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What is Speech Therapy?

Speech and language services for children address and remediate:

  • Acquisition of oral motor strength
  • coordination and control (apraxia/dysarthria)
  • Feeding skills
  • Development of speech, articulation, communication skills
  • Receptive and expressive language
  • Social pragmatics and communication
  • Development of augmentative communication systems

    Many parents wonder if their child is developing speech and language skill within the average range. It is important to remember that every child is different; therefore every child develops speech and language at their own rate. The following information gives some precursors to articulation, and receptive/expressive language skills.

    1-2 Years

  • Says more words every month
  • Uses some 1-2 word questions ("What's that?")
  • Puts 2 words together ("More cookie." "No juice.")
  • Uses many different consonant sounds at beginning of words

    • 2-3 Years

  • Has a word for almost everything
  • Uses 2-3 words to talk about and ask for things
  • Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time
  • Often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming them
  • Understands differences in meaning ("go-stop", "in-on")
  • Follows two requests ("Get the book and put it on the table.")

    • 3-4 Years

  • Talks about activities at school or at friends' homes
  • People outside family usually understand child's speech
  • Uses a lot of sentences that have 4 or more words
  • Usually talks easily without repeating syllables or words
  • Hears you when you call from another room
  • Hears television/radio at same level as other family members
  • Answers simple "who," "what," "where," and "why" questions

    • 4-5 Years

  • Voice sounds clear like other children's
  • Uses sentences with lots of details ("I like to read my books")
  • Tells stories that stick to topic
  • Communicates easily with other children and adults
  • Says most sounds correctly (except l, s, r, v, z, j, ch, sh, th)
  • Uses the same grammar as the rest of the family

  • Learn More About Language Development
  • Learn About Birth-to-Three Language Development


    • Please Contact Us for more information about our services or to schedule an appointment.

     

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