Child Speech Development: How Early Can You Start Speech Therapy?
Watching your child grow and learn can be a very exciting part of the parenting journey. We celebrate their milestones, from their first smile to their first words. From rolling over to sitting. From walking to running. But what happens when your child no longer appears to be hitting the same milestones as their peers or those outlined in the checklists and parenting books? It is never too early to seek guidance from a speech-language pathologist (SLP) when you notice they are behind in speech and communication milestones. While every child develops differently and in their own time, starting young can help prevent long-term communication difficulties that may interfere with their social life and self-esteem for years to come.
Speech, Language, and Communication Milestones by Age
- Points and waves
- Tries to copy sounds that you make
- Says one or two simple words such as mama or dada
18 Months Old
- Responds to simple words and phrases. For example, “Wave bye-bye.”
- Have 10-20 simple words in their vocabulary
- Make at least 4 consonant sounds (/p/, /b/, /m/, /n/, /d/, /t/, /w/, /h/)
- Have 50 words in their vocabulary
- Produces short sentences of 2-3 words
- Can follow simple instructions such as, “Put on your shoes.”
- Speech is mostly clear for those who spend a lot of time with them
- The child's speech is somewhat clear. However, they may struggle with specific letter sounds, particularly some of the more challenging sounds such as r, s, sh, ch, y, v, z, and th until age 7 or 8
- Has 250-500 words in their vocabulary
- Produces sentences of 3-4 words
- Uses and recognizes simple rhyming words (cat, hat)
- Can answer simple questions (who, what, when, where)
- Speech is mostly clear. However, they may struggle with certain letter sounds, particularly some of the more challenging sounds such as r, s, sh, ch, y, v, z, and th, until age 7 or 8
- Has a vocabulary of 1000+ words
- Can form sentences of 5 or more words
- Uses past and present tense correctly
- Understands and uses joining words such as “or”, “and”, and “but”
- Understands and uses words relating to time, such as yesterday, today, and tomorrow
- Has an understanding of the flow of conversation
- Can identify rhyming words
- Understand how speech should sound
- Can form sentences with 8 or more words
- Starting to understand letter sounds
- Uses imagination to create stories
- Consistently produces correct speech sounds
- Has a vocabulary of 3,000+ words
- Can point out sight words in books
- Understand the sounds that many letters make
Why Early Speech Therapy Is Important
Brain Development and Adaptability
The first few years of life are a critical period for brain development. In fact, at birth, the average baby’s brain is only a quarter of the size of the average adult brain. In the baby’s first year, the brain doubles in size! By the age of 3, it’s about 80% of its full adult size, and 90% its full size by age 5. Because of this tremendous growth, a child who is behind in their speech and language development has a better chance to catch up with their peers if they start speech therapy young.
Prevent Behavioral Issues
Difficulties with communication can lead to frustration and behavioral problems. A child who struggles to express their wants, needs, and emotions may become frustrated and exhibit challenging behaviors such as tantrums, aggression, or withdrawal. A child who has difficulties understanding language may struggle to follow instructions in a school or daycare environment. To others, this may appear as defiant behavior. Early intervention with speech therapy can help to prevent the child from being labeled as “uncooperative” or “defiant”. Communicating their needs and wants can drastically reduce frustration and less favorable behaviors in a child. Speech therapy will also help to set your child up for success at school, especially when you start early.
Build Confidence
Children who struggle with speech and language may feel defeated, anxious, and even withdrawn. These emotional challenges arise from the frustration of not being able to communicate effectively with others, creating feelings of isolation, shame, and embarrassment. Early intervention with speech therapy plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges by giving the children the tools they need to express themselves more clearly and confidently.
In addition to the immediate impact on their ability to speak, early speech therapy fosters a deeper sense of emotional resilience. Children learn that challenges can be overcome with patience, practice, and support. This confidence in their communication abilities translates to a more positive outlook on learning, social interactions, and overall life experiences. Over time, they are less likely to feel anxious in situations that once felt overwhelming. They are more willing to engage with others, building lasting relationships and a stronger overall sense of self-esteem.
At What Age Should Speech Therapy Start?
Speech, language, and communication are a vital part of a child’s development. Although all children will develop at their own rate, it is beneficial to start speech therapy once you notice that they are behind. Early language skills are one of the best predictors of academic, social, and employment success. Getting your child help early can also prevent behavioral and self-esteem struggles.
While it may be tempting to “wait and see” how your child develops, especially if you aren’t sure if there is an existing challenge or delay, this approach can be detrimental to the child and can cause them to fall even further behind. Many parents are advised to wait until they are certain there is a delay or that their child will grow out of it. If you have any concerns at all about the development of your child’s speech and language skills, seek support right away. Waiting will only result in lost time and learning opportunities and can exacerbate delays, issues, or deficits.
At Great Speech, we are experts in online speech therapy. We start with a thorough assessment to determine your child’s abilities and challenges. From there, we will decide on the treatment plan to help your child reach their full potential. Schedule your FREE introductory call today.