Resources for parents of children who may be delayed in talking

Whether you want to know ‘what’s normal’ or actively need support, websites and organizations are able to help

Second in a series. Read the first installment.

Noticing a child is not talking yet or is hard to understand is often the first thing that makes a parent think “speech therapy.”

Whether a 2-year-old is primarily pointing at things to get their needs met or a first-grader is still struggling to make the “L” sound, a parent naturally may wonder if their child needs speech therapy.

Parents concerned about their child’s speech and language development can take different routes to address the issue. They may ask a doctor whether the child is on track with milestones, cruise the internet looking for which speech and language skills are expected for their child’s age, or seek information on how to support their child at home in the place of or in addition to speech therapy.

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who focuses on parent training and coaching, I have several resources that I love to share with parents.

When you want to know ‘what’s normal’

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website is the first place I send parents, teachers, caregiving staff, and even developmental pediatricians when they have general questions about speech therapy and “what’s normal” for a child’s speech and language development.

ASHA is the most reliable place to find accurate milestones that reflect speech and language development research by professionals in that field. While milestone guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control are most commonly used by government agencies, pediatricians, daycare facilities, and preschools, ASHA questions the accuracy of the CDC milestones.

When a child isn’t talking (yet!)

One of the internet’s best and most extensive resources for child speech concerns is Teach Me to Talk! Pediatric speech-language pathologist Laura Mize has poured information and practical help into free podcasts, videos, and printouts.

The site also has a variety of parent-training courses by SLPs. The courses provide a walkthrough of milestones, introductory-level understanding of techniques to support language learning, and more. They are usually formatted as e-books, videos, and occasionally cohort-style learning experiences. In the last course, you learn with a group and can ask questions within the class community.

When a child is hard to understand

There are many great videos that SLPs share freely on YouTube or within Facebook Groups using a kid-friendly way to show the mechanics of how sounds are made. Videos can be a great way to see if a child can make a sound when they are given detailed placement cues or instructions on where to put their articulators (parts of the body that make speech sounds). Peachie Speechie is one YouTube channel with a full range of videos of how English sounds are made.

If you are looking for printable activities and games to practice making sounds, downloadable resources from SLPs are available on sites like Teachers Pay Teachers and Mommy Speech Therapy. The sites have stellar lists of words to practice for the child who might be struggling with speech.

Some of these printable tools are built with SLPs in mind, but others are very parent-friendly and can be used for supplemental at-home practice.

When you need support

You don’t have to go at it alone. Many support groups exist online for sharing questions, fun and practical activities, and resources for parents with speech and language concerns about their child.

It can be encouraging to know that you aren’t the only parent who has to attend individualized education program (IEP) meetings, attend speech therapy sessions, advocate for your child on the playground, or otherwise walk through the speech therapy journey with your child.

Besides the courses mentioned earlier, other resources to support parents include:

• Home School Legal Defense Association.
• Parental-advocacy site The IEP Lab, for when you want to advocate for your child’s special education without being known as “that mom."
• Homeschool OT, for support incorporating sensory and executive functioning needs into a family homeschool routine.
• Local universities, which sometimes have speech-language pathology programs and clinics and may offer support groups if you prefer to meet in person.

When in doubt

You don’t always have to have a doctor’s referral to receive support from an SLP. If you have questions, you can go right to a speech and language expert you trust.

Many private practice SLPs offer free or low-priced screenings to see if a child is on track before scheduling an evaluation. There are also state-based resources for early intervention and school-based speech therapy that are often government-funded.

You have many options to choose from to support your family as you walk your speech therapy journey. Tools and resources exist to help you find a good fit. If you need inspiration to start gathering the resources you need, consider that earlier intervention in speech and language concerns can lead to less time needed in speech therapy and better outcomes in communication and reading. Getting resources sooner rather than later may be worth the effort in the long run. So, pick one thing to do today to take that next step in supporting your child’s speech and language.

Samaritan Ministries member Amanda Owens equips families to confidently get their children talking—and talking clearly—at Illuminate Communicate.

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes and is not meant as medical advice. It is the opinion of the writer. The information is not meant to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health professional.