Children can start speech therapy as early as 18 months to 2 years old if they show signs of speech delay, such as limited vocabulary, trouble forming sentences, or not responding to sounds. Early speech therapy intervention leads to better long-term outcomes in language and communication development. Pediatricians often recommend an evaluation if milestones are not met.
To prepare your child for a speech therapy session, explain in simple words what to expect, bring a comfort item like a favorite toy, and talk about how the therapist is there to help them talk better and have fun. Encourage a positive attitude, arrive early, and avoid putting pressure. Being consistent with speech exercises at home also helps.
Most children attend speech therapy 2–3 times a week, depending on the severity of the speech or language disorder. Each session typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes. The duration of speech therapy can range from a few months to a few years, based on the child's individual progress, diagnosis, and age.
By the age of 4 to 5 years, most children should be able to speak clearly enough to be understood by both family and strangers. If your child is not speaking clearly at age 3 or 4, it may be a sign of speech articulation or phonological delay, and a speech-language evaluation is recommended.
Speech therapy for children helps improve their ability to communicate effectively. It targets speech delays, pronunciation problems, stammering (stuttering), language comprehension, and social communication skills. Therapy is personalized to each child’s needs and may include play-based activities, articulation exercises, and listening tasks.
