Speech and Learning Support

Specialized designed to help children improve communication, confidence, and academic development.

Signs of a Language Disorder

  • Does not smile or interact with others (birth and older)
  • Does not babble (4–6 months)
  • Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like reaching (7–9 months)
  • Does not understand what others say (10 months – 2 years)
  • Says only a few words (19 months – 2 years)
  • Does not put words together to make sentences (19 months – 3 years)
  • Speaks using words that are not easily understood by others (3–4 years)
  • Has trouble with early reading skills, like pretending to read or finding the front of a book (4–5 years)

Signs of a Speech Sound Disorder

  • Says p, b, m, h, and w incorrectly in words (2–3 years)
  • Says k, g, f, t, d, and n incorrectly in words (3–4 years)
  • Produces speech that is unclear, even to familiar people (2–3 years)

Signs of Stuttering (Disfluency)

  • Repeats first sounds of words—“b-b-b-ball” for “ball”
  • Stretches sounds out—“ffffff-farm” for “farm”
  • Shows frustration when trying to get words out

Signs of a Voice Disorder

  • Loss of voice
  • Uses a hoarse or breathy voice
  • Speaks with strain and effort

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association on these signs https://identifythesigns.org/signs-of-speech-and-language-disorders/

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Signs of

Speech Apraxia Disorder

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that makes it challenging for children to coordinate the movements needed to speak clearly. Here are some signs that may indicate your child is experiencing speech apraxia:

  • Inconsistent Sound Errors: Your child might pronounce the same word differently each time they try to say it.
  • Difficulty with Longer Words: Longer or more complex words may be harder for your child to say than shorter ones.
  • Searching for Sounds: You may notice your child struggling to find the right mouth position to make certain sounds.
  • Trouble Moving Between Sounds: Your child might find it hard to smoothly transition from one sound or syllable to another.
  • Vowel Sound Mix-Ups: Vowels might not always sound right or may be inconsistent.
  • Unusual Speaking Rhythm: Your child's speech might sound monotone or robotic due to unusual patterns of pitch or stress.
  • Limited Words: Your child might have fewer words in their vocabulary because of difficulty forming them.
  • Challenges Imitating Sounds: Even if your child understands what to say, they may have trouble copying sounds and words.
  • Difficulty Starting Words: Your child might silently move their mouth before any sound comes out.
  • Speech Requires Effort: You might notice your child concentrating hard to speak, which can be frustrating for them.

These signs can vary, and not every child will show all of them. If you're concerned about your child's speech, a speech-language pathologist can provide a detailed evaluation and support

Speech and Language

Developmental Milestones

Below are typical speech and language milestones for children from birth to 6 years. These milestones reflect the development of both expressive (speaking) and receptive (understanding) language.

By 12 Months

  • Responds to own name
  • Understands simple words like “no” and “bye-bye”
  • Babbles with a variety of sounds (e.g., “bababa,” “dadada”)
  • Says “mama” or “dada” specifically
  • Tries to imitate simple words

By 18 Months

  • Says 10–20 words (may not be clear)
  • Points to objects or people when named
  • Follows simple one-step directions (e.g., “Give me the ball”)
  • Uses single words to communicate wants and needs

By 2 Years

  • Uses 50 or more words
  • Combines two words (“more juice,” “mama go”)
  • Names common objects and familiar people
  • Follows two-step directions (“Pick up the toy and give it to me”)
  • Speech is understood by familiar listeners about 50% of the time

By 3 Years

  • Uses 3–4 word sentences
  • Speech is understood by unfamiliar listeners about 75% of the time
  • Asks simple questions (“What’s that?”)
  • Uses pronouns (I, me, you)
  • Follows two- or three-step directions

By 4 Years

  • Speaks in sentences of 4 or more words
  • Tells stories or describes events
  • Speech is understood by most people, even those outside the family
  • Uses basic grammar correctly (plurals, past tense)
  • Answers simple “who,” “what,” “where,” and “why” questions

By 5 Years

  • Speaks clearly in full sentences
  • Uses future tense (“I will go”)
  • Tells simple stories with a beginning, middle, and end
  • Understands and uses descriptive words (colors, shapes)
  • Follows multi-step directions

By 6 Years

  • Has a well-developed vocabulary
  • Can participate in conversations and explain ideas
  • Uses correct grammar most of the time
  • Can retell stories and describe events in detail

Clinical Notes

  • There is normal variation in the age of attainment.
  • Delays in speech and language may indicate hearing loss, developmental disorders, or other concerns and warrant further evaluation.
  • Early identification and intervention can improve outcomes.