Is Your Toddler Non-Verbal? 3 Steps To Take To Get Help For Your Little One
Posted on: 10 May 2017
Is your toddler having trouble with his or her speech? You may have noticed that your little one is not reaching those milestones when it comes to saying words and even sentences by a specific age. If you have concerns and would like to figure out what you can do to help your child who may have a speech disorder, there are some steps you should consider taking.
1. Talk to the Pediatrician
You may want to start by talking to your child's pediatrician about your concerns. The pediatrician can talk to you about what types of milestones your child should be reaching based on his or her age. You can find out if your child is only slightly behind or if he or she is falling extremely behind other children within the same age group. If your pediatrician has some concerns, consider asking for a referral to see a neurologist.
2. Meet With a Neurologist
There are plenty of good reasons to see a neurologist. If your child is not talking by a certain age, he or she may have an underlying issue that prevents them from being able to properly communicate. A neurologist may want to meet with your child to see what his or her behavior is like while asking you a bunch of questions about your little one. It may be necessary for the neurologist to perform a series of tests and even take scans of the brain to rule out any conditions that could be serious. Depending on the outcome of the evaluation and tests, the neurologist may diagnose your child with a disorder, such as autism or childhood speech apraxia.
3. Consider Speech Therapy
If you receive a diagnosis, the neurologist may recommend speech therapy. Speech pathologists are available to help young children who have trouble talking or pronouncing certain words. Even if your little one is not diagnosed with a specific disorder or condition, the speech therapy may still benefit your child in a number of ways. The speech pathologists have the right training, experience and patience to work with children while showing them how to properly move their mouths and tongues to get the right words out. It may take some time, but speech therapy has helped thousands of children who have struggled with delays, and it could work wonders for your child, too.
If you have noticed your child is not speaking much by the age of 2 or 3 years old, you may have some serious concerns. Talking to a pediatrician, meeting with a neurologist and ultimately getting some therapy for your child could help your child right now and in the future.
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