Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Speech Therapy

Are you the parent of a toddler whose speech only you can understand?

Many young children experience speech and language difficulties.

For the most part, this temporary unintelligible speech is a normal and expected part of toddlerhood.

In most cases, your child will grow out of these difficulties as they develop their speech and language skills.

However, some children need a little extra help from a qualified speech therapist.

That’s where we step in.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately 5% of American children live with a speech or language disorder.

Speech therapy can help manage symptoms and improve the overall communication skills in children living with a speech disorder.

We’re District Speech and Language Therapy, a speech therapy clinic in Washington DC with a passion for helping children reach their fullest potential in life.

If you’re thinking about putting your child in speech therapy, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we will address some of the most frequently asked questions regarding pediatric speech therapy services.

Keep reading to get answers to some or all of your questions.

What Does A Pediatric Speech Therapist For Children ?

Speech therapists are highly skilled professionals that can help with a wide range of conditions and disorders.

Clear, consistent speech involves several aspects.

Therefore, a speech therapist can help your child’s language and speech development in a variety of areas, including:

• Articulation (speech sounds and intelligibility)
• Receptive language (what your child understands)
• Expressive language (how your child communicates their wants and needs)
• Pragmatics (social language skills)
• Stuttering and fluency
• Feeding difficulties (oral motor, swallowing, and sensory difficulties)

Pediatric speech therapists also offer many services aimed at specific conditions or disorders.

At our clinic, our speech therapists offer:

• Speech therapy for articulation disorders
• Speech therapy for dysgraphia
• Speech therapy for ADHD
• Speech therapy for speech sound disorders
• Speech therapy for feeding and swallowing disorders
• Speech therapy for children with a lisp
• Speech therapy for children with Down syndrome
• Speech therapy for avoiding and reducing a stutter
• Speech therapy for orofacial myofunctional disorder
• Speech therapy for cleft lip and cleft palate
• And much more

Contact our clinic to hear more about how our programs can help your child’s unique challenges, as well as how to get started with our services.

Why Do Speech Therapists Emphasize Early Intervention So Much?

Early intervention plays a critical role in many medical fields and specialties.

Speech therapy is no exception.

Speech and language challenges can lead to a variety of complications.

For instance, pediatric speech and language difficulties may affect your child’s reading, writing, and overall learning skills.

Additionally, children who have trouble with their speech and language skills often experience social consequences, such as bullying and difficulty making friends.

Left untreated, these difficulties can cause lifelong effects.

For instance, adults with speech and language conditions often experience challenges at work and in their personal lives.

Studies show children benefit most from speech therapy before the age of three.

A 1999 study by S. Ward found that early intervention speech therapy was extremely effective in preventing long term speech challenges amongst babies with language delays.

Therefore, we strongly encourage early intervention speech therapy.

However, older children and adults can still greatly benefit from speech therapy services.

You’re never too old to begin speech therapy.

How Many Speech Therapy Treatments Will My Child Need?

Many parents wonder how long their child will require speech therapy.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer.

Every child is unique.

The duration of your child’s treatment heavily depends on their specific challenges.

For example, a child living with multiple speech or language challenges may require more speech therapy than a child with a simple stutter.

During the evaluation, a speech therapist will consider your child’s unique needs when designing a treatment plan.

Do I Need A Doctor’s Referral To See A Pediatric Speech Therapist?

Not necessarily.

Some medical professionals require a referral before they can assess you or your child.

However, speech therapists are qualified to assess your child without any outside referrals.

Nevertheless, we can still accept referrals when necessary.

For instance, some insurance companies require a doctor’s referral before they authorize any fees.

Consult your individual insurance plan, as well as our Fees & Insurance page for more details.

What Should I Do If My Child Has A Lisp?

Many parents wonder whether or not their child’s lisp will go away on its own.

A lisp is a speech condition that affects your pronunciation.

In particular, people with lisps have trouble pronouncing s and z sounds.

Lisps are extremely common amongst younger children.

Many children don’t develop the skills necessary to master these sounds until the age of 7 or 8.

In most cases, parents and caregivers can still understand what a child with a lisp is trying to say.

However, lisps can lead to certain mental wellness struggles, such as poor self esteem or bullying.

Additionally, some childhood lisps may continue into adulthood.

If your child has a lisp, you can help them by modeling s sounds.

For instance, you can smile and point to your lips to demonstrate the way they should move when producing certain sounds.

You can also use fun ways to remind your child to keep their tongue in their mouth when they are pronouncing s and z sounds.

What Should I Do If My Child Stutters?

Like lisps, stuttering is a common occurrence amongst children.

Many children will temporarily stutter while excited.

However, persistent stuttering may indicate an underlying speech or language difficulty.

Contact a speech therapist if your child’s stutter is lasting for a period longer than a few weeks.

A speech therapist can provide resources aimed at supporting your child who stutters, as well as provide speech therapy solutions.

Can A Child Learn More Than One Language?

Absolutely.

In fact, learning multiple languages is excellent for your child’s overall speech, language, and learning skills.

Children who are multilingual may also find it easier to become proficient in additional languages.

Other benefits of teaching your child multiple languages include:

• Development of a larger vocabulary
• Better understanding of word sounds and rhythm, which also helps writing and spelling
• Having access to multiple cultures

RELATED PODCAST: Bridging Communication Gaps Through Bilingual Speech Language Pathologists

How Does A Speech Therapy Evaluation Work?

During the initial evaluation, a speech therapist will assess multiple areas of your your child’s speech and language skills, including:

• How your child communicates (pronunciation, voice, and fluency)
• Your child’s language expression (vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure)
• Your child’s play and social communication skills (body language, eye contact, and greetings)

Your child’s speech therapist will also conduct a parent or caregiver interview.

This helps us better understand your child’s unique situation and all the factors affecting their speech.

Book Your Appointment With Our Speech Therapy Clinic Today

Is your child showing signs of a speech or language disorder?

Are they developing speech skills at a slower than expected pace?

If so, our speech therapists are here to help.

At District Speech and Language Therapy, our team of expert speech therapists have a passion for helping children strengthen their communication abilities.

Book your appointment with our clinic today and discover the methods we use to support your child’s speech and language skills.