If your child might have any problems, it's important to see a speech therapist (SLP) right away. You can find a speech-language pathologist on your own or ask your healthcare provider to refer you to one. The SLP (or speech therapist) will evaluate your child's speech and language skills. If you're concerned that your child may have a speech disorder, think about how often people who don't know you have trouble understanding what your child is saying.
Children with speech disorders can understand words and sentences well and form phrases and sentences correctly. Some speech disorders occur when a child has a physical problem, such as a cleft palate, that makes it difficult for him to create the sounds of speech. However, if your child makes a lot of mistakes and you can't understand what he's saying, it's a good idea to see a speech therapist. If you're concerned about your child's speech development, it's a good idea to talk to your family doctor, pediatrician, child and family health nurse, or your child's teacher.
To speak, children need to understand the different sounds and the rules for uniting them in their own language. You may be referred to an audiologist if there's a chance that your child's speech problems are due to hearing loss.
