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How to spot and treat your toddler’s speech problems

If you think your toddler is having trouble developing speech properly, a speech pathology doctor can help ease your concerns or create a positive therapy regimen to get him back on track. Sometimes it can be hard to tell if a young child has a problem or is just developing differently. Each child develops at their own pace, and they have different personalities. One child may be particularly talkative, and another may have excellent speech skills but simply be more reserved. It’s easy to worry about your child, but by maintaining good communication with your doctor, you can address any issues, should they arise.

For a young child, some speech problems are typical, such as difficulty making certain sounds or periods when he doesn’t speak much due to joy or shyness. If you have reason to believe there may be a problem beyond normal circumstances, take a few notes before your child’s next doctor’s visit. The more information that can be provided to the doctor, the better the diagnosis they will be able to make through speech pathology. Start with the words your child understands. Pay attention to how well they understand when you ask them questions, tell them stories, and interact with them.

It is said that it is quite normal for young children to understand words perfectly, but not have the skills to use them. It takes time to develop vocabulary. Notice how much they talk when they interact with you and what other things they do to get their point across. If your child wants something, he may just not know the words. Speech pathology backs up that if they use complex gestures, like grabbing your hand and walking toward an item or pointing to something out of reach, then they’re on the right track. It means they are learning. Once they have an understanding, children usually begin to speak in a short time. It may be helpful to praise them when they use words instead of gestures.

Speech pathology studies show that making certain sounds in the English language is complicated and difficult for most young children to do correctly. Some medical professionals believe you should encourage them to try it. If he makes a mistake, praise him for the effort and gently repeat the word with the correct pronunciation. Pay attention to how your words are formed and if there seems to be a problem with the formation of any particular sound. Common sense dictates that with practice, they will soon get it right. However, it might be smart to mention your doctor if you notice an ongoing problem.

To assess whether your child is developing at a normal rate or needs a little help, the doctor will perform some simple tests. The field of speech pathology has some benchmarks by which they can measure your child’s aptitude. The information you provide about your daily interactions is key. A hearing test, along with some simple interactions, can be used for the doctor to assess cognitive levels. In many cases, the child is fine and simply needs more time to continue on her path. In other cases, the problems can be adjusted with simple therapy methods. Often children continue to develop, leaving no trace of the previous problem.

Remember to consult with your doctor before taking any medical treatment or remedy.

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