SC Wisconsin News

May is recognized as National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and Tracy Heck, a speech-language pathologist at Aspirus Stevens Point Outpatient Therapies, is using this opportunity to raise awareness about children's communication development. Heck emphasizes the importance of early intervention for children with speech and language delays or disorders.

"Speech therapy encompasses a huge range of skills from preverbal communication—such as gestures, facial expression, and engagement—to complex social skills like ordering food in a restaurant," said Heck. "Communication therapy supports a patient’s ability to access and utilize all skills, even if verbal communication is never used."

Heck recommends that families refer to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) updated milestones checklists. These checklists outline the communication skills most children exhibit between birth and five years of age. Some examples include quieting or smiling when spoken to (birth to 3 months), vocalizing different vowel sounds (4–6 months), babbling strings of sounds (7–9 months), pointing and waving (10–12 months), following directions (13–18 months), putting words together (19–24 months), saying their name when asked (2–3 years), telling stories from books or videos (3–4 years), and recognizing letters while writing their own name (4–5 years).

“Families learn techniques and strategies to foster multimodal communication and encourage quality interactions,” Heck stated. “The SLP can support the individual and family to bridge between outpatient and school/community and beyond.”

ASHA's checklists indicate when most children demonstrate specific skills; however, each child's development varies—even within families—and occurs over time rather than on exact birthdays. Milestones are thus presented in ranges.

If a child does not meet one milestone within an age range, it may not necessitate evaluation. However, if several skills are lacking or lost without new ones being acquired, consulting a pediatrician or speech-language pathologist is recommended.

Early intervention is crucial for addressing developmental delays or disorders effectively since birth to three years is when the brain is most adaptable. Speech and language disorders are common among young children but are generally treatable. Left unaddressed, they can lead to academic, social challenges, or behavior issues.

An evaluation might not always result in treatment; often families find their child's development aligns with expectations. When delays or disorders are identified though, options for supporting growth can be explored.

Parents concerned about their child's social communication development should speak with their healthcare provider. To find an Aspirus pediatrician visit www.aspirus.org/find-a-provider. For consultations with a speech-language pathologist contact Aspirus Stevens Point Outpatient Therapies at 715-345-1447.