May Is Better Hearing and Speech Month 2017

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about communication disorders and the importance of early identification and treatment. At Kansas City Speech Professionals, we join speech-language pathologists and audiologists across the country in highlighting the prevalence of speech and hearing disorders and encouraging families to seek help when they have concerns.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Statistics from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) paint a clear picture of just how common speech and language disorders are among children in the United States:

5% of children ages 3 to 17 have a speech disorder that lasts one week or longer
The prevalence of speech sound disorders in young children is 8-9%, making it one of the most common communication challenges in early childhood
By first grade, approximately 5% of children have noticeable speech disorders that may affect their ability to communicate clearly with peers and teachers

These numbers represent millions of children across the country, and they underscore an important reality: speech and language disorders are not rare. They are a common part of childhood development, and the vast majority of them respond well to professional treatment.

What Are Speech Sound Disorders?

Speech sound disorders are among the most common types of communication challenges in young children. They include:

Articulation Disorders

Difficulty producing specific speech sounds correctly. A child with an articulation disorder may substitute one sound for another (saying “wabbit” instead of “rabbit”), leave sounds out (saying “nana” instead of “banana”), or distort sounds in a way that makes their speech difficult to understand.

Phonological Disorders

Patterns of sound errors that affect entire groups of sounds rather than individual sounds. For example, a child might consistently leave off the final consonant in words (“ca” for “cat,” “do” for “dog”) or simplify consonant clusters (“top” for “stop”).

Childhood Apraxia of Speech

A motor speech disorder in which the brain has difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech. Children with apraxia know what they want to say but have trouble getting their mouth to cooperate.

Why Early Identification Matters

Research consistently demonstrates that early identification and intervention for speech and language disorders leads to significantly better outcomes. Children who receive appropriate therapy early in their development are more likely to:

Catch up to their peers in speech and language skills
Succeed academically, particularly in reading and writing
Develop strong social relationships and communication confidence
Avoid the secondary effects of untreated communication disorders, such as frustration, behavioral challenges, and social withdrawal

Conversely, speech and language disorders that go unidentified and untreated can have lasting effects on a child’s academic performance, literacy development, and social-emotional well-being.

When Should You Seek Help?

Many parents wonder whether their child’s speech development is within the normal range or whether they should be concerned. Here are some general guidelines:

By 12 months: A child should be babbling and using a few simple words
By 18 months: A child should have approximately 20 words
By 24 months: A child should be combining two words together and have a vocabulary of approximately 50 words. Strangers should understand about 50% of what the child says
By 36 months: Strangers should understand approximately 75% of what the child says
By 4 years: A child should be mostly intelligible to unfamiliar listeners, even if some sound errors remain

If your child is not meeting these milestones, or if you have any concerns about their speech and language development, we encourage you to seek an evaluation. It is always better to check and find out everything is fine than to wait and risk missing an opportunity for early intervention.

Take Action This Month

Better Hearing and Speech Month is the perfect time to:

Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your child’s speech or language development
Schedule a speech-language evaluation if your child is not meeting developmental milestones
Learn more about typical speech and language development so you know what to expect
Spread awareness by sharing information with other parents, teachers, and caregivers

At Kansas City Speech Professionals, we are passionate about helping children find their voice. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s communication development, please contact us. We are here to help your child communicate with clarity and confidence.