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Delayed Speech: If your child isn't using words or phrases as expected for their age, this might be a sign of a speech delay. For example, by age 2, most children can say about 50 words and start to combine words into two-word phrases.
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Unclear Speech: If family members and caregivers have difficulty understanding your child compared to children of the same age, they may benefit from speech therapy.
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Difficulty with Pronunciation: Difficulty pronouncing sounds (e.g., saying "tup" instead of "cup") or struggling with certain parts of speech can be indicators.
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Stuttering: If your child frequently repeats sounds, syllables, or words, or has frequent hesitations in speech, they may be experiencing a stutter.
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Social Communication Difficulties: If your child has difficulty making eye contact, understanding social cues, or seems to struggle to express their feelings or understand others, this may be a sign of a social communication disorder.
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Difficulty Following Directions: If your child struggles to understand or follow instructions that are appropriate for their age, this might be an indication of a language disorder.
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Feeding Difficulties: Some speech-language pathologists are also trained to assist with feeding and swallowing difficulties, which are often associated with speech and language development.
