Helping Parents Identify When A Speech Therapy Evaluation is Needed
A child who struggles with communicating, is a child who struggles to connect with the world around them. This can often time be very frustrating for the child, educators, and of course you, the parents. So, let’s answer a few questions about what parents should be looking for in their child’s day to day habits that would suggest a speech therapy evaluation is needed.
First, let’s discuss what speech therapy is and who it helps. Speech therapy is particularly suited for children who face difficulties with articulation, fluency, or voice disorders. It aids those who struggle with accurately producing speech sounds or experience issues with vocal quality, pitch, or rhythm. Whether your child has a speech delay, stutters, or encounters challenges with pronunciation, our specialized therapy services are tailored to meet their individual needs. You can find an exhaustive list of developmental speech milestones from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
At Speech and Feeding of Frisco, we’re here to help parents spot the early signs and feel confident in taking the next step. Here are five key signs your child would benefit from a speech therapy evaluation:
1. Not Using Many Words
What the research says:
Children typically say their first word around 12 months, and by 18 months, they should have a vocabulary of around 10–50 words. By 24 months, most children begin combining two words (e.g., “want juice”).
Why it Matters:
Delays in early expressive language are one of the most common indicators of later language and academic difficulties. Early identification can significantly improve long-term outcomes.
2. Hard to Understand
What the research says:
Speech intelligibility norms show that strangers should understand a child:
- By age 2: ~50% understood
- By age 3: ~75%
- By age 4: ~100%
Why it matters:
If a child’s speech is significantly unclear after age 3, it may signal articulation or phonological disorders that benefit from early therapy.
3. Frustration When Communicating
What the research says:
Communication breakdowns can lead to behavior challenges, especially in toddlers and preschoolers. Children with limited expressive language may show increased tantrums and social withdrawal.
Why it matters:
Supporting communication skills can decrease frustration-based behaviors and increase confidence.
4. Trouble Following Directions
What the research says:
Receptive language delays (understanding words and instructions) often go unnoticed longer than expressive ones. By age 2, most children can follow simple two-step commands (e.g., “Get your shoes and bring them to me”).
Why it matters:
Receptive language difficulties can impact learning, behavior, and social development, especially when entering preschool or kindergarten.
5. Limited Social Interaction
What the research says:
Limited eye contact, poor joint attention (looking at something with someone else), and lack of turn-taking can be early signs of social communication disorder or autism spectrum disorder.
Why it matters:
Speech therapy can support pragmatic language skills (how we use language socially), which are critical for school and peer interactions.
Next Steps to Scheduling a Speech Therapy Evaluation
If any of these feel familiar, trust your instincts. A speech therapy evaluation is a gentle, play-based way to better understand how your child is doing — and how we can help. Evaluations are typically covered by your insurance provider, and if you have any questions or concerns about your medical coverage, we have specialists on hand who to assist. If you have experienced one or more of these signs and wish to schedule a speech therapy evaluation, please click here to contact us directly.
If you’re interested to learn more about our approach to an evaluation, checkout our additional supporting content. Understanding the Evaluation Process: Parent’s Guide