Q: My 2-year-old seems to use fewer words than other children his age and I have some concerns about his speech development. My child's pediatrician says to give it more time. What should I do to help my child?
A: Parents are often the first to notice a possible delay in their child's speech or language development. Speech refers to the production of sounds used to make words. Language refers to the use of words and sentences. Perhaps your child's speech is not clear. Or, your child may use fewer words or shorter sentences than other children the same age. By the age of two, your child should be able to:
· Use a vocabulary of 50 words
· Say a word for almost everything in daily life
· Use two-word sentences. As they approach age three, children will begin using three
and four-word sentences.
· Be understood the majority of the time by those familiar with them. As they approach
age three, they should be understood the majority of the time by unfamiliar listeners.
· Follow two-step directions ("Get your shoe and bring it here")
· Use early developing pronouns (I, me, mine)
· Direct attention to objects by naming and commenting about them
It is important to discuss early speech language development and any concerns you have with your pediatrician. Using developmental milestones, you and your pediatrician can compare your child's development with that of other children the same age. Some speech and language skills seen in 2-year-olds are provided below. However, it is important to note that all children develop at their own pace. It can be difficult to tell whether a child is just immature in his ability to communicate or has a problem that requires professional attention. This is the job of a speech-language pathologist (SLP). An evaluation by an SLP may be warranted if your child:
· Has experienced chronic ear infections
· Is not understood by playmates or others outside the immediate family
· Is frustrated when trying to communicate and the situation does not improve over a
couple months
· Shows a delay of six months or more in developing speech and language skills
If you have concerns about your child's speech or language development, ask your pediatrician for a referral to a pediatric SLP. The "wait and see" approach is not recommended. A pediatric SLP will sit down with you and your child, listen to your concerns, observe and evaluate your child. They will give you information about normal speech and language development and explain to you your child's unique pattern of development. Following the evaluation, the SLP will be able to provide you with parent-education about how you can enhance your child’s speech and language development at home.
If you have more questions about your child's development or speech-language therapy click the "Get in Touch" button above.
- Stephanie Peterson, M.A., CCC-SLP, ASDCS
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