Finding out your child has communication or speech difficulties can be concerning, but early intervention that includes speech therapy for kids can make a world of difference in their development and well-being. Being able to communicate well helps children make friends, thrive in school, and build strong relationships as they grow. By addressing speech issues early, you are setting them up for future success.
How do you know if your child needs professional help? This guide will help you understand the signs to look out for, what to expect during your kid’s speech therapy sessions, and how speech therapy can boost your child’s confidence and communication skills. If you need a tailored approach, Brighter Futures Allied Health can create a personalised plan that addresses your child’s specific needs, making therapy effective and engaging.
Speech therapy for kids is a specialised intervention involving techniques and activities to improve overall communication. It addresses speech and language disorders and supports children with speech delays, those having trouble saying certain sounds, understanding or using language, stuttering and having difficulties with social communication. It can also help kids who face challenges with feeding, swallowing, or using their mouth muscles properly.
Speech therapy is facilitated by speech pathologists, also known as speech therapists. When working with children, speech pathologists often use play-based activities, visual aids, and fun, structured exercises to build speech and language skills. They might include sequencing games, wordplay, or language-based board games to help improve your child’s comprehension and thinking skills.
For children who are fussy eaters, speech pathologists may also utilise activities such as positioning and use of modified utensils to help with eating, drinking, and swallowing. It can include introducing various food tastes, textures, and temperatures to increase oral awareness and swallowing.
These techniques aim to engage and motivate your child. They might not even realise they’re in therapy because they are having fun doing the different tasks.
Children and adults alike can come to a speech therapist for an assessment. Therapy can benefit you, especially if you have a communication disorder or feeding disorder.
Every child achieves developmental milestones at their own pace. While some are more progressive and hit their milestones earlier, some may take more time to hone skills like talking and walking. Here are some speech and language red flags that might mean your kid needs speech therapy.
Stuttering is a speech disorder that disrupts the normal flow of speech. It typically occurs at age 2 to 3, when children start creating cohesive sentences.
With stuttering, your child might know what they want to say but have difficulty saying it. They may repeat or stretch out a word, syllable, consonant or vowel sound. They may pause while speaking because they’ve reached a word or sound that’s hard to get out.
Stuttering is common in young children, and many will outgrow it. If you’re concerned that your child is having speech difficulties, affecting their self-esteem and ability to communicate with other people, then it’s worth seeking speech therapy for kids.
Your child may have an articulation disorder if they have problems making sounds in syllables or saying words incorrectly to the point that listeners can’t understand what they are saying. Listen to your child closely and see if they use a limited number of sounds for all words, omitting many vowels and consonants. If they struggle to articulate, it can impact their confidence and discourage them from social interactions.
If your child has trouble understanding simple questions or clear instructions, checking in with a speech pathologist might be a good idea. Your child may have a language disorder, including receptive disorders, when they have difficulties understanding or processing language. They might also be affected by cognitive-communication disorders that impact their memory, attention, perception, organisation, regulation, and problem-solving skills.
It’s normal for young children to have a limited vocabulary at first, but if this continues as your child gets older or starts school, it could be a sign of an expressive disorder. They may have trouble putting words into sentences or using language to communicate with others socially.
Communication is more than just talking; it’s also about connecting with others. If your child struggles to join conversations, pick up on social cues, or communicate comfortably in social situations in a way that is beyond just being a shy child, then speech therapy might help. Speech pathologists can support kids in learning how to express themselves clearly and understand others, which is key to building friendships and confidently engaging with the world around them.
Speech therapy for kids doesn’t just improve communication skills; it also boosts your child’s overall well-being. It offers many benefits, including:
Speech therapy helps your child communicate their feelings, connect with others, keep up at school and become more independent. Over time, better communication can also increase confidence and self-esteem, skills your child will carry for life.
Your child should consider seeing a speech pathologist if you notice persistent speech and language development issues. It might also be worth seeking professional help if your child is:
There is no set age at which your child should attend speech therapy. However, early intervention is crucial, especially when speech and language disorders are affected by conditions like autism, childhood apraxia, or hearing-related issues. The sooner these issues are diagnosed and treated, the better the outcomes tend to be.
That said, it is never too late to start speech therapy. Older children can make significant progress in their speech and language skills with tailored sessions that address their specific needs.
As your child attends tailored speech therapy sessions, you can collaborate with their speech pathologist for at-home activities supporting their therapy goals. At Brighter Futures Allied Health, we work closely with families and provide family training so children can continue building their communication skills beyond our centres and make steady progress while feeling safe and supported.
BFAH can also conduct home or school visits (with a minimal travel fee) to provide therapy based on your child’s needs and goals. Continuing speech therapy for kids at home or in school allows children to learn and apply skills in a naturalistic and functional setting, while modelling to families how to use resources they already have at their disposal to support their child.
Speak with us today to schedule an appointment with our accredited speech therapists and get started on speech therapy for adults and kids. You may request an appointment via phone or the contact form on our website.
