Your child isn’t talking as much as they should be or they have trouble making some speech sounds. You think—oh, they’re young, no big deal. You think this because so many people (often including your pediatrician) tell you not to worry, they’ll outgrow it, many children (especially boys) just develop later, it sounds cute, you’re a worrier, it’s normal. The list of rationalizations goes on and on. And, thinking it’s no big deal, you take a “wait and see” attitude.
While this works for some, it can have a tremendous impact on a child’s reading skills. Research shows that during early speech and language development, children learn skills that are important to the development of literacy (reading and writing). This stage is called emergent literacy. It begins at birth and continues through the preschool years. As children grow they combine what they know about speaking and listening with what they know about print and they become ready to learn to read and write. Children who enter school with weaker verbal skills are more likely to have trouble learning to read and write.
Warning signs that may indicate later reading and writing and learning problems include persistent baby talk, significant articulation errors, little interest /appreciation for nursery rhymes or reading together, trouble following simple directions, trouble learning (or remembering) names of letters, and failure to recognize or name the letters in their own name.
Speech/language pathologists can have a key role in promoting and helping develop emergent literary skills of children. Early intervention and remediating language and articulation deficits can prevent reading, writing, and learning problems later on in school. Not all children with delayed speech and language skills will have problems, but unfortunately there isn’t a crystal ball to say who will and who won’t. Having a “wait and see” attitude is really a gamble and how much are you willing to gamble on your child’s academic success?
Susan Kasdorf has been in private practice in Santa Clarita for the past 20 years. She has a Masters Degree from Columbia University and, although she works with clients of all ages, she specializes in pediatrics. Feel free to call Susan to ask questions or schedule testing 661-259-1858. Summer and school break are coming and it’s a great time to get help.
Compassionate Solutions is located at 24359 Walnut Street, Suite A in Newhall. For more information, please call Susan Kasdorf at 661-259-1858.