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<\/p>\nAs parents, my wife and I always try to perform cost-benefit analysis when our kids need professional or healthcare services. We all want the best for our children, but is that service worth the cost? This question often boils down to determining if it\u2019s the right time for these services.<\/p>\n
I’ll provide clarity on this important decision using an impactful research study. My goal is to help you better perform your own cost-benefit analysis when you feel your child may need a speech evaluation.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to understand that this article is devoted to speech <\/i>clarity errors rather than language or cognitive development. I\u2019m not addressing speech fluency here; one of the most common disorders being stuttering.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In 2018, two prominent Australian researchers and speech-language pathologists, Sharynne McLeod and Kathryn Crowe, published a highly influential study which looked into 27 major languages, on the ages that children are expected to acquire the speech sounds of their language.<\/p>\n
Before this study was published, most speech pathologists relied on now fifty-year-old data to help determine whether the speech errors a child was making were age-appropriate (i.e. \u201cnormal\u201d for that age group) or suggestive of a speech disorder. McLeod and Crowe\u2019s data sent shockwaves through the world of speech pathology.<\/p>\n
Speech pathologists thought that some of the trickiest-to-learn speech sounds can be misarticulated up to age 7, or even 8, without triggering a concern. The old data suggested therapists should recommend a “wait and watch” approach for a child who couldn’t pronounce [r] or [th] sounds at age 7.<\/p>\n
One common issue is [th] and [r] are produced incorrectly in a 7-year-old that a good percentage of these children would spontaneously correct these speech errors without therapy.<\/p>\n
McLeod and Crowe\u2019s study examined many previous studies (termed a meta-analysis) and changed this thinking. They found that 90% of the speech sounds in a language should be acquired (i.e. correctly produced) by age 5! So whereas in years past, a 5 and a half-year old presenting with a challenge in saying his\/her [s] and [sh] sounds might be told to wait a year before going to therapy, this new guidance would more strongly support intervening right away.<\/p>\n
Each case is unique and is best informed by a comprehensive speech evaluation by a trained Pathologist. However, McLeod and Crowe\u2019s work suggests a more proactive approach earlier in a child\u2019s development. This applies broadly to children\u2019s speech development as well.<\/p>\n
Knowing language history, bilingualism, and family speech disorders is critical for clinical decision making. This boils down to a maxim: when in doubt, evaluate!<\/p>\n
This study further underscores the potential urgency of the situation. The watchful waiting approach may actually be the best one, but you won\u2019t know that without getting all the facts.<\/p>\n
Best of luck in your family\u2019s speech journey. Please share this article with someone who needs help with determining when the time is right for a professional speech evaluation.<\/p>\n
By Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP<\/p>\n
**References\u00a0 \u201cChildren’s Consonant Acquisition in 27 Languages: A Cross-Linguistic Review\u201d
by Sharynne McLeod and Kathryn Crowe<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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