The importance of early intervention in speech delays

Speech and language delays may be common in young children—but they’re still a source of anxiety when you suspect your little one is falling behind. It’s helpful to track common speech milestones—and look out for signs of delay, which can include not babbling by 10 months and not pointing or combining words by age two. Delays in speech development can also manifest in other, more subtle ways, like tantrums and frequent signs of frustration when your child can’t communicate their needs.

If you suspect a speech delay in your little one, know this: you’re not alone. And, it’s only natural to want to do everything you can to support your child right away. While some medical professionals may recommend the wait-and-see approach for speech and language development, speech experts strongly advise you reach out to a speech therapist as soon as you see signs of a delay. That’s because acting early can help keep your little one’s development on track, instead of waiting to see if they catch up

What is early intervention?

The early years from birth to age three are crucial for a child’s development. The skills that children develop during their first three years of life are the building blocks for social and academic success later in life. The key to early intervention is addressing delays as soon as you suspect one. Speaking with a speech therapist early gives your little one the best possible chance to make progress and catch up to developmental milestones. Not only does acting early give you much-needed peace of mind, it’s also a strategy that’s supported by science.

Here’s what the research tells us about speech delays and early intervention:

1. Of children with speech delays, 20-30% don’t catch up to their peers without intervention

Some children catch up on their own, but others need some extra help. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell which children will catch up without additional support.

2. If your child does not meet an early milestone, it’s harder to meet milestones that build on top of that skill

Early babbling is a precursor for first words—which then leads to using two- and three-word sentences. A child can’t start speaking in full sentences without first meeting these earlier milestones.

3. Parents play an important role in early intervention

When you participate in early intervention coaching sessions, you learn strategies tailored to your child’s age that can be incorporated into everyday routines. Research shows that parent-led intervention is more effective than therapist-led intervention for improving language comprehension and sentence structure. Learning coaching skills early gives you the tools to help your child meet their development milestones—even after your coaching sessions are complete.

If you suspect your child has a speech and language delay the best time to act is now. When you reach out to a speech therapist, you can get valuable clarity about whether your child’s development is on track. There are many ways to support your child through a speech delay. Babbly’s approach is playful and personalized for your child.

We show you how to use playtime and day-to-day routines to build foundational skills that support your little one’s speech and language development—and have fun while doing it! This is perfect for young children because it builds on your everyday routine and gives you the tools to easily work on skills outside of your sessions with a speech therapist. Research shows us that early involvement in speech therapy can better help your child improve their communication skills than if you decide to just wait and see.

References:
Heidlage, J. K., Cunningham, J. E., Kaiser, A. P., Trivette, C. M., Barton, E. E., Frey, J. R., & Roberts, M. Y. (2020). The effects of parent-implemented language interventions on child linguistic outcomes: A Meta-Analysis. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 50, 6-23.