Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
In March 2023, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) conducted a survey of certified speech-language pathologists who work with young children around the country. Almost 1,000 speech therapists responded, and the results contained some surprises.
Overall, the survey revealed that there’s still a lot we can do to educate families about developmental milestones, how to recognize a speech and language delay, and when to look into speech services for your child.
Many parents don’t know the signs of a speech delay or disorder
In the survey, 41% of speech therapists said that symptoms of a speech or language delay or disorder in young children go unrecognized by their caregivers for 1 to 2 years. Only 28% of speech therapists said that most parents of young children are aware of the early warning signs of speech and language delays.
Knowing the early warning signs of a speech or language disorder is important. If your child needs speech services, the earlier that intervention can begin, the sooner your child will make progress and begin meeting developmental milestones.
Many parents don’t know the milestones expected for their child’s age
So how can families learn the signs of a speech delay? The key is knowing the speech and language milestones that toddlers and children should be meeting as they grow. In the survey, most speech therapists (70%) said that in their experience, parents and caregivers are not aware of the milestones expected for their child’s age.
70% of speech therapists said that in their experience, parents aren't aware of the milestones expected for their child’s age.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to become an expert in child development! Pediatricians and speech therapists have a responsibility to educate families on what to look for. But it helps to do a little reading on your own. Scroll down for links to communication milestones for kids from birth through middle school.
Parents tend to “wait and see” when their child shows signs of a delay
Here’s another surprising finding from the survey: Nearly half (48%) of speech therapists said that caregivers wait 6 months to 1 year to take action after seeing symptoms of a speech or language problem in their child.
Many families may not know how important early intervention is, or why the “wait and see” approach isn’t ideal.
Should you wait to start speech therapy? Oftentimes, waiting isn’t the best plan of action. That’s because speech and language skills build on one another, much like a staircase. In order to reach one communication milestone, you have to meet the milestone right before it. Just like when walking up a flight of stairs, you have to take one step at a time. If a child isn’t meeting current communication milestones, they won’t be able to move on to the next ones, and their delay may grow worse.
If a child isn’t meeting current milestones, they won’t be able to move on to the next ones, and their delay may grow worse.
In addition, the complexity of these milestones increases as kids grow older. That’s another reason early intervention is so important. It helps kids start making progress as quickly as possible–not only to reach their current communication goals, but to support future skill development, as well.
More families are seeking speech services than before the pandemic
Did the COVID-19 pandemic affect children’s speech and language development? The survey included questions related to the pandemic. For example, the majority of speech therapists (69%) said they’re receiving more referrals and requests for speech evaluations in young children than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. Many professionals believe there is a backlog of cases from the pandemic, when evaluations may have been delayed due to concerns of COVID exposure.
The survey also asked speech therapists about any trends they’re seeing in young children that they didn’t see before the pandemic. The most frequent responses were as follows:
More children with emotional or behavioral difficulties
More children with delayed language or diagnosed with language disorders
More children with social communication difficulties
Online speech therapy has become more popular with families
People took advantage of a variety of virtual options during the pandemic, and this affected caregivers’ views of online speech therapy. In the survey, 38% of speech therapists reported that parents and caregivers of young children are more interested in using telepractice than they were at the beginning of the pandemic.
Research has shown online speech therapy to be just as effective as in-person speech services. It’s also more convenient and provides better opportunities for parents to be involved in their child’s care.
So what do parents need to know about speech and language delays?
At Expressable, our goal is to be a valued source of information and empowerment for parents and caregivers. We want families to be able to confidently spot the signs of a speech and language delay and understand what steps to take next.
That’s why we publish information on key speech and language milestones in children, from birth through the preteen years. Understanding these milestones is one way to know if your child is on track or may need speech services.
Speech and language milestones for 0-12-months Speech and language milestones for 12-24 months Speech and language milestones for 2-year-olds Speech and language milestones for 3-year-olds Speech and language milestones for 4-year-olds Speech and language milestones for 5-year-olds Speech and language milestones for 6-year-olds Speech and language milestones for elementary school Speech and language milestones for middle school
How to find a speech therapist for your child
If you’re noticing that your child isn't meeting age-expected communication milestones, or you simply sense that something is off, trust your gut. Start by contacting your pediatrician. The doctor can help determine whether your child is on track or would benefit from a speech evaluation. They may also have recommendations for specific speech therapists.
You can also go straight to a speech therapist or speech therapy practice with your questions. And another option is to take our easy online screener. You can discuss your results with one of our specialists for free.
It's important for families to know that it’s never too late to start speech services.
It’s true that early intervention is best. Children are at higher risk of falling behind if they don’t get the help they need quickly. But it’s important for families to know that it’s never too late to start speech services. Making the decision to schedule a speech evaluation is often the biggest hurdle for families. You should feel proud for taking these steps now and supporting your child’s needs.
At Expressable, we’re experts in communication, but we believe that you are the expert in your child. Your little one is lucky to have you in their corner, and we’re honored to support you both in any way we can.
