This is a comment that I hear from parents from time to time.
Luckily this isn’t something I hear often, but when I do, I know that it is important to explain why this line of thinking could actually hurt your child rather than help them.
The basic line of thinking behind this comment is the belief that the child may just need a little bit more time to catch up and that there is not a true language disorder. Yes, that very well could be the case. All children develop at different rates which is why developmental norms are a range and not a specific month of acquirement. A child is considered a late talker when they are under 30 months of age, have less than 50 words, and/or are not yet combining words. Research has shown that about 70% of late talkers catch up by Kindergarten. However, while these late talkers “catch up,” research has also shown that they continue to experience social, language, literacy, and executive functioning weaknesses that persist into adolescence (all things that speech-language pathologists help treat, btw!). So, that begs the question, did they truly catch up? Or would starting early intervention actually have been the best way to go? Was taking your chances that they would outgrow it, worth it?
Starting early intervention services can make many parents fearful. Fearful of a diagnosis, fearful of the unknown, fearful of a label following their child throughout their academic career. However, early intervention services don’t hurt children but rather helps them, regardless of if they outgrow being a late talker or not. The remaining 30% of children classified as late talkers do have a language disorder where there will be clear, observable difficulties with acquiring language throughout elementary school. Depending on how long this “wait and see” approach lasted for them, it can be harmful. That is time that one can never get back and also means that the child is now that much further behind their peers. The gap between where they are and where they are supposed to be, has only continued to grow. Our blog a couple of months ago, Don’t Wait…Evaluate, dives into more detail on why starting therapy sooner rather than later is so important.
So while no one has a crystal ball to be able to see which group a child is going to end up in, what is known is that BOTH groups continue to struggle which means waiting and seeing is not the best approach for either group.
About the Author
JANENE BESCH
Director/Speech-Language Pathologist
Janene Besch, née Martin, holds a Master’s degree in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences from San Diego State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California at San Diego. Janene is a member of the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology Read more >
s speech-language pathologists, we’re frequently asked about pacifiers and their impact on speech development. The internet can be a helpful, but overwhelming, place full of information when making choices about your child’s care. Here at OWLS Therapy, we aim to provide education and ways to support both you and your child so you can achieve success.
With an exciting season filled with vacations, you may find yourself enjoying time near some water this summer. Fish, sand, and ocean creatures… oh my! Check out this easy fish craft below- perfect for a rainy day at the beach or inside activity to escape the summer heat!
Summer is here! With a jam-packed schedule filled with camps, vacations, and other fun events, it can be difficult to focus on summer reading lists and keeping up with demands of academic learning. We’re here to help! Today we’ll be talking all about the summer slide and some easy ideas for home. By incorporating speech and language skills into everyday tasks, children have multiple opportunities to learn something motivating to them. Let’s fill up this summer with fun- and learning!
s speech-language pathologists, we’re frequently asked about pacifiers and their impact on speech development. The internet can be a helpful, but overwhelming, place full of information when making choices about your child’s care. Here at OWLS Therapy, we aim to provide education and ways to support both you and your child so you can achieve success.
Read More →