There are few things that are as discouraging as having a child with a speech delay. As parents, we are responsible for providing our children with basic necessities. We are chosen to be their gatekeeper into the world, being fully aware that we are being relied upon.
But what happens when a child cannot express themselves? What happens when our children cannot communicate what it is that they need or want? Not only can it leave parents feeling defeated, but it leaves both parent and child feeling extremely helpless.
When a child cannot communicate, it can begin to nurture anger and angst. With being unable to express themselves, a child may turn to throwing, hitting themselves or others, and begin to lash out in many ways. In turn, parents start to spiral alongside their child in a vicious web of frustration.
So, what can we do?
According to Kids Health, many kids with speech delays have oral-motor problems. This leaves it difficult to coordinate the lips, tongue, and jaw to make speech sounds. Other oral-motor problems may be evident, such as the ability to use utensils.
To bring it to scale, if by the age of 2, if your child is not saying up to 50 words or starting to put two words together such as “my cookie,” or “my ball,” you may want to consult with your pediatrician.
If you and your pediatrician agree that early intervention would be beneficial, and your child is under three years of age, Suffolk County provides a program that is known for its rather seamless process into speech therapy.
“It’s one phone call and they handle everything. They are so helpful” says speech pathologist Megan Baldev, of Miller Place. “As soon as you make the call, you are assigned a coordinator who goes over the paperwork and sets up the evaluation. The evaluators come to your home or will see your child in daycare. Everyone then reconvenes to go over the findings. If your child is being offered services, from that point, you are assigned a direct contact that can find a speech pathologist, a teacher, or both, that can come to your home or daycare and work with your child.”
Parents are encouraged to still register their child, no matter how young, with their local public school. All services through this program are free of charge. Once a child turns 3, the coordinator from Suffolk County Early Intervention Program will communicate with your local public school if services are still needed.
Beginning speech therapy can help your child develop skills like comprehension, clarity, voice, fluency, and sound production, according to Healthline.org. By being able to convey a message, you and your child can bridge the gap from miscommunication to total communication, and work on a healthy, frustration-free relationship (until they become teenagers!).
To start the process, the Early Intervention phone number is 631-853-3100 and the office is available Monday through Friday during normal business hours.
