It can be nerve-wracking to know what typical development looks like and when your child may need speech therapy to help them develop their foundational language skills. Before children begin talking they are developing their non-verbal language skills such as pointing and making eye contact as well as their receptive language skills, or understanding of language. Children typically say their first words between 12 and 18 months of age. From 12 to 24 months children should be increasing their single word vocabulary each month. By age 2, children should have a vocabulary minimum of 50-75 words and combining two-word phrases, such as “momma up.” By age 3, children should be using short sentences to communicate. 
If your child does not understand simple single step directions such as, ‘touch your nose or get your cup,’ or is just saying sounds and pointing beyond 15 months of age, a comprehensive speech and language evaluation is recommended. The experienced speech-language pathologist at Back Bay Speech Therapy will look at a child’s play skills, current means of communication, ability to follow directions, ability to identify common items, interactions with others, and current spoken language skills.
Once the evaluation is complete the therapist can recommend speech and language therapy services based on testing outcomes. Following the evaluation session a pediatric-speech language pathologist will create an individualized therapy plan focusing on the child’s specific areas of need. Research shows, early interventions services reduces the incidence of developmental delays for children at risk as well as improves developmental age after treatment. Speech Therapy assists a child in gaining their independence, developing their speech and language skills, and ensuring the child does not fall further behind same-aged peers in areas that may already be delayed.
Back Bay Speech Therapy is a company that offers in-home speech therapy services that treats children with communication disorders.
Comments are closed