When a Pediatric Speech Therapist is Needed for Your Child

Many people do not know that their child is in need of a pediatric speech therapist until they find out from their family doctor or when their child goes to school. Usually, it stems from a superior expressing concern for a child and their language skills that they have learned by a certain age. Many parents do not understand what they are being told and will start to worry about their child’s development when they hear that they are being recommended for a pediatric speech therapist. They automatically think that their child could have a problem, but this is not always the case.

The Need for Pediatric Speech Therapy

It is important to act as quickly as possible when your child is experiencing speech issues due to a disorder or other reasons. From the first evaluation, a pediatric speech therapist will be able to guide you in the right direction and let you know what you are facing on this long journey toward the best help for your child.

In our modern times, as many as 40 million Americans face speech and communication disorders on a wide variety of levels, which is why the need for this specialized type of therapy is growing. Up to 5% of the children who are entering into first grade will experience a speech disorder that a parent, teacher, or doctor might have noticed in the child. On top of that, many children also experience hearing disorders, which can sometimes go hand-in-hand with speech problems depending on the severity of the issue at hand. One in five Americans has suffered some degree of hearing loss.

Children suffer from speech disorders on various levels, some of which are minor and some of which are quite progressed. Some children have difficulties processing language in general while others have limited vocabulary or difficulty stringing words together. Some children experience memory problems that can lead to limited speech. No matter what level of speech disorders you or your child are facing, there is a therapist out there for you who can assist you during this challenging time. Choose a pediatric speech therapist who will support you and answer any questions you have along the way.