5 Signs Your Child May Benefit from Speech Therapy

Every child develops at their own pace, but certain patterns can signal that a little extra support would go a long way.

1. Limited vocabulary for their age

By age two, most children use at least 50 words and are starting to combine two words together. If your child's vocabulary seems significantly smaller than their peers', it may be worth a conversation with a speech-language pathologist.

2. Difficulty being understood by others

Parents often become expert interpreters for their own children. But if strangers or even familiar adults struggle to understand your child by age three, that's a signal worth exploring. By age four, most children should be understood about 75-100% of the time.

3. Frustration during communication

When a child knows what they want to say but can't get the words out, frustration is a natural result. Frequent tantrums tied to communication breakdowns, or a child who has stopped trying to communicate, are both signs that support could help.

4. Stuttering or disfluency beyond age 5

Many children go through a normal period of disfluency between ages 2 and 5 as their language skills race ahead of their motor abilities. But if stuttering persists past age 5, becomes more severe, or is accompanied by physical tension, an evaluation is a good idea.

5. Difficulty following directions

Speech therapy also addresses language comprehension. If your child consistently struggles to follow two-step directions or seems to misunderstand age-appropriate instructions, a language evaluation can clarify what's happening.

What to do next

If any of these signs feel familiar, the best first step is a free consultation with a licensed speech-language pathologist. Early intervention consistently produces the best outcomes.