Do you have a child 3 years old or younger? Are you worried because your child doesn't seem to listen? Has your child started to say any words? Does your child cry a lot or have tantrums? Your child may have early signs of a speech, language, or hearing disorder.
Don't wait and hope your child will outgrow a communication problem. Early detection leads to early treatment. The earlier you get help for your child, the better.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists can help your infant or toddler who has a speech, language, or hearing disorder. SLPs help with language disorders, speech sound disorders, stuttering (disfluency), and voice disorders.
Here are some of the signs to help you determine if your child has a speech, language, or hearing disorder.
Doesn't smile or interact with others (birth–3 months)
Doesn't babble (4–7 months)
Makes few sounds (7–12 months)
Does not use gestures (e.g., waving, pointing) (7–12 months)
Doesn't understand what others say (7 months–2 years)
Says only a few words (12–18 months)
Doesn't put words together to make sentences (1½–3 years)
Has trouble playing and talking with other children (2–3 years)
Has problems with early reading and writing skills—for example, may not show an interest in books or drawing (2½–3 years)
Ways to Help With Language Disorders
Listen and respond to your child
Talk, read, and play with your child
Communicate with your child in the language that you are most comfortable using
Talk about what you are doing and what your child is doing
Use a lot of different words with your child
Use longer sentences as your child gets older
Have your child play with other children
Says p, b, m, h, and w incorrectly in words (1–2 years)
Says k, g, f, t, d, and n incorrectly in words (2–3 years)
Produces speech that is unclear, even to familiar people (2–3 years)
Ways to Help With Speech Sound Disorders
Say the sounds correctly when you talk—it's okay if your child makes some mistakes with sounds
Don't correct speech sounds—it's more important to let your child keep talking
Struggles to say sounds or words (2½–3 years)
Repeats first sounds of words—"b-b-b-ball" for "ball" (2½–3 years)
Pauses a lot while talking (2½–3 years)
Stretches sounds out—"f-f-f-f-farm" for "farm" (2½–3 years)
Ways to Help With Stuttering or Disfluency
Give your child time to talk
Do not interrupt or stop your child while he or she is speaking
See an SLP if you are concerned (Many young children stutter for a short period of time; in most cases, the stuttering will stop.)
Uses a hoarse or breathy voice
Uses a nasal-sounding voice
Ways to Help With Voice Disorders
See a doctor if your child sounds hoarse or breathy or has a nasal-sounding voice
Tell your child not to shout or scream
Keep your child away from cigarette smoke
Shows lack of attention to sounds (birth–1 year)
Doesn't respond when you call his/her name (7 months–1 year)
Doesn't follow simple directions (1–2 years)
Shows delays in speech and language development (birth–3 years)
Ways to Help With Hearing Loss
See an audiologist if your child did not pass the newborn hearing screening
Go to an audiologist if you have any concerns about your child's hearing (some hearing losses can begin months or years after birth).