While many children eventually catch up to their peers, others continue to lag behind. Youth With Disabilities estimates more than one million school children in the U.S. have some type of speech or language impairment. In some cases, speech problems run in the family. Parents who suspect a speech or language problem in their child should seek advice from a speech-language pathologist. These health professionals diagnose and develop treatment plans for patients of all ages.
Experts say the sooner a child gets diagnosed, the better the chance for good speech development.
Depending upon the needs of the child, therapy sessions may be intense. Parents also play an important role in reinforcing lessons. With early intervention, many children are able to reach normal or near-normal levels of speech development by the time they reach kindergarten. However, some children continue to need speech therapy after starting school. Speak with your doctor if you have questions about The Art of Speech, or any medical problem.