When does your child need therapy?
Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level. They may struggle with reading, have difficulty understanding and expressing language, misunderstand social cues, avoid attending school, show poor judgment, and have difficulty with tests.
Difficulty in learning to listen, speak, read, or write can result from problems in language development. Problems can occur in the production, comprehension, and awareness of language sounds, syllables, words, sentences, and conversation. Individuals with reading and writing problems also may have trouble using language to communicate, think, and learn.
Difficulty in learning to listen, speak, read, or write can result from problems in language development. Problems can occur in the production, comprehension, and awareness of language sounds, syllables, words, sentences, and conversation. Individuals with reading and writing problems also may have trouble using language to communicate, think, and learn.
At what point should you be concerned about your child's development?
Both social and academic success depend on well-developed speech and language skills. Your child may be having difficulty developing these skills if:
- Your child is not understood by classmates or others outside the immediate family.
- Your child is frustrated when trying to communicate and the situation does not improve over a one to two month period.
- Your child does not seem to hear or understand all that is said or seems to "tune out" what others say.
- Your child does not start or maintain conversations and has difficulty staying on topic.
- Your child is unable to understand spoken directions.
Using developmental milestones, such as those provided in the links below, you can compare your child's development with that of other children the same age. You can get an idea if your child's communication skills are about the same, higher than, or lower than expected.
How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?
Your Child's Communication Development: Kindergarten through 5th grade