Speech Therapy
What is speech therapy?
The Child Inspired offers a unique opportunity for services in our office or in your child’s natural environment (i.e., home, daycare, school). Therapy is individualized based on the results of the speech and language evaluation. We will model techniques and explain how you can incorporate them into your daily routines.
What does the speech therapy process look like?
One-on-one therapy sessions are 30 minutes in length including parent education. We will review information learned in the previous session before learning new material. We will provide “homework” to ensure the carry-over of skills learned throughout our sessions into your child’s daily routines.
Speech Milestones by Age
7-12 months
- Enjoys games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
- Turns and looks in direction of sounds
- Responds to own name
- Recognizes words. for common items such as “cup”, “shoe”, “book”
- Begins to respond to requests (e.g. “Give me”)
- Uses a large variety of sounds ain babbling
- Uses speech or non-crying sounds to get and keep attention
- Uses gestures to communicate (waving, holding arms to be picked up)
- Imitates different speech sounds
- Has 1-3 meaningful words (hi, dog, dada, mama)
2-3 years old
- Understands differences in meaning (“go-stop,” “in-on,” “big-little,” “up-down”)
- Follows 2-part commands (“Get the book and put it on the table”)
- Understands 500 – 900+ words
- Requests items by name
- Uses 2 – 4 word phrases
- Maintains topic over several conversational turns
- Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds
- Produces 50 – 250+ words
- Is approximately 50 – 75% intelligible
4-5 years old
- Pays attention to a short story and answers simple questions about them
- Uses sentences of 4 – 8 words with adult-like grammar
- Tells stories that stay on topic
- Communicates easily with other children and adults
- Answers complex 2-part questions
- Is intelligible with strangers although some sound errors may persist
1-2 years old
- Asks and answers WH-questions (“Where kitty?” “What’s that?”)
- Puts two words together (“more cookie,” “no juice,” “mommy book”)
- Is approximately 25 -50% intelligible to strangers
- Understands “no”
- Points to body parts
- Gives a toy when asked
3-4 years old
- Understands function of objects
- Understands opposites
- Follows 2 and 3 part commands
- Answers simple “who?”, “what?”, “where?”, and “why?” questions
- Uses language to express emotion
- Relates recent events
- Uses mostly nouns and verbs
- Uses 4 – 5 word sentences
- Usually talks easily without repeating syllables or words
- Is approximately 80% intelligible
5-6 years old
- Accurately relays a story or an event
- Exchanges information and asks questions
- Uses sentences with details
Follows instructions given to a group - Asks how questions
- Begins to demonstrate sequencing abilities (days of the week)
- Answers open-ended questions (“What did you have for lunch today?”)
Still have questions? Find your answers here!
How long will my child be in speech therapy?
A child’s speech and language development depends on factors such as age, attention span, willingness to participate, underlying etiology of the diagnosis, severity of the speech-language problem, frequency of therapy sessions, regular attendance, family involvement, and at-home practice.
We will monitor your child’s progress and make adjustments to their treatment plan when necessary. Some children may receive services for a few months, while other children receive services for years, as they work up to more complex communication goals.
Schedule an evaluation to get started!
How often will my child need speech therapy?
The frequency of sessions is up to you as the caregiver. We can provide speech therapy as frequently (multiple times a week), or infrequently (every other week) as you would like. After your evaluation, The Child Inspired will provide a recommendation based on the needs of your child, and together we will discuss and agree upon a frequency that works with your preference and lifestyle.
Schedule an evaluation to get started!
How long are speech therapy sessions?
The Child Inspired offers 30-minute speech therapy sessions. Schedule an evaluation to get started!
How can speech therapy benefit my child?
Speech therapy can benefit your child in many ways, including improving their communication skills, social skills, academic performance, and self-confidence.
How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?
If your child has difficulty communicating with others, such as struggling to articulate sounds or words, difficulty understanding language, or having trouble with social interactions, speech therapy may be beneficial.
What is your service area?
We provide speech therapy services in our office located in Huntersville, or preschool and home visits in Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson.
How can I get started?
Simply visit our Schedule An Evaluation page, complete the form, and we’ll contact you to set up an initial evaluation for your child.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes, we partner with a range of insurance providers to make our expert speech therapy services accessible. Insurance coverage is available to help make our services stress-free for families.
Schedule an evaluation to get started!