who is experienced in children’s hearing evaluations. Some speech or language delays may occur from difficulty in hearing and it is important to first rule this out.
  • Screening and Evaluation. Once hearing has been ruled out as an issue, begin looking at the agencies in your area that might be able to help. Early intervention agencies (birth to age 3) and public schools (ages 3 to 21) are required by law to offer screening or evaluation to determine if a child needs special help in speech, language, or learning problems. Screening and evaluation are free of charge to parents.

But what is the difference between a private pediatric speech language therapist and the services that are offered through my local early intervention agency/school district?
  • When an early intervention agency or school district screen or evaluate your child, they will qualify your child while looking at certain criteria based on local, state, or federal guidelines. In the Kansas early intervention (Infant-Toddler birth-3) program, a child must demonstrate a 25% delay in the areas of expressive and receptive language skills during evaluation in order to qualify for speech-language services. However, each state has different criteria for qualification. At the school-age level (3-21), eligibility is based on educational need. Within the school district, speech-language therapy falls under the area of special education. Your local school district’s special education office will be able to more fully explain what this means. By law, school districts look at the difference between “educational” versus “medical” need. A child will not qualify for speech-language service based on a medical diagnosis alone (i.e., a prescription from your pediatrician) but instead look at how speech-language development is impacting a child’s education.  Occasionally, children may not qualify for services even when they have a speech or language delay because it does not impact them educationally. For example, a mild articulation error like substituting a /w/ for an /r/ sound may not qualify in the school system even if it is an age-appropriate sound for the child to have. This is typically because saying an /r/ wrong usually doesn’t impact the child’s overall grade.
  • In a private practice, an SLP will evaluate your child and give the results of any standardized testing, informal testing, and observation just as a local agency or school district. They do not have to look at “educational need” or use a percent of delay to meet qualification. They will give you the developmental norms of children the same age and let you know how your child is progressing with his or her speech or language development milestones. The speech-language therapist will then discuss whether or not it is warranted for your child to begin speech therapy. For children with simple delays, you may be able to work with your speech-language therapist on ways to encourage better speech and language at home. Some children benefit greatly from just a few sessions of therapy, while others may need special instruction over a longer period of time.

What if we homeschool or my child attends a private school?
  • Screening and evaluation to identify whether your child has a delay or problem in speech, language or learning are available through the local early intervention agency or school district, even if you plan to homeschool or have your child attend a private program. However, direct special education services, including speech therapy, may only be available for children who are attending public school. Public schools are not required by law to provide special education services, including speech therapy, to school-aged children in private or home schools.

Is speech therapy worthwhile?
  • Early delays or difficulties in talking or understanding are risk factors for later problems, such as difficulty in the areas reading and spelling. The same brain systems that drive speech development underlie academic learning. Research shows that early detection and intervention of speech and language delay will significantly reduce the chance of them needing ongoing therapy as an older child or adult. Only a small proportion of preschool-aged children with speech delays go on to have lingering speech errors or other learning problems. Speech therapy is usually a fun time for young children, and getting help early can prevent future problems.
  • Parents know their children best. If you have concerns about your child’s speech, comprehension, or learning, don’t wait. Give me a call for an evaluation. Rest assured that if I determine your child does not need therapy, I will let you know.

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