Series – whatisspeechtherapy.com
The website ‘What Is Speech Therapy’ is a fantastic resource for parents and carers who have questions about their child’s speech and language development. It is particularly good if parents are worried that their child’s speech and/or language is not progressing as typically or as fast as they feel it should be.
Over the next few weeks Integrated Treatment Services will be writing a series of articles based on the content of this informative website.
This week, we will be focusing on:
1. – Typical Speech and Language Development – Birth to 6 Months Milestones (from the American Speech-Hearing-Language Association)
Birth to 3 Months – your child should:
Hearing and Understanding
- Be startled by loud noises
- Quieten or smile when spoken to
- Seem to recognize your voice because they quieten
- Have sucking behaviour that fluctuates in response to sound
Talking
- Be cooing or gooing
- Have a different cry for various needs
- Smile when they see you
Frequently Asked Questions
- How early can my infant recognize my voice?
Research has found that some infants can recognize your voice at just 3 months old.
- How do I know if my baby is ready to learn?
Your baby will notice different speech sounds and may even recognize your voice.
- What can lead to speech and language disorders later in life?
Even mild or one-sided hearing loss can lead to speech-language disorders later in life. Children diagnosed and treated before 6 months old often develop normal hearing. Talk with an audiologist or speech and language therapist if you suspect something.
4 to 6 Months your child should:
Hearing and Understanding
- Follow the direction of sound with their eyes
- Respond to change in tone
- Notice toys making noise
- Pay attention to music
Talking
- Babble resembling more speech (p, b, m)
- Laugh
- Vocalize emotion
- Gurgle sounds when alone or playing
Frequently Asked Questions
- When should I be worried about underdevelopment?
If your child only responds to some sounds but not others, or responds to only loud sounds, talk with your GP, speech and language therapist or audiologist.
- Can hearing loss be fixed?
Some types of hearing loss can be corrected with proper treatment. Talk with your GP, speech and language therapist or audiologist.
If you have any concerns about your child’s speech or language, and are worried that they have not reached the milestones appropriate for their age range, your GP should be your first point of contact. Following this, speech and language therapy assessment including hearing assessment may be necessary. However, it is important to remember that all children develop differently and at different rates, including within each stage. The item listing within each stage is not chronological or prescriptive. However if a child has not achieved the majority of items within the stage then a speech and language assessment would be recommended.
Sarah Bennington, October 2011
Written on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services. Integrated Treatment Services is a private Speech and Language Therapy service based in Leicestershire and the East Midlands. It specialises in providing highly-skilled Speech and Language Therapists, but also associates with other therapeutic professionals, including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists and Arts Therapists.
