How Do I Know If My Child Needs Speech Therapy?

How Do I Know If My Child Needs Speech Therapy?

Mon Sep 15 2025

How Do I Know If My Child Needs Speech Therapy?

Parenting is a beautiful experience and growing in parenting is like gardening a little seed that needs to be nurtured forever. You nurture, protect, and talk to it, and over time, it flourishes. Many parents wonder when to seek help, and speech therapy for kids is a gentle, effective step forward. Continua Kids, India’s best speech therapy centre, is where expert therapists turn play into progress. Need a speech therapist? At the best child development centre in India, they offer everything from ABA to occupational therapy, whether online or in person. Continua Kids truly understands what your little one needs to shine.

Are you asking yourself things like, “Is my child’s speech okay? Should I be concerned?” So when should one consider seeking help from a speech therapist and how do we know if it’s time to seek help?

Wondering What Speech Therapy Is All About?

Speech therapy is like a helping hand for your child’s voice. It helps kids learn to:

  • Talk better
  • Understand what people say
  • Say words more clearly
  • Use longer sentences
  • Speak with confidence

How Can a Speech Therapist Help?

They turn sounds into songs, making speech feel like play. Through evidence-based methods, they work on articulation, fluency, and comprehension.

If your child gets frustrated trying to speak, a therapist helps ease that pain.

They help children build the confidence to speak up and be heard.

Can’t say “flower”? No problem, they’ll practice patiently and cheer the effort.

For kids with autism or developmental delays, they build structured language pathways.

They listen with more than ears, they notice what’s not being said too.

Whether it’s a first word or a full sentence, they celebrate every milestone.

Speech therapists also guide parents like you on what to do at home.

In short? A speech therapist helps your child find their voice and love using it.

How Your Child’s Speech Therapy Session Look Like?

Here’s a myth to bust: speech therapy does not feel like school or hospital time. It is purposeful play.

Here’s what sessions might look like:

Your child might play with picture cards and toys.

The therapist might sing songs or read simple books.

Why Do Some Kids Need It?

The outer edges are completed quickly for most kids. Few kids just take a little longer to speak or communicate.

Speech is like that puzzle. Some kids start talking in full sentences early. Others might still be working on single words. Speech therapy simply helps fill in the missing pieces so the whole picture makes sense.

Your Child Isn’t Putting Words Together

Speech is a composite skill. By age two, they are beginning to combine two words, producing utterances such as “drink milk,” “eat apple.” Your child continues to use only single words or gestures, they may have some difficulties in expressive speech. A speech therapist works lovingly with your child to create word combinations, the foundation for conversations and easy interactions.

They Don’t Seem to Respond to Words

If your child does not respond to his/her name, to a question or to a simple command, it may indicate difficulty processing language. It can also be a speech and language delay, not necessarily a hearing problem. Language processing difficulties may arise in children who do not track speech cues. A therapist can determine if it is a matter of understanding and addressing your child’s capacity to learn and understand and respond to language.

Let’s Talk About Little Signs

So when should we raise an eyebrow and ask for a little help? Look out for these little signs:

  • Your child doesn’t speak much or uses very few words
  • They point or cry instead of asking for things
  • People outside the family don’t understand what they say
  • They mix up sounds or say things like “wabbit” for “rabbit”
  • They get stuck on words or repeat them a lot

Don’t Wait If You’re Worried

Sometimes the well-meaning even well-meaning friends or family members will say:

  • “Don’t worry, he’s just a late talker.”
  • “She will when she wants to.”
  • “My son didn’t speak until he was 4 and he’s fine!”

You can count on your instincts. If something doesn’t seem quite right, speak with your pediatrician or a speech therapist. You will regret doing it early. You also may be sorry you didn’t wait.

What Can I Do At Home?

There’s so many things you can do at your home. Try this:

  • Talk often: Say what you’re doing. “I’m washing apples now.”
  • Repeat words clearly: If they say “wawa,” you say, “Yes! That’s a ball.”
  • Read daily: Choose colorful books. Point, name, and ask questions
  • Praise their tries: Even if a word isn’t perfect, say, “Good job trying to say truck!”
  • Play together: Pretend games, singing rhymes, and storytelling help more than you know

Where Do I Go for Help?

First, look for a child development centre and start with your child’s doctor. Say something like:

“My child isn’t communicating with others as much as others their age. Can we get speech therapy?”

You can also:

  • Search for pediatric speech therapy clinics in your area
  • Ask your child’s school or daycare if they’ve noticed anything

It’s Not Your Fault

You’re not late. You haven’t fallen behind. Some children simply need glasses to see better. Others require training wheels for biking. And some have to go through speech therapy in order to be able to express the beautiful thoughts that are in them. You are not alone. And you’re trying your best.

You’re Their Voice Until They Find Theirs

Your child would say, if they could:

  • “Thanks for seeing me, when I can’t see myself even I can’t find the words.”
  • Getting help early is not overreacting. It’s brave. It’s wise. It’s loving.
  • Speech therapy isn’t just about talking, it’s about confidence, connection, and growing into who they’re meant to be.
  • And you? You’re already doing an amazing job.

Conclusion

Sometimes a bit of worry is just love donning its thinking cap. But you got this far, you care.

Speech delays are not permanent than you think.

Given early assistance, children can learn, can be right where they should be, and can also be joyous in their means of expression.

If you don’t know, that’s okay, every parent feels that way.

That first “mama” or “papa” may be just in the corner.

Your child’s voice is in there, just waiting to get its due. Ability to ask for help is not a sign that there is something wrong, but an indication of strength to attempt. There should be the loudest applause for even the smallest steps forward. At Continua Kids, we make sure to encourage the child in every way possible.

You can do this and your child has you. That’s the best start in the universe.

How to Cure Speech Delay

Every child is special. Some walk early. Some talk late. That’s absolutely alright, you really don’t need to worry about it. But when a child is not saying words or communicating what he/she really wanted to express like other kids of their age, it could be a sign of speech delay that is treatable. It means the child needs help in communication.

Speech delay is common but speech therapy for kids can help to overcome from it. It happens to many children. But the good news is, it can be cured with love, practice and the right support. One of the best places to help children speak better is Continua Kids. It is where kind therapists make learning fun. They use toys, games and simple tricks to help children speak clearly and confidently.

Let’s talk about speech delay

Speech delay means a child takes longer to start talking than others of the same age.

  • Kids often say “mom” or “dad” when turn age 1
  • Some kids don’t. That’s called speech delay

It’s okay. It can be fixed with help, practice, and love.

Why Does Speech Delay Happen?

There are many reasons why speech can be slow:

1. Hearing Problem

Child can’t reciprocate words, if not hearing well.

2. Brain is Still Learning

The brain sends signals to the mouth to talk. If the brain takes time, the speech comes late.

3. Mouth Muscles are Weak

Talking needs strong lips, tongue, and jaw. If these are weak, words don’t come out clearly.

4. Other Conditions

Some children with Autism, ADHD, or Down Syndrome may talk late. But with the right treatment, they can grow well.

Signs of Speech Delay

By 1 year

No words like “mama” or “dada”

No waving or pointing

By 2 year

Says fewer than 50 words

Can’t place 2 words together such as “Drink Shake”

By 3 year

Hard to understand what they say

Doesn’t ask simple questions

Can Speech Delay Be Cured?

Yes, it can!

Speech delay is not forever. With the right help, children can:

Speak clearly

Make friends

Do well in school

How Speech Therapists Help

Speech therapists that works with child development centre are experts who help children learn to talk. Let’s see how they do it.

Step-by-step Curing Process of Speech Therapy

1. First, They Check Everything

  • They talk to parents
  • They listen to how the child talks
  • They check how the child hears and understands words

Why?

So they know the severity of the symptoms and what right treatment is suitable for the child.

2. They Make a Special Plan

  • Every child is different
  • The therapist makes a plan just for that child
  • The plan has fun games, word tricks, and sound practice

3. They Start With Fun Activities

No boring stuff! They use:

  • Toys
  • Books
  • Flashcards
  • Puppets
  • Puzzles

Why?

Because children learn better when they play and laugh.

4. They Teach Sounds and Words Slowly

  • First, they help the child to speak small words such as “Am”, “Too”
  • Then full words like “ball” or “milk”
  • Then short sentences like “I want milk”

How?

By repeating sounds, showing pictures, and clapping for every try.

5. They Work on Listening Too

  • The child learns how to listen to words
  • They point at pictures when they hear a word

Why?

Hearing and understanding comes before speaking.

6. They Help with Mouth Exercises

  • Some kids need help moving their tongue or lips
  • The therapist gives fun mouth workouts like:

Blowing bubbles

Drinking with a straw

Licking peanut butter off a spoon

7. They Help the Child Talk in Daily Life

  • They teach parents about how to interact and support the child better
  • The therapist gives fun mouth workouts like

8. They Track Progress Every Week

  • They keep checking what words the child is learning
  • They make the plan better each time

Why

So the child keeps improving without getting bored.

What Parents Can Do at Home

Therapy works best when parents help too. Here are easy things parents can do:

1. Talk Often

  • Use simple words
  • Say the same word many times

Example: “This is a ball. The ball is red. Do you want the ball?”

2. Read Together

  • Use books with big pictures
  • Point and name everything

3. Play Every Day

Play games that need talking like “kitchen” or “shop”.

4. Ask Questions

Start with easy ones like:

  • “What is this?”
  • “Do you want juice?”

5. Be Patient

  • Wait for the child to answer
  • Don’t rush or finish words for them

Things to Avoid

1. Don’t Use Phones Too Much

Less screen time = more talking time.

2. Don’t Compare

Every child learns at their own speed.

3. Don’t Shout or Scold

Talking should feel safe and happy.

When to Visit a Therapist?

  • Child doesn’t understand what others say
  • Child doesn’t look when called
  • Child only says a few unclear words

What Happens at Continua Kids?

Continua Kids is full of kind therapists and smart tools.

  • First, they check the child carefully
  • Then, they make a fun learning plan
  • They use toys, games, and loving support
  • Children feel safe, happy, and grow well with others

Success Stories

1. Aarav’s Story

Aarav didn’t talk at age 3. He felt shy and quiet. At Continua Kids, he learned to:

  • Say sounds
  • Name toys
  • Use short sentences

Now he talks to his teacher and sings poems.

2. Myra’s Story

Myra only said “mama” at age 2. After therapy:

  • She learned animal names
  • She played word games
  • She asked questions like “Where’s Papa?”

Now she loves to talk and read books.

Conclusion

Speech delay isn’t scary. It’s just a little stop along a child’s way of talking. Some kids need a little more time. Some need a little help. And that’s okay. What absolutely matters is the child gets the right treatment timely.

Speech therapists help children can learn how to make sounds, words, and sentences. The therapist invites the child to play and shows them how to talk in a fun and easy way. It also shows parents how to help kids practice talking at home with little games and loving words.

If you feel your child is not talking like other kids his age, don’t wait. It’s always better to see if it’s okay or if your child needs help in case it does. Talking is how kids learn, make friends, and understand the world.

Continua Kids is one of the best speech therapy centres. Their expert team makes talking fun and easy to learn. Many children have found their voice there and your child can be one of them.

Let’s take that step. Be patient, be loving, trust your child. With care and practice, your child will be talking up a storm.