This is the most noticeable area of delay. Children with this problem tend to rely on more nonverbal pointing and gesturing to communicate than spoken language . Once you suspect a problem, speak to your pediatrician about your concerns. Often, the pediatrician will suggest a hearing test as a first step in addressing the problem. It if seems necessary, she may make a referral to a licensed speech language pathologist for an evaluation.
Parent input is extremely important in making an accurate diagnosis.
Therefore the pediatrician and speech language pathologist welcome any information supplied by the parent. Through formal testing, developmental scales and clinical observation in a friendly play environment, a speech language pathologist can assess a child's communication skills and suggest the best course of action. The type of intervention that will be recommended depends on the needs of the child and the setting. Either individual or group therapy could take place in a private office, clinic, hospital, school or home. For children under the age of there, early intervention services are often available.