“The paediatrician told me my kid will speak”, “the paediatrician told me that it is an evolutionary development”, “he/she told me that it is still little”… These are some of the phrases that parents, who come to our clinic after having observed difficulties in their children, tell us. At Corps à l’aise, we always insist on PREVENTION.
The importance of prevention
Several times, I meet five-year-old children onwards who come to my visit with articulation problems, stuttering or some other fixed difficulty because their parents trusted that it would “pass”.
Some other times, parents call me for advice because the paediatrician has told them that at 4 or 5 years old they are still too young to visit the speech therapist, but they think they have to do something.
I even know cases in which children between 2 or 3 years old who barely have expressive language are insisted on the idea that “they will speak”.
I advise all parents to go to a speech therapist if they have any difficulty whatsoever. It is a professional who can best advise them on language, speech and communication, among other areas. It will evaluate the situation in which the child finds itself and will say whether or not it is necessary to intervene.
When a child has a language difficulty, the sooner he or she goes to the speech therapist the better the results will be
So, do I listen to the paediatrician or not?
It’s true that every child has his own rhythm, but we can’t just sit back and watch difficulties which can be prevented or, if they are already established, we should work as soon as possible. In this way, we can avoid the problem getting worse and affecting the child’s communicative intention and self-esteem.
You are never too young, the developmental milestones are what they are and in light of any doubts that may arise, the speech therapist can resolve them, advising what to do and what not to do.
Clichés don’t help either, nor does the advice of a friend or neighbour “my child didn’t speak at all and suddenly he started and there’s no one to shut him up”. This cannot be extrapolated to other children, since no two are alike.
Prevention, the most effective
From Corps à l’aise, we encourage you to ask, any doubt you have, expose it, whatever it is, even if you think it is silly or you have been told that “there is time for everything”. Your child comes first and we are here to help you.
Diplomada en Logopedia por la Universidad de Valencia.
Especializada en logopedia bilingüe (español-francés).
CORPS À L’AISE – CENTRO DE REHABILITACIÓN
C/ Pintor Lorenzo Casanova 19, Bajo. 03003 – Alicante – 966231695
