Speech Therapy
As a parent and a caregiver, we often worry about sooo much when it comes to our little loved ones. We worry about how much they are sleeping, how much time they are spending at daycare vs at home, the number of times they eat a day, etc. BUT often, most parents forget about speech therapy. They see their child's receptive language grow and many people tell them "wait and see". Or they hear the stories about how they waited until, insert age here, and their child began to talk.
Although "wait and see" is common practice and understanding among many medical professionals, it is completely outdated. As soon as you notice something that "seems off", you as a parent need to advocate for your child. A parental right is to advocate for your child when you feel something doesn't feel right. Most therapists, would rather do a pre-mature evaluation than an evaluation that is behind by 2-years. A child should have received early intervention years prior.
If you are experiencing these concerns with your child, please review the milestones that pertain to your child's age group. Discuss these concerns with your pediatrician and explain what you see or don't see in your child's abilities. HOWEVER, milestones are grouped into age brackets. For example, The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) writes that children ages 7-12 months old will "babble long strings of sounds like mimi upupup babababa, points to objects and shows them to others, imitates different sounds, and begins to say 1-2 words such as hi, dada, mama, uh oh, etc (typically around their first birthday).
Other things to consider when looking at your child and their speech/language abilities:
Has your child had their hearing checking recently by audiology and ear/nose/throat? Things that can cause hearing loss are genetic factors, prenatal drug/alcohol use, prematurity, illness/injury, and even hearing loss.
Do your best to not compare your child to your other children and when they hit their milestones or other kids your child's age and how quickly they may be hitting their milestones. This point is where paying attention to developmental milestones is VERY important.
Understand when your child is being given opportunities to talk. This can be related to older siblings/children that are frequently with your child that are answering for them, extensive screen time that limits their need to talk, etc. Consider all possibilities before reaching out.
We want your child to be able to communicate NOW. Therefore, the "wait and see" method is outdated and overrated. Reach out to me if you are having concerns about your child's overall development. I am here to help you, your child, and your family.