When and Where to Ask for Help?
I am concerned about my child's language development. When should I ask for help?
It's always best to ask for help as soon as possible and especially if you notice that:
- Your baby does not seem to enjoy sounds or respond to them
- Your baby does not seem to respond to your voice
- Your baby has difficulty sucking, chewing, swallowing or biting
- Your baby isn't using some recognisable words by 18 months
- Your toddler appears frustrated by not being able to speak to others
- Your toddler has trouble understanding what you say
- Your toddler isn't trying to make sentences by two and a half years
There is lots of help, advice and support available and the earlier you seek help the more you will be able to help your child overcome any difficulties.
Where can I go for help?
Share your concerns with your health visitor, doctor and staff at your child's toddler group, playgroup, nursery or school. They will be able to help you assess if your child's language is developing normally or whether there is any cause for concern. If you are still worried they will be able to put you in contact with a speech therapist or you can contact the Speech Therapy Department yourself. For information on how to do this and what to expect go to the Speech Theray section.
You can find out more about normal patterns of speech and language development in the Tell Me More section. Remember these are guidelines, all children develop at their own pace. Some children have difficulty forming some sounds up to and beyond school age. This is not a major cause of concern if they are developing normally in other areas of communication such as talking, listening, understanding.and social interaction.