When Should My Child See a Speech Therapist? A Parent’s Guide to Early Intervention in Eagle, ID

September 29, 2025
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Understanding Speech and Language Milestones

Watching your child grow, you eagerly anticipate their first words, babbling sounds, and early conversations. Every child develops at their own pace, but it’s natural for parents to wonder if their child’s communication skills are on track. Delays in speech can sometimes be a simple hiccup, but they can also be linked to underlying issues that affect feeding, breathing, and overall development. This guide is designed to help families in Eagle and across the Treasure Valley understand key developmental milestones and recognize when professional support can make a difference.

Key Milestones in Early Speech and Language Development

Children’s communication skills follow a general timeline. While variation is normal, these milestones serve as a helpful reference for typical development in the first few years of life. If you have concerns at any stage, early evaluation is always a positive step.

Age Range What to Look For (Understanding/Receptive) What to Listen For (Speaking/Expressive)
By 12 Months Responds to their name, enjoys games like peek-a-boo, and looks at objects you talk about. Babbles with changes in tone (e.g., “ba-ba-ba”), imitates sounds, and may say one or two words like “mama” or “dada.”
By 18 Months Follows simple one-step commands (e.g., “Give me the ball”) and points to familiar objects or body parts when asked. Has a vocabulary of several words and tries to imitate words they hear you say.
By 2 Years Understands simple questions and follows two-step requests like “Get your shoes and put them in the box.” Uses at least 50 words and starts combining two words to make phrases like “more juice” or “my car.”
By 3 Years Understands concepts like “in” and “on,” and knows descriptive words like “big” or “happy.” Uses three- to four-word sentences and has a word for most common objects. Speech is generally understood by family.

Beyond Articulation: When Speech Delays Signal More

Sometimes, what appears to be a simple speech delay is a symptom of an underlying structural or functional issue. Our integrated approach at the Center for Orofacial Myology recognizes that clear speech depends on the entire orofacial system working correctly. If you notice speech concerns alongside any of the following signs, a comprehensive evaluation is highly recommended.

Feeding Difficulties

The muscles used for eating, chewing, and swallowing are the same ones used for speech. Challenges like difficulty latching, transitioning to solid foods, or excessive drooling can indicate muscle weakness that also impacts articulation. These issues may point to a need for specialized feeding therapy.

Tethered Oral Tissues (Tongue-Tie)

A restricted lingual frenulum, or tongue-tie, can limit the tongue’s range of motion. This can make it difficult to produce sounds that require tongue-tip elevation like ‘t’, ‘d’, ‘n’, and ‘l’. An infant tongue-tie release may be recommended to improve both feeding and future speech clarity.

Mouth Breathing and Airway Issues

Chronic mouth breathing often forces the tongue into a low, forward position instead of resting on the roof of the mouth. This improper resting posture can affect jaw development and lead to speech sound errors. Comprehensive airway evaluations can identify the root cause of these patterns.

The Role of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

For many children, traditional speech therapy may not be enough if the underlying muscle function isn’t addressed. This is where Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) becomes essential. OMT is a specialized therapeutic program that retrains the muscles of the mouth and face to function correctly. It focuses on establishing proper tongue posture, lip seal, nasal breathing, and swallowing patterns.

By correcting these foundational functions, OMT creates the optimal environment for successful speech development. It helps ensure that the ‘hardware’ (the muscles and structures) is working properly, allowing the ‘software’ (speech sounds and language) to be programmed more effectively. It is a crucial component of our holistic approach to care.

Finding Comprehensive Speech Therapy Support in Eagle

For families in Eagle, Meridian, and across the Boise area, finding integrated care under one roof eliminates the stress of coordinating multiple appointments with different specialists. At the Center for Orofacial Myology, our multidisciplinary team of experts works collaboratively to assess your child’s needs from a whole-body perspective. We understand the intricate connections between breathing, feeding, and speaking.

Whether your child needs focused articulation practice or a more comprehensive approach involving myofunctional or feeding therapy, we create a personalized treatment plan. Our goal is not just to correct speech sounds but to ensure your child builds a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy communication and overall wellness.

Ready to Get Answers for Your Child?

If you have concerns about your child’s speech, language, or oral development, don’t wait. Early intervention is key. Schedule a comprehensive evaluation with our specialists to understand your child’s unique needs and create a path forward.

Schedule a Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a speech disorder and a language disorder?

A speech disorder relates to the production of sounds (articulation), مثل stuttering, or voice quality. A language disorder involves difficulty understanding others (receptive language) or sharing thoughts and ideas (expressive language). Our therapists evaluate both aspects to create a complete picture of your child’s communication abilities.

At what age should I seek a speech evaluation for my child?

There’s no wrong age to seek an evaluation. Early intervention is highly effective, and therapy can begin as early as 18 months. If you have any concerns about your child not meeting milestones or if your parental intuition tells you something is off, it is always best to schedule a consultation.

How does tongue-tie specifically affect speech?

A significant tongue-tie restricts the tongue’s ability to move freely. This can make it difficult for a child to elevate their tongue tip to the roof of the mouth to produce sounds like “t,” “d,” “n,” “l,” and “r.” While not every tongue-tie impacts speech, a restricted tongue can lead to articulation errors and frustration for the child.

Does my child need a referral from a pediatrician?

While many of our patients are referred by pediatricians, dentists, and lactation consultants, a referral is not always necessary. You can contact us directly to schedule a consultation if you have concerns about your child’s development.

Glossary of Terms

  • Ankyloglossia: The medical term for tongue-tie, a condition where a short, tight band of tissue (the lingual frenulum) tethers the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth.
  • Articulation: The physical act of producing speech sounds. An articulation disorder is a type of speech disorder where a person has difficulty making certain sounds correctly.
  • Lingual Frenulum: The small fold of mucous membrane that extends from the floor of the mouth to the midline of the underside of the tongue.
  • Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT): A therapeutic program to correct the improper function of the tongue, lips, and jaw muscles. It addresses issues in breathing, swallowing, and speaking.
  • Receptive Language: The ability to understand information. This involves understanding words, sentences, and the meaning of what others say or what is read.
  • Expressive Language: The ability to put thoughts into words and sentences in a way that makes sense and is grammatically accurate.