You’re a parent of a toddler, and you’ve noticed that he/she isn’t speaking as much or clearly as his/her peers. You’re worried this could be a sign of learning disabilities or behavioral issues. You want to know if speech therapy can help your child, and how to know what kind of speech therapy is right for him/her.
Speech therapy is when a trained professional helps you improve your communication skills—in particular, your ability to speak, listen, and understand language. This process can happen at any age, but it’s most common for children with developmental delays or disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Speech therapy for toddlers is an important part of your child’s development. If you live in NYC and your child has a speech impediment or if you suspect he or she does, it is important to get your child professional diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. Your child’s growth and development depends on their ability to communicate effectively with others, which can be difficult if they have a speech impediment. Without proper treatment, your child may suffer from lack of communication skills throughout their life.
When your child is having trouble speaking, it can be frustrating for both of you. You just want to communicate with them, and you want to be sure that they develop the skills they need to succeed. However, finding a speech therapist who understands your toddler’s specific needs and has the experience to deal with all their unique behaviors can be difficult.
When your child is having trouble speaking, it can be frustrating for both of you. You just want to communicate with them, and you want to be sure that they develop the skills they need to succeed. However, finding a speech therapist who understands your toddler’s specific needs and has the experience to deal with all their unique behaviors can be difficult.
There are many signs that indicate a possible delay in speech or language development. If your child is not using any words by 16 months old or still only using one or two words by 2 years old this could be cause for concern. If your child is having trouble putting words together into sentences by age 2 or 3 years old, this could be a sign of delay as well.
During an initial assessment, the speech therapist will evaluate your child’s current level of speech and language skills. The therapist will then create an individualized plan to help your child improve in their specific areas of need. Sessions will include a variety of interactive activities that are fun but also work towards reaching specific goals. Speech therapy is used to help children who are experiencing difficulties with their speech and language. A speech therapist will take a look at the child’s communication, language, fluency, voice, and oral motor skills and help them improve in these areas. They will often use play activities to work on development and can help with a variety of issues that may be causing difficulty for the child.