June 05th, 2018

Repost by The Speech Language and Audiology Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SLAATT) https://thecren.com/index.php/blog/191-the-importance-of-speech-and-language-development-in-a-child-s-early-years

What should I do if my child's speech or language appears to be delayed?
You should talk to your family doctor if you have any concerns about your child’s speech or language development. Your doctor may decide to refer you to a speech-language pathologist/therapist/clinician, a health professional trained to evaluate and treat people who have speech, language, voice or swallowing disorders (including hearing impairment) that affect their ability to communicate. The speech-language pathologist will talk to you about your child’s communication and general development. He or she will also evaluate your child with special speech and language tests. A hearing test is often included in the evaluation because a hearing problem can affect speech and language development. 
Speech-language pathologists/therapists/clinicians assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing and fluency. They work with:

• people who cannot make speech sounds, or cannot make them clearly;
• those with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering;
• people with voice quality problems, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice;
• people who have problems understanding and producing language;
• those who wish to improve their communication skills by modifying an accent;
• those with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem solving disorders;
• people who have oral motor problems causing eating and swallowing difficulties

If you have any concerns about your child's speech, please seek assistance.