When Should My Child Start Speech Therapy?

A lot of parents I talk to are not sure if they should be concerned about their child’s speech, or if it is something they will grow out of.

There is a wide range of what is typical, but there are a few things I listen for.

You might want to look into speech therapy if your child:

• Is hard to understand compared to other kids their age

• Leaves off sounds in words like “ca” for “cat”

• Substitutes sounds like “tat” for “cat”

• Has trouble with certain sounds as they get older

• Has difficulty expressing their ideas clearly or putting sentences together for their age

• Or you just have a gut feeling something feels off

You do not need to wait until it is severe to check in.

Sometimes it is nothing. Sometimes a little support can make things much easier before it becomes frustrating for your child.

Therapy is tailored to each child, but often focuses on helping speech become clearer and supporting language in a way that feels natural and functional, not forced.

If you are unsure, a quick consultation can help you figure out whether an evaluation makes sense or if it is something to monitor.