Have you ever wondered whether your child should have a speech-language evaluation? This may be a difficult question that many families may have.
Below you can find 3 reasons why you may want to consider getting your child evaluated by a certified speech-language pathologist. It should be noted that you can seek a speech-language evaluation if anyone has concerns OR if your child is not meeting communication milestones:
- Your child is 9 months and is not babbling. For example, “baba mama dada”
- Your child is 18 months old and has less than 10 words à The average, or when 50% of children are able to produce 50 words is 18 months. The milestone, or when 90% of children have 10 words is 18 months.
- Your child is not combining two words by 24 months à The average age for achieving two-word combinations is 18 months of age. The milestone, or when 90% of children can combine words, is 24 months of age.
Tackling speech and language delays through Early Intervention is a critical component in helping toddlers improve specific areas of difficulties. This may be attributed to the fact that children’s brains are still growing and developing. Allowing them to acquire new information more easily. Without intervention, your child may be at risk of becoming further delayed.
If you have any concerns regarding your child’s overall development, don’t wait! This can include speech and language, social skills, play skills, or fine/gross motor. It is always better to intervene sooner than later! Early intervention providers (e.g., speech-language pathologists, special instructors) are here to work with both you and your child to improve their overall development.
Please feel free to contact us here at SLP Communication Foundations (845) 897-3330, if you have any questions!
About the author: Jayde Ragimierski, M.S. CCC-SLP earned her B.S. in Communication Disorders and Minor in Deaf Studies at the State University of New York at New Paltz and M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from The College of Saint Rose. Jayde provides Early Intervention Speech Therapy services to children ages 0-3 in Dutchess & Putnam county, as well as in-office speech therapy services to all ages in Fishkill, NY.
