I hear a lot of parents say, “I’m not sure if my child needs therapy” because “My child speaks, uses sentences and says her letters but is just stubborn does she still need speech therapy?”
The short answer is maybe. The long answer would involve the guidance from a speech-language pathologist. The best thing to do is always contact a speech-language pathologist as early as you can to help you determine between a delay, disorder or just typical development.
Now, let’s talk about language. Language is comprised of syntax, semantics, morphology, phonology and pragmatics. Your child may be understandable (phonology), use sentences (syntax), know some words (morphology, semantics) but lack functional language (language use). Functional language is when your child can effectively communicate their basic wants and needs. Functional language begins at about one years old with gestures. An example is, the child knows the words blue and car but does not communicate that the blue car hit her. Or she knows cookie and milk but cannot tell you that she wants cookie and milk or that she wants to see her favorite movie.
How we work on functional communication in therapy. With these cases we like to use visuals to help the child understand the importance of core words as well as pragmatic functions such as requesting, greeting, asking for assistance, or calling. Some of my favorites are communication boards, sign language and Picture Exchange System or PECS. In therapy, children are enticed with their favorite objects, foods, or activities along with the target language and models.
If you are unsure if your child needs speech language therapy, always consult with a speech pathologist. To learn more about our services, visit our website www.speakthroughplay.com
Comments