Speech impediments and speech problems can develop for any number of reasons. In some cases, they are caused by simple things, such as a tongue tie, and can be easily and readily solved. In other cases, they are linked to a neurological condition that inhibits language development. Speech problems themselves are quite vast and varied as well, from the simple lisp to much more significantly delayed speech.
Oftentimes, speech delays and impediments first become noticeable right around the time that it is typical for children to start speaking. Often, parents become concerned when their babies and toddlers are not hitting the milestones in relation to speech. Of course, it is hugely important to note here that all children develop at their own pace – some will skip over many of the developmental stages and simply jump right into full sentences when they are ready. And some simply are more advanced with their physical development and take a bit longer to catch up on the verbal side of things. In most cases, the child in question ends up following a perfectly normal path of development as they grow.
However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, a lack of proper speech development is a sign of a much bigger issue. Therefore, it is always better for parents to be safe rather than sorry. If you think that your child has a speech impediment of any kind, it is likely to be worth bringing it up to your pediatrician. The pediatrician might just tell you to keep an eye on it for awhile, as it is likely to resolve itself and end up being something of a non issue. However, in some cases more further action will be needed.
If this ends up being true for your child, pediatric speech therapy with a quality speech therapist will be recommended. Pediatric speech therapy is actually more common than many people realize, as pediatric speech therapy can be beneficial for so many children. In fact, some people will even get pediatric speech therapy preemptively, as they feel that this will end up helping their child in the long run. There is certainly no harm in just asking if pediatric speech therapy might be right for your child, even if it ends up not being necessary.
It’s important to remember, however, that pediatric speech therapy actually comes in many different types – and not all kinds of pediatric speech therapy will be ideal for each and every child. For instance, e-stim therapy involves electrical stimulation. This type of pediatric speech therapy has been found to be quite successful indeed. However, this does not mean that e stim therapy will be a good fit for every single child who is in need of pediatric speech therapy.
Of course, pediatric speech therapy might also be part of a larger course of therapy as well. Pediatric occupational therapy might be necessary for some children, especially those who are expressing delays in multiple areas of development. Oftentimes, of course, pediatric speech therapy will very much be a part of this occupational therapy, as language is certainly a key tenet of healthy development and not one that should ever be overlooked. In such cases, it is actually likely that delays are a sign of a more serious and severe problem, and something that should never be overlooked. If many delays are occurring, seeking a more all encompassing diagnosis for your child might end up being a necessity.
It can be a frightening thing, thinking that something might be wrong with your child, that they might be in need of more help than what you are able to give to them. Fortunately, this help is available more accessibly and more frequently than ever before. From pediatric speech therapy to neurodevelopmental treatment that is much more all encompassing, there are methods and treatments that can very much help you to get your child back on track and meeting those developmental milestones. At the end of the day, early intervention is everything and can make a truly huge difference in the quality of life that your child is ultimately able to live.
