All Entries in the "Milestones" Category
“Red Flags” That Warrant a Referral for Early Intervention or Preschool Therapy Services
I get so many questions from parents who want to know if their child should be evaluated by a speech-language pathologist or other professional. On my October 23 show “Teach Me To Talk with Laura and Kate” we discussed “red flags” that we note in toddlers and preschoolers that warrant a referral to an early [...]
Popularity: 18% [?]
Keeping Your Finger on the Pulse of Normal….Advice for Therapists
I am always amazed when I hear a therapist (Speech, OT, or PT) tell me that they don’t have regular contact with typically developing children. What? Then how do you gauge “normal,” and what do you call typical? Surely you’re not still relying on your grad school experience? Observation hours with typically developing kids is your only reference? Noticing kids as you [...]
Popularity: 12% [?]
How to Find An Early Intervention Program in Your Area
If you’re worried that your toddler’s language, cognitive, social, or motor skills are delayed, by federal law (Public Law 99-457 Part C), you are entitled to free evaluation by your state’s early intervention program . These programs provide comprehensive services to children from birth to age 3 and their families.
How can I find my state’s program?
To find the program for your state, [...]
Popularity: 14% [?]
Making the Leap from Words to Phrases…. Tips for Helping Your Toddler Learn to Combine Words
Research tells us that toddlers with typically developing language possess a single word spontaneous vocabulary of 35-50 words before they begin to combine words into two-word phrases. We should use this same guideline when deciding when to target phrases with children who are late talkers, those with language disorders, and especially in children with arpaxia, [...]
Popularity: 32% [?]
Teaching Your Toddler to Answer Questions - Receptive and Expressive Language Delay Issues
Many toddlers with language delays have difficulty learning to answer questions. Common problems include:
Repeating or the last few words of the question rather than answering
Answering incorrectly such as shaking their heads “yes” when you ask them a question with 2 choices
Giving an off-target response such as answering, “Two,” when you ask, “What’s your name?”
Not responding or ignoring questions
By 30 months of age, [...]
Popularity: 22% [?]
Why Can’t My Child Talk? Common Types of Speech and Language Disorders
There are between 3 and 6 million children in the United States with speech or language disorders. As a pediatric speech-language pathologist specializing in early intervention , I work with children between birth and 3 years of age. When I evaluate a child, after confirming parents’ suspicions that there is a definitive problem, the next question is usually some version [...]
Popularity: 43% [?]
First 100 Words - Advancing Your Toddler’s Vocabulary With Words and Signs
Now that your child can say or sign a few common words, you need to begin to expand his vocabulary to include different kinds of words. Most babies learn nouns, or names of people, places, and things first. Remember that your baby also needs words for actions (verbs), locations (prepositions), and descriptions (adjectives/adverbs) so that he can combine these [...]
Popularity: 21% [?]
Questions about Late Talking
A reader named Andrea posted this series of questions on Friday. Her questions are so similar to those most parents ask that I thought I should respond for everyone to read.
“My 18mo son is not talking as well as my 4yo daughter did at this same age. She was a babblemouth and he doesn’t seem to want to talk at all. I have expressed [...]
Popularity: 13% [?]
Are My Child’s Language Skills Normal? Compare your child to the standards listed below.
Age Ranges
Minimal Expectations
(If your child cannot perform these skills by the end of the age range, an immediate referral to an early intervention program or speech-language pathologist is warranted.)
Typical Expectations
(Most children can perform these skills by the end of the age range. In other words, this is “typical” or “normal” development.)
0-3 months
-Communicates with cries, [...]
Popularity: 24% [?]
Communication Basics
As a pediatric speech-language pathologist, I often get referral information for a child with the primary concern listed as “speech delay” or “communication delay.” These are often “catch-all” terms that can mean anything from a child is not saying as many words as other babies his age, to a child who is talking but is [...]
Popularity: 18% [?]
