Most Commonly Asked Speech Therapy FAQs You Should Know

In this article, we will shed more light on some questions (frequently asked questions) that parents may have about speech therapy. We will also make a few suggestions and share how we can help. So, you want to ensure that you stay glued to the end. This is especially if you have an interest in the topic. 

Most parents probably anticipate that “I might have trouble teaching my child chemistry” or “I might have trouble teaching my child algebra.”

But then, there are cases when parents find themselves in a situation where they can’t teach their 2-year-old or her 3-year-old little ones, can’t help them understand from the first word or from word to sentence, and usually may not even be able to tutor them for their 1st or 2nd grade-level homework. This situation is often worrying, but speech therapists can help immensely. Read on to discover how. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:

I know that the way I speak to my children plays an important role in how they learn to speak. What “rules of thumb” should I follow? 

A:

Language is important to everyday life. We not only communicate for more practical functions, such as asking what we want or need, but we also speak socially and think out loud.

In addition, oral language skills (both listening or receptive language and speaking or expressive language) serve as the foundation for building reading and writing. Numerous studies show that early speech and language problems can make learning to read and write difficult. This effect may continue into secondary school, as students take fewer exams and get lower grades. 

Q:

I have occasionally noticed that my child stutters (stutters). I don’t want to bother him anymore. Should I ignore it?

A:

It should come as no surprise that a child between the ages of three and five may not be able to speak fluently. I’m still learning to pronounce words, use long words, and put all those words into sentences. You may be excited, distracted, or upset.

While many children (perhaps as many as 40%) grow out of this “non-fluency” stage, others have real stuttering problems. (The incidence is about 1% of the population, with boys four times more likely than girls, and family history may play a role.)

Q:

My child speaks, but his speech is slurred. Is it because the tongue is short?

A:

Contrary to popular belief, slurred speech is rarely caused by the tongue being too physically short. In some cases, it is caused by a short tongue frenulum. This is the band of muscle you see when you lift the tip of your tongue that connects it to the bottom of your mouth (for example, when you say the “l” sound in “lion”). If the frenulum is too short, tongue tie occurs, restricting tongue movement and affecting pronunciation. Surgical correction may be required.

Conclusion

If you’re a parent who worries about language issues, perhaps the easiest solution that will help to put all your worries and frustrations to rest is to chat with us for peace of mind. You can look for interventions for your child, and then we can take it from there.