My Child is not talking much... When to worry and take Action!

As a parent, you may be asking yourself if your child is going to outgrow his slow development and begin to talk as much as his peers.

Don't ever assume your child will outgrow anything!!! It is better to be safe than sorry. If a professional determines that your child has problems with his/her speech or language, the earlier he/she receives therapy, the better.  

We learn to talk naturally by repeating what we hear, see, understand, and remember. Sometimes children improve their language skills on their own, especially with the pronunciation of words but it never hurts to get a professional opinion. There is never a right age for seeking help because children are developmentally unique.  A child with speech, language, or listening problems is at a disadvantage upon entering school.
          Problems with these skills affect the child's ability to:

*follow directions

*understand basic concepts

*exercise good auditory skills and memory

*learn new words

*understand the plot of a story & make up new ones

Getting help beforehand is not a guarantee of academic success, but early intervention gives the child a positive head start on correcting his/her problems.