5 Signs Your Child May Need Speech Therapy
By Kimberlee Lewis, M.S., CCC-SLP
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Is this normal?” or “Should I be concerned?”, you’re definitely not alone.
As a speech-language pathologist, those are some of the most common questions parents ask me.
The truth is, every child develops at their own pace. Some children need a little extra time, while others may benefit from additional support. It doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong—it just means it’s worth paying attention.
If you’ve noticed any of the signs below, a speech and language evaluation can help answer your questions and give you a better understanding of your child’s communication skills.
1. Your child isn’t meeting communication milestones.
Every child develops differently, so try not to compare your child to every other child you meet.
That being said, there are certain communication milestones we expect children to reach as they grow.
If your child isn’t using many words, isn’t putting words together, or seems much harder to understand than other children their age, it may be worth having them evaluated.
Sometimes they simply need a little extra support—and that’s okay.
2. Other people have a hard time understanding your child.
You probably understand your child better than anyone else.
But if grandparents, teachers, daycare providers, or even strangers frequently say, “What did they say?” it could be a sign that your child’s speech is difficult for others to understand.
Speech therapy can help improve speech clarity while giving your child more confidence when communicating.
3. Your child has difficulty understanding language.
Communication isn’t just about talking.
It’s also about understanding what other people are saying.
If your child has trouble following directions, answering questions, or understanding everyday conversations, they may benefit from extra support.
4. Your child gets frustrated when trying to communicate.
Communication should help children connect with others—not leave them feeling frustrated.
If your child cries, gives up easily, points instead of talking, or has frequent meltdowns because they can’t express themselves, speech therapy can provide them with tools to communicate more successfully.
5. Teachers, daycare providers, or your pediatrician have expressed concerns.
Sometimes parents notice concerns first.
Other times, a teacher or pediatrician may bring something to your attention.
If someone who spends time with your child has expressed concerns about their communication, don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either.
An evaluation can help determine whether your child is developing as expected or whether they could benefit from additional support.
Final Thoughts
One thing I always tell parents is this:
Asking questions doesn’t hurt. Waiting sometimes can.
If you’ve been wondering whether your child would benefit from speech therapy, trust your instincts and ask.
Maybe everything is developing just fine.
Maybe your child just needs a little extra support.
Either way, you’ll leave with more information and peace of mind.
At Confident Communication Speech Therapy, my goal is to partner with families and help children build the confidence to communicate in a way that works best for them.
If you have questions, I’d love to chat.
Kimberlee Lewis, M.S., CCC-SLP
Founder & Speech-Language Pathologist
Confident Communication Speech Therapy
