Preschool child language development
Signs your toddler may require speech therapy service
Having a healthy child is considered by many to be a blessing. However, there can be a time when your toddler can experience problems which may require a specialist. Among these issues are the ones related to language. Here are some of the signs your toddler may require professional speech therapy service. Bear in mind that even if some of the signs are present your child may simply be a late talker.
Limited vocabulary for their age
One of the signs that your toddler may need to checked by a specialist is the small range of vocabulary they are using. During the first years starting from 12 months old, their vocabulary rapidly expands to include the approximate amount of 1000 words at age 3. If your child is using a limited range of words and is not using a general verb such as “go”, “make”, “do” and others, you may want to consider requesting a speech therapist evaluation.
Small lengths of utterance (too little word combination)
Another possible sign that your child may need speech therapy service is their inability to combine more than one or two words. A general rule of thumb is that as they age children begin to combine as many words as they are old. Meaning that 1 year old they should speak one word at a time. At 2 they should combine two. And at 3 they should combine three. If your toddler still remains within the one or two-word utterance consider requesting a speech evaluation.
Preschool language development is important. While the signs mentioned above may be indicative of linguistic issues in the child they may also be harmless and show that your toddler is a late talker. However, it would be best to speak to a professional speech therapy service specialist to find out if it is developing normally. An example of a company which offers such services is Communication 4 You LLC in Laurel, MD.