Does my child need speech therapy?

As a parent, you might wonder if your child's speech and language development is on track. While every child develops at their own pace, some signs may indicate that extra support is needed. Early intervention is key in helping children develop strong communication skills.

Signs Your Child Might Benefit from Speech Therapy

Here are some common signs that your child may need speech therapy:

1) Delayed Speech – Speech and language milestones provide a general guideline for a child's development. While some children may be "late talkers" and catch up on their own, others may need extra support. Here’s what to expect at different ages:

o   12 months – Your child should be using 1-5 words like "mama" or "dada" and may try to imitate sounds. They should also respond to their name and familiar words.

o   18 months – At this stage, toddlers typically use at least 10–50 words and begin to understand and follow simple commands like "come here" or "give me."

o   2 years – A child should have a vocabulary of 50–300 words, begin combining two words (e.g., "want cookie" or "go park"), and ask simple questions like "what’s that?"

o   3 years – Your child should be using 250–1,000 words, forming simple sentences (e.g., "I want more juice"), and engaging in short back-and-forth conversations.

When to Seek Help:
If your child isn’t reaching these speech milestones or exhibits the following signs, they may have a speech or language delay:

o   Limited babbling as an infant (by 6–9 months)

o   Not using single words by 14 months

o   Not combining words by 24 months

o   Frequently relying on gestures instead of words

o   Difficulty understanding or following simple directions

o   Speech that is difficult for parents or caregivers to understand

2) Unclear Speech – If your child is difficult to understand compared to peers their age, it may be a sign of a speech sound disorder. Children should be a certain percentage  intelligible at various ages:

o   18 months –  25% understood by others

o   2-3 years – 50% understood by others

o   3-4 years – 75% understood by others

o   5 years – 90-100% understood by others

These norms are based on the 50th percentile for children developing along expected milestones.

If your child’s speech is frequently misunderstood, they may be struggling with:

o   Articulation disorders – Difficulty producing specific sounds (e.g., saying "wabbit" instead of "rabbit").

o   Phonological disorders – Patterns of sound errors (e.g., omitting final consonants like "ca" instead of "cat").

o   Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) – Difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech, leading to inconsistent sound errors and difficulty pronouncing longer words.

 (Reference: Hustad, K. C., et al., 2021, Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research)

3)  Social Communication – Some children struggle with pragmatic language skills, which are essential for social interactions. Signs of a social communication disorder include:

o   Difficulty maintaining conversations and using comments

o   Trouble understanding facial expressions, gestures, or tone of voice

o   Struggles with turn-taking in conversation

o   Difficulty making eye contact or staying on topic

These challenges are often seen in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but they can also occur in children without ASD. Speech therapy can help children develop these essential social skills through structured activities and real-life practice.

4)     Stuttering – Many children before age 5 go through a phase of developmental stuttering as they learn to talk, but if stuttering:

o   Persists for more than six months

o   Gets worse instead of improving

o   Affects their confidence or ability to communicate

…it may be time to consult a speech therapist. Boys are 2 to 3 times more likely to stutter than girls, and about 5–10% of children experience some period of stuttering. If you’re unsure whether your child’s stuttering is temporary or needs professional support, Mimi & Me Speech Therapy can help assess their fluency.

5)     Receptive language delay occurs when a child has trouble understanding spoken language. You might notice your child:

o   Frequently asks "What?" or "Huh?" when spoken to

o   Struggles to follow multi-step directions (e.g., "Get your shoes and put them by the door")

o   Seems lost or confused in conversations

o   Has difficulty understanding new concepts or answering questions

These difficulties can impact learning, social interactions, and overall communication. Speech therapy can help strengthen your child's ability to process and understand language more effectively.

What to Do If You Have Concerns?

If you notice any of these signs, don’t worry—help is available! A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can assess your child’s communication skills and create a personalized plan to support their growth.

At Mimi & Me Speech Therapy, we provide in-home and virtual speech therapy for children in West Los Angeles and South Bay areas. Our warm, engaging, and family-centered approach ensures your child receives the personalized care they need to reach their full potential.

📞 Schedule a free consultation today! (424) 229-2769 or Email: miriam@mimi-speech.com

Visit Mimi & Me Speech Therapy to learn more and follow me on instagram @mimi_speechtherapy for tips!

March 14, 2025