Helpful information for Parents: Language acquisition of all children occurs gradually through interaction with people and the environment. The parent and primary caregiversare the significant partners your baby interacts with communicatively. The way you engage with him or her will determine the path that language development takes in the vital first five years. Enjoy this exciting period in your child's development. Talk in a natural way about what she or he is doing, seeing and hearing. Listen to the sounds, and later the words she or he says, and respond, so that your child knows you are listening. Read stories together from a very early age, and make communicating fun. Children learn at different rates. Some are fast language learners and some are slow. Watch to see that language development proceeds steadily, not whether it is fast or slow. Knowing what's "normal" and what's not in speech and language development can help you figure out if you should be concerned or if your child is right on schedule. Warning Signs of a Possible Problem If you're concerned about your child's speech and language development, first speak with your child's pediatrician. These are some things to watch for.
An infant who isn't responding to sound or who isn't vocalizing is of particular concern. Between 12 and 24 months, reasons for concern include a child who:
-isn't using gestures, such as pointing or waving bye-bye by 12 months
-prefers gestures over vocalizations to communicate by 18 months
Seek an assessment with a Speech- Language Pathologist (SLPs) if a child over 2 years old:
-can only imitate speech or actions and doesn't produce words or phrases spontaneously
-says only certain sounds or words repeatedly and can't use oral language to communicate more than his or her immediate needs
-can't follow simple directions
-has an unusual tone of voice (such as raspy or nasal sounding)
-is more difficult to understand than expected for his or her age. Parents and regular caregivers should understand about half of a child's speech at 2 years and about three quarters at 3 years. By 4 years old, a child should be mostly understood, even by people who don't know the child.
Even though parents are concerned that their child's speech and language development may be unusual or slower than normal, they may hesitate to seek the professional advice of a SLP.
The fact is, babies or toddlers are never too young for a communication skills assessment. SLPs see children from infancy.
Most parents know instinctively if all is not well with their own child's development. Follow your instincts! The right time to seek SLP help is when you, the parent, are concerned. Your child's pediatrician can assist with a referral.
Child Rights/Parent Rights
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) is the federal law and Article 9, Section 115C of the North Carolina General Statutes is the State law concerning the education of students with disabilities. Part B of the IDEA refers to the part of the law for children with disabilities who are ages three (3) through 21. Children with disabilities include those with autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, developmental delay, serious emotional disability, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, other health impairment, orthopedic impairment, specific learning disabilities, speech and/or language impairment, traumatic brain injury and visual impairment.
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) Qualification Under Disability Classifications Nondiscriminatory Assessment Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Individualized Education Program (IEP) Parent Participation and Procedural Due Process