Learning to speak is one of a child’s fundamental abilities. Every child acquires language step by step, but some encounter various disorders or developmental delays, and ignoring them can have long-term consequences. That’s why it’s crucial for parents to observe how their child speaks, communicates with others, and perceives the speech around them, and to teach them to open their mouth and articulate correctly.
Today, speech therapy is no longer taboo—on the contrary, seeking professional help is a sign of responsible parenting and care for a child’s healthy development.
What should a child be able to do?
A child’s language development is an individual process. However, there are general milestones that can help you determine whether a child is developing speech appropriately. From birth to 1 year, a child’s communication is expressed through crying, babbling, cooing, and making sounds. Around one year of age, children typically say their first words, such as “mama,” “dada,” “grandma,” or simple attempts at animal and object sounds.
Roughly between ages 1 and 3 there is a rapid development of speech. Children learn to combine two or more words and form simple sentences. By about 2.5 to 3 years, they actively use speech to express their needs. By age four, most children should speak in comprehensible sentences and be able to communicate with a wider circle beyond the family.
Around the age of five, almost proper pronunciation of most sounds and the ability to communicate clearly in conversation are expected. Before starting school, most children confidently pronounce all sounds, have a sufficiently developed vocabulary, and can verbally express their feelings, needs, opinions, and experiences.
How to tell that your child needs a speech therapist?
In the first months up to the first year of life, you should be alert if the child makes no sounds or does not respond to your voice. Also, consult your pediatrician if the child does not say simple words after their first birthday; these may be the first signs of a problem.
For toddlers between 2 and 3 years, pay increased attention if they hardly speak, do not form sentences, or are unwilling to communicate and respond. Another important sign is consistent difficulty understanding simple instructions given by a parent.
In preschoolers, watch pronunciation—problematic signs include pronounced and persistent lisping, stuttering, a very limited vocabulary, or an inability to build grammatically correct sentences around age 5.
In any case, a simple rule applies—if you have any doubts, seek a consultation with a speech therapist. Speech development is crucial for a child’s overall psychological, social, and emotional development.
The most common speech disorders in children and how to recognize them?
There are several basic childhood speech disorders. The most common is dyslalia, that is, the incorrect pronunciation of certain sounds (the familiar “lisping”). Another common issue is delayed speech, when a child speaks much less or later than peers.
A more serious disorder is developmental dysphasia, a language impairment characterized by poor understanding of basic instructions, difficulty forming sentences, and an overall delay in all language abilities.
Less common, but more challenging, are for example stuttering or mutism (complete refusal of verbal communication, especially in public).
Some disorders are influenced genetically, while others stem from the environment in which the child lives. Long-term untreated problems can hinder quality schooling and may also undermine a child’s self-esteem.
When to take your child to speech therapy for the first time?
A preventive visit to a speech therapist at age 3 is recommended. It is also completely normal to have a consultation earlier if there are concerns or a recommendation from your pediatrician. Early care plays a key role in speech-therapy intervention.
A speech therapist is a specialist who first assesses the child’s speech in detail, makes a diagnosis if needed, and offers specific solutions and exercises. Visits are usually pleasant, typically involving conversation, games, and assessment in a playful form.
How to support healthy speech development at home?
Incorporate shared conversations and games with rhymes and songs into everyday life. Encouraging your child to describe things, experiences, and feelings greatly supports speech development.
Games that support word and sentence building are excellent, such as picture cards, memory matching games, puzzles, or thematic games you can find in any good toy store.
Regular reading of storybooks and browsing through books or magazines expands your child’s vocabulary. These activities are enjoyable for the child as well.
Don’t be afraid to visit a speech therapist. Early support is the key to success.