When should you start to consider speech therapy for you're toddler?

Question

My 2 1/2 year old is not talking, every once in a while she will repeat what you say, but then you can't get her to repeat it. She still say's the basics, Mama, Dada, no. Has anyone had to see a speach therapist for their child, what exactly do they do to help them.

Answer 1

You should consider speech therapy as soon as you think your child may have a speech delay.  All 3 of my sons began speech therapy through early childhood intervention for free.  They were 25 months, 16 months, and 9 months when they started receiving services from a speech/language pathologist.  The therapist comes out to our house 3x a week currently.  My middle son is 33 months and gets speech 1x/week and my youngest is 19 months and gets speech 2x/week.  

What she does is play with them.  She tries to get them to imitate sounds/words.  She overexaggerates.  She uses a nuk brush, vibration tools like a z-vibe, the ark grabber, she has them point to words in books, works on 1-2 step directions, puzzles, peek a boo, singing songs like wheels on the bus, making animal sounds, a mirror so they can see, identifying body parts, blowing bubbles, asking and signing for more, my older one can say more juice please

The therapist encourages you to purchase therapy tools to use from places like talking child, superduper, the therapy shoppe, the equipment shop

My 33 month old will be attending the preschool, and my youngest will also attend Easter Seals preschool 2 yo program in the fall.

Answer 2

i would wait until she start kindergarten. Both of my kids were the same and talk just fine. In fact my son didn't start talking until he was 3. Now he is four and talks just fine.

The fact that she is talking and communicating with you, no matter how little it is, says that she can hear you, and understand you, (as much as a 2 1/2 year old can).

So good luck and just give it some time.

Answer 3

Yes, we have been seeing one for a while now.  He saw a therapist for six month and then moved on to a speech pathosogist. The therapist made little to no head way.  My child has made massive improvements in three months with the pathologist. He was also diagnosed with a rare communication disorder missed by the therapist.  Early childhood intervention is a state run program that can evaluate. Also your Dr. can have you see a developmental pediatrician or some colleges have speech programs.  We found the awnser to our prayers at the university of texas.

Answer 4

Speech therapists help children learn to talk.  They teach through play.  Kids learn words for objects, people, etc.

My son is 3 and has had speech since he was a year old.  I have seen great improvements in him.

I would try and contact your local Early Intervention, and have them do an evaluation on your daughter.  Since that program generally ends at 3, they will help your daughter transition to a preschool program, that will include speech therapy.  Good luck.

Answer 5

A 2.5-year-old should have a vocabulary of at least 50 words. She also should be able to combine two words in phrases and imitate three-word phrases with ease.  You also have to look into not only how she EXPRESSES herself, but how she UNDERSTANDS language. Many parents/caregivers don't realize that language, as a whole, has two components. If they child is not processing language properly, then she will also not express words appropriately.

You should also look into having her hearing checked. Does she have a hearing of ear infections? History of ear infections could mean that your child has fluid in her hear, which causes a temporary form of hearing loss. If she can't hear words properly, she will not produce them.

Your child, at 2.5 years old, will soon be 'aging out' for early intervention services (EI stops at 3 years of age). However, she might qualify for services under a different federal program.  Call the early intervention agencies now. They will arrange for your child to be fully  evaluated (speech, instruction, etc.).

Children learn the most through play. Symbolic play skills are an integral part of language development. Children learn to perform symbolic schemas (that have actually been linked to literacy skills) and use language accordingly.  Read to your child as well. That is very important. You can increase her vocabulary through picture books and story books.

Answer 6

Most children do grow out of it. Is she the only child? Is she the baby? If only some choose to talk later. If she repeats what you say sometimes and not others, she may just be insecure and choose not to talk. Is she just not talking altogether or having trouble with certain vowels or certain letters? If shes the yougest she may have trouble getting a word in and has chosen to not speak. A friend of mine youngest did not speak till he was in kindergarten. They thought something was wrong with him, but sent him to school anyway and he came home -- said two complete sentences and walked off. Turned out to be gifted and intelligent. I myself saw a speech therapst at age 4. They play games and pronouce words and work through the difficult sounds. I would suggest seeing her peditrician if you are worried. He/she would be able to help you.