The 3 Biggest Signs Your Kid May Need Speech Therapy

Every child develops at their own pace. Some start talking early, while others take a little longer to find their words, and that can be completely normal. But sometimes, delayed communication isn’t just a “late bloomer” situation; it can be a sign that extra support through speech therapy may be a great help. 

Parents can have a hard time knowing when to wait and see and when to act on it. They may be told that their child will “catch up” over time, and while that can be true, early intervention can make a big difference and prevent long-term struggles. 

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 5% of U.S. children ages 3-17 have a speech disorder that lasted for a week or longer during the past 12 months. Research also shows that between 5% and 12% of children ages 2 to 5 years are diagnosed with a speech or language delay. 

Thankfully, the earlier that speech challenges are identified, the better the outcomes tend to be. Let’s expand on the three biggest signs that your kid may need speech therapy. 

1. Their Vocabulary Seems Limited for Their Age

One of the first signs that many parents notice is that their child isn’t using as many words as other kids their age. 

For example: 

• By 12 months old, many babies can say simple words like “mama” or “dada”. We have a great blog that expands further - 1 Year Old Speech Milestones.
• By 18 months old, many toddlers use around 10 - 20 words. 18 Month Old Speech Milestones digs deeper into this topic.
• By age 2, many children are starting to combine two or more words together and say things like “want ball” or “go outside”. Check out 2 Year Old Speech Milestones to learn more. 

These are general milestones, not hard rules, but if your child seems to be behind their peers or struggles to learn new words, it may be worth seeking out speech therapy. Getting started is easy. Book an appointment to start the process. 

Your child having a limited vocabulary for their age can affect more than just their talking. It can also impact how they express their needs and connect with others. It also affects future academic success, and according to the American Family Physician, speech and language delay in children is associated with increased difficulty with reading, writing, attention, and socialization.

2. Familiar Adults Have Trouble Understanding Them

Another sign that your child may need speech therapy is if familiar adults like grandparents, babysitters, or teachers regularly struggle to understand what they are saying. Parents usually become experts at deciphering what their child is saying, but others who spend a lot of time with them should be able to as well. A general rule that many speech therapists use is:

• Around age 2, children should be about 50% understandable.
• Around age 3, children should be about 75% understandable. 
• Around age 4, children should be close to 100% understandable. 

If you regularly find yourself translating what your child is saying to others, this may be a sign that they are struggling with articulation, phonological delays, motor speech difficulties, or similar. These difficulties can sound like:

• Leaving sounds off words. For example, “ca” instead of “cat”.
• Using incorrect speech sounds. For example, “wabbit” for “rabbit”.
• Speech that sounds unclear compared to others their age. 

Speech clarity is important because for others to understand them, they need to speak clearly. Struggling to communicate clearly can also negatively impact the child’s confidence and even result in them talking less or withdrawing from social communication altogether. 

3. They Become Frustrated When Trying to Communicate

This is one of the most overlooked signs that a child may need speech therapy. Sometimes children want to communicate but simply cannot get the words out clearly or effectively. That gap between what they want to say and what they are able to say can create a lot of frustration for the child. 

Parents and caregivers may notice:

• Frequent tantrums when they are trying to communicate
• Giving up when trying to speak
• Pointing aggressively or crying instead of using their words/talking
• Acting out when they are not understood

This frustration may be overlooked as bad behavior, and for some children, it can also impact other areas:

• Avoiding social interactions
• Struggling in daycare or school
• Becoming quieter than usual
• Losing confidence in speaking situations

Communication is closely tied to emotional regulation, and when children struggle to express their needs, feelings, or thoughts, they can easily feel overwhelmed. Because of this, speech therapy often helps the child beyond just their speech. It can improve their confidence, reduce frustration, and strengthen their social connections. 

What Should Parents Do Next? 

If any of these signs sound familiar, it doesn’t automatically mean that your child has a serious speech disorder, but it does mean that it may be worth asking questions. 

A speech-language evaluation can help to identify whether your child is on track or whether speech therapy can help. The earlier a child receives help, the more opportunities they have to build strong communication skills during important years of development. 

Families can connect with experienced speech therapists from the comfort of home when they choose Great Speech. Virtual speech therapy makes it easier to access support without long waitlists, travel time, or scheduling headaches. We also work with many major insurance providers across the United States, and on average, families pay only $18 per session. Visit our insurance page to learn more about speech therapy coverage from Cigna, Health Net, Zenith America, UHC, Aetna, Centivo, Curative, Priority Health, Optum, & more. 

If you’ve been wondering whether your child may need speech therapy, trust your instincts. Schedule your free introductory call to get started.