_{Hello friends, happy Friday! A couple things before the newsletter.}

Two asks:

1. If you’ve found these newsletters helpful, please share it with someone else that might find it useful as well. Many of you are forwarding it to other people, and we appreciate that, but if you specifically share the subscription link (at the bottom of this email) it allows us to send straight to your friends + family PLUS they’ll be able to see all other guides and resources that we’ve sent out before.

2. Speaking of resources we’ve already sent, you can find any previous newsletters right here if you’d like!

— Reed

_{_______________________}

Should I Have My Child Evaluated by an SLP?

That’s one of the most popular questions I hear my friends of young kids ask these days.

In today’s newsletter, I’ll share what types of things are considered “normal” as kids are developing their speech and language skills, what types of things might warrant a second opinion from a speech-language pathologist (SLP), and what an SLP can do to support your child.

What’s Normal?

Every child develops at their own pace, but here are some general language milestones:

• 12 months: Uses gestures like waving or pointing, babbles with changes in tone, may say a couple of words like “mama” or “bye-bye.”

• 18 months: Has a vocabulary of about 10-20 words, understands simple directions, points to familiar objects when named.

• 2 years: Uses at least 50 words, starts combining words into two-word phrases (“more juice,” “go park”), can follow simple two-step directions.

• 3 years: Uses three-word sentences, speech is understood most of the time by familiar listeners, asks questions.

• 4 years: Tells short stories, speech is understood by most people, uses basic grammar and longer sentences.

Remember, kids may hit some milestones a little early and others a little later. That’s okay!

There’s a guide in this previous email that includes some other milestone details.

When to Seek an Evaluation

You might consider reaching out to an SLP for an evaluation if your child:

• Isn’t babbling or using any gestures by 12 months.

• Isn’t using single words by 18 months.

• Has fewer than 50 words or isn’t combining words by age 2.

• Is very hard to understand compared to peers of the same age.

• Seems frustrated with communication often.

• Doesn’t follow directions or seems to “tune out” spoken language.

• Stutters, has a hoarse voice, or unusual speech patterns that persist.

As a parent, YOU know your child best. If you’re worried at all that your child’s communication is behind, it’s worth it to bring them in for an evaluation.

What an SLP Can Do

Remember: a speech-language evaluation doesn’t necessarily mean your child needs treatment. An SLP will:

• Complete an in-depth speech/language developmental assessment and compare your child’s skills to age expectations.

• Share whether your child qualifies for therapy or whether their development is within the typical range.

• Offer guidance, strategies, and home activities to support your child’s communication - even if therapy isn’t needed.

• Partner with you to monitor progress over time.

FAQ for Parents

Q: Will my child just “grow out of it”?
A: Some kids do catch up on their own, but it’s impossible to predict which ones will. An evaluation gives you clarity so you don’t waste valuable time waiting if support is needed.

Q: Do I need a doctor’s referral to see an SLP?
A: In many cases, no referral is required. You can often contact a speech-language pathologist directly. However, some insurance plans may require one, so it’s best to check with your insurance provider.

Q: What if my child is bilingual or exposed to more than one language?
A: That’s wonderful! Bilingualism does not cause delays. Sometimes it can take children longer to “sort out” both languages, but true speech or language difficulties will show up in all languages they are learning.

Q: What if my child is shy or just doesn’t want to talk to strangers?
A: That’s very common. Pediatric SLPs are skilled at making children feel comfortable and finding ways to evaluate their communication, even if they are slow to warm up.

With all of this in mind, remember: getting an evaluation from an SLP or asking questions is never a bad thing. No matter what, you’ll leave an evaluation with reassurance or with a plan for extra support, and you’ll have the peace of mind that you’re giving your child the best possible start on their speech and language development.

Thanks for reading!

— Casey

Here’s that link to share:

.

.

.

.