Speech Problems and Language Development in Early Childhood: Common Concerns and What to Do about Them

Mom Enough: Parenting tips, research-based advice + a few personal confessions!

Young children develop speech and language at varying rates, so how do you know when children are learning at their own pace or when there might be speech problems that need further assessment or intervention? If there is a problem with articulation or fluency, how might that influence other aspects of your child’s learning? And what is the most supportive and helpful way to respond? Katie Adler, speech and language therapist at St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development, brings years of experience to her discussion of this important topic in this week’s Mom Enough show. Have you or someone in your family had speech problems (e.g. stuttering, pronouncing certain sounds incorrectly)? Why and how can that affect other aspects of a child’s social development? Literacy? Confidence? What ideas or tips did you get from this Mom Enough show? For our fluency and stuttering in preschool tip sheet, click here. For 5 possible signs of stuttering from St. David’s Center, click here. For St. David’s Center’s speech-language therapy information page, click here. For Help Me Grow, click here. For early childhood developmental milestones from Help Me Grow, click here.