STEVENS POINT, Wisc. - May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and one local expert is using the opportunity to inform families about their child’s communication development—as well as the benefits of early intervention for children with speech and language delays or disorders.
“Speech therapy encompasses a huge range of skills from preverbal communication—such as gestures, facial expression, and engagement—to complex social skills like ordering food in a restaurant,” said Tracy Heck, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist at Aspirus Stevens Point Outpatient Therapies. “Communication therapy supports a patient’s ability to access and utilize all skills, even if verbal communication is never used.”
Heck encourages families to consult the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) recently updated milestones checklists. They provide the communication skills that most children will demonstrate between the ages of birth and 5 years.
Here are some examples of these communication milestones:
• Quiets or smiles when you talk (birth to 3 months).
• Vocalizes different vowel sounds—sometimes combined with a consonant—like uuuuuummm, aaaaaaagoo, or daaaaaaaaaa (4–6 months).
• Babbles long strings of sounds, like mamamama, upup, or babababa (7–9 months).
• Points, waves, and shows or gives objects (10–12 months).
• Follows directions—like “Give me the ball,” “Hug the teddy bear,” “Come here,” or “Show me your nose” (13–18 months).
• Puts two or more words together—like “more water” or “go outside” (19–24 months).
• Says their name when asked (2–3 years).
• Tells you a story from a book or a video (3–4 years).
• Recognizes and names 10 or more letters, and can usually write their own name (4–5 years).
“Families learn techniques and strategies to foster multimodal communication and encourage quality interactions,” Heck said. “The SLP can support the individual and family to bridge between outpatient and school/community and beyond. This is important to carry over to various settings and among various communication partners.”
ASHA’s checklists provide the age ranges when the majority (75%) of children demonstrate particular skills. However, each child develops differently, Heck notes—even within the same family. Also, skills develop over time—not on a child’s exact birthday. This is why milestones are presented in ranges (e.g., “7–9 months” rather than “at 7 months”).
If a child doesn’t meet one milestone in an age range, an evaluation isn’t necessarily needed. On the other hand, if a child lacks several skills, is not learning new skills, or is losing skills that they once had, families are encouraged to consult their pediatrician and visit a speech-language pathologist.
Addressing a potential developmental delay or disorder early is strongly advised. Professional help can be effective at any age. However, birth to 3 years—which is the period of life when the brain is most flexible—is the ideal time window for care.
Speech and language disorders are among the most common conditions that young children experience. Generally, these disorders are treatable—and, in some cases, they can be reversed or prevented. Too often, parents are told to “wait and see” if their children’s difficulties go away on their own. Yet, left unaddressed, speech and language difficulties can lead to academic and social challenges, as well as behavior issues.
An evaluation doesn’t necessarily result in intervention or treatment. It’s not unusual for families to be told that their child’s development is on track. In cases where a child is found to have a communication delay or disorder, families can then explore their options and take steps to support their child’s growth and learning.
Talk with your child’s provider if you have any concerns about your child’s social communication development. Visit www.aspirus.org/find-a-provider to find an Aspirus pediatrician in your area.
To schedule a consultation with a Speech Language Pathologist, contact Aspirus Stevens Point Outpatient Therapies at 715.345.1447.