Essential Speech Therapy Insights Every Parent Should Have

Is it tough for others to understand your child’s speech? If so, you’re not alone. Up to 8 percent of young children have speech or language disorders, often without a clear cause. Sometimes, children are just late in developing their speaking skills.

Understanding Speech Disorders:

Speech disorders fall into three main categories. The most common type is articulation disorder, which affects how children pronounce sounds. A common example is saying “wuv” instead of “love.” Fluency disorders involve difficulty with the rhythm of speech, while voice disorders affect the pitch or tone of the voice, even if words are pronounced correctly.

Understanding Language Disorders:

Language disorders are about having trouble using or understanding language. Children may struggle with the structure and meaning of words or find it hard to form sentences. In rare cases, they might not be able to speak at all.

How Speech Therapy Can Help:

The right therapy depends on the child’s age and the severity of the disorder. A good speech therapist can teach children to articulate sounds correctly, speak with a smooth rhythm, and use the right pitch. For those with language disorders, therapy might include vocabulary building and conversation practice.

Finding a Speech Therapist:

Many schools have speech therapists, but limited budgets and large class sizes can reduce the one-on-one time each child receives. Thankfully, online speech therapy is now available, offering real-time interaction over the Internet. These sessions are as effective as in-person therapy and can be done at home or school. Most importantly, children usually enjoy the online sessions.

With effective therapy, most children can overcome speech difficulties relatively quickly. The best part is, they can have fun while doing it.