If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language, following up with your pediatrician or a therapist can feel overwhelming. It’s tempting to just “wait and see” what happens. But is this a good idea?
In short, not usually. Speech-language pathologists definitely recommend watchful waiting for some children. The problem is, you may not know if it’s a good idea or not until you have talked with a therapist.
Waiting and watching may be appropriate for some concerns, and for some ages, but it depends on a lot of factors. Just a few of the considerations include family history, the specific concern, how long it has been going on, the family environment, the school environment, any co-occurring disorders, and the signs and symptoms you’re seeing.
For example, if a child is just a month behind the expected developmental timeline, they may catch up. If they are farther behind, intervention may be more urgent. Some issues may resolve on their own, and some may get worse.
In addition, early intervention can make a huge difference in a variety of language disorders, and a little therapy sooner can do more than a lot of therapy later.
Even though it’s more work, the best thing you can do for your child is to talk to a speech-language pathologist any time you have concerns about their speech and language. They very well may recommend watchful waiting, or some strategies that you can try before signing up for therapy, but the only way to be confident in your decision is to talk to a therapist to make sure you have all the information you need.
If you or a loved one is in need of speech therapy call us today at 586-323-2957 to set up your FREE screening.
Written by: Kerry Symes
