|
by Abby Sakovich M.S., CCC-SLP
May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, a month dedicated to
raising awareness about communication disorders and the professionals who
treat them. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA)
campaign, Identify the Signs, seeks to help parents recognize signs of
speech, language, and hearing disorders and find the help needed to
address these disorders.
Signs of a Language Disorder
| Age Range |
Sign |
| • birth and older |
does not smile/interact with others |
| • 4-6 months |
does not babble ("bababa") |
| • 7-9 months |
very few sounds or gestures (pointing) |
| • 10 months - 2 years |
poor comprehension of what others say |
| • 19 months - 2 years |
says only a few words |
| • 19 moths - 3 years |
does not combine words into sentences |
| • 3 - 4 years |
speech is difficult for listeners to understand |
| • 4 -5 years |
difficulty with early literacy and pre-writing skills |
Signs of a Speech Sound Disorder
| Age Range |
Sign |
| • 2 - 3 years |
incorrect production of early sounds /p,b,m,h, w/ in words |
| • 3 - 4 years |
incorrect production of /k,g,f,t,d,n/ in words |
| • 2 - 3 years |
speech is unclear, even to familiar listeners |
Signs of a Stuttering Disorder
| Age Range |
Sign |
| • any age |
repeats the first sound of words (b-b-b-baby for “baby”) |
| • any age |
stretches sounds out while talking (sssss-silly for “silly”) |
| • any age |
shows frustration when trying to get words out |
Signs of a Voice Disorder
| Age Range |
Sign |
| • any age |
hoarse- or breathy-sounding voice |
| • any age |
nasal quality to voice |
| • any age |
effortful or strained voice |
Signs of a Hearing Problem
| Age Range |
Sign |
| • birth - 3 months |
poor attention to sounds in the environment |
| • 7 months - 9 months |
does not respond when name is called |
| • 13 - 18 months |
difficulty following simple directions |
| • birth - 3 years |
delays in speech and/or language development |
| • any age |
scratching or pulling at ears |
| • school-age |
limited academic progress, especially math and/or reading |
| • school-age |
social isolation and unhappiness at school |
| • any age |
discomfort in ears after exposure to loud noise |
If you think your child may have problems with speech, language, or
hearing…
Do not hesitate to ask your child's pediatrician about an evaluation from
a certified Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist. If your child is
school-age, discuss your concerns with his/her teacher. Identifying a
communication disorder early plays a key role in how soon effective and
appropriate treatment can take place.
Resources
Know the Signs of Speech & Language Disorders by the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Retrieved 5/13/2025 from
www.identifythesigns.org
Know the Signs of Hearing Loss by the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association. Retrieved 5/13/2025 from www.identifythesigns.org
|