The Power of Early Intervention: Why Starting Speech Therapy Early Matters

When it comes to childhood development, timing is everything. The early years of a child’s life are a period of rapid growth and change, especially in areas like language and communication. For families navigating speech and language delays, early intervention services can make a significant difference. Here’s why starting therapy early is one of the most impactful decisions you can make for your child.

The Benefits of Early Intervention Services

1. Tailored Support for Unique Needs: Early intervention services are highly individualized, focusing on the child’s specific strengths and challenges. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) works closely with families to develop strategies that align with the child’s developmental goals.
2. Empowering Families: Parents and caregivers play a vital role in a child’s progress. Early intervention includes parent coaching and guidance, equipping families with tools and techniques to support communication development during daily routines.
3. Building Confidence: Early intervention helps children develop foundational skills in a supportive, encouraging environment. Success in communication fosters confidence and a positive self-image, setting the stage for lifelong learning and social connection.

What Does Early Intervention Look Like?

Early intervention services for speech and language delays might include activities such as:

• Encouraging turn-taking during play to develop conversational skills.
• Using gestures, pictures, or signs to promote communication before verbal skills emerge.
• Practicing simple words or sounds in fun, engaging ways.
• Building vocabulary through shared storytime or interactive games.

Sessions are designed to feel like play, making learning enjoyable and stress-free for young children.

What are age appropriate skills for my child at this time?

RECEPTIVELY, children between the ages of 18-24 months of age should be able to:

• Understand simple action words
• Understand simple adjectives (e.g., big, small, hot, cold) 
• Understand simple objects and pictures
• Identify at least 3 body parts  
• Understand simple directions (e.g., Touch ball, Find dog) 
• Comprehend familiar routines (e.g., It’s bath time) 
• Respond to their name when called 

EXPRESSIVELY, children between the ages of 18-24 months of age should be able to:

• Refer to self by name 
• Use nouns, verbs, and pronouns
• Label objects and items
• Use increasing vocabulary (18 months: around 20–50 words; 24 months: around 200–300 words.)
• Say phrases such as “uh oh” 
• Express basic wants and needs (e.g., More juice, All done)
• Use an increased variety of speech sounds (Most children can produce vowels and many consonants like /b/, /m/, /d/, /p/, and /n/, though errors are still common.)
• Use gestures and words together (e.g., Wave and say “bye bye”) 
• Start to imitate words that adults model 
• Combine two words to form simple phrases (This is closer to 24 months, e.g., Want cookie, Go car)
• Name familiar objects, people, and actions (e.g., ball, doggy, eat) 

Examples of Activities used in Early Intervention:

1. Pretend Play (tea sets, dolls, animals)
   1. How is it used? → label objects, actions, and turn taking 
2. Books
   1. How is it used? → Read with your child daily and point to pictures, asking, “What’s this?” or saying, “I see a dog! The dog says woof!”
3. Songs and Rhymes
   1. How is it used? → Use songs with gestures (e.g., Wheels on the Bus, Itsy Bitsy Spider) to combine words and actions, which help link language to meaning.
4. Cause and Effect toys (ramps, pop up toys) 
   1. How are they used? → model phrases like, “Open,” “Push,” “Pop!”
5. Blocks, Puzzles, and Stacking Toys
   1. How are they used? → teach concepts such as size, color, and spatial words (e.g., “On top,” “Next to”).
6. Social Games
   1. How are they used? → use turn-taking games (like rolling a ball) to encourage social interaction and joint attention.

Invest in Your Child’s Future

Every child develops at his or her own pace, but seeking help early can make a world of difference. Early intervention services provide the tools, support, and opportunities your child needs to thrive. By addressing challenges early, you’re not only fostering communication skills but also giving your child the confidence to express and connect with the world around them.

If you have questions or want to learn more about our pediatric speech therapy services, call us today at 609-924-7080.