Is It Time to Seek Extra Support for Your Child’s Communication Development?
Every child develops at their own pace. Some might be early talkers, while others take a little more time to find their voice. It’s natural for parents to compare their child’s progress to peers—but how do you know when it’s time to step in and seek extra help?
At Strive, we understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate early childhood development. That’s why we provide a comprehensive developmental milestone checklist to help families monitor their child’s progress in key areas like speech, language, feeding, and social communication.
When Delays Might Mean Something More
One early red flag we often see is a child who appears to understand everything you say—following directions, responding nonverbally, even pointing or gesturing appropriately—but who struggles to verbalize appropriate responses. This kind of expressive delay can be easy to overlook, especially if the child is otherwise well-behaved and engaged. However, this gap between understanding and expressing can signal a need for speech or language support.
Why Early Intervention Matters
Communication is a cornerstone of human connection, and strong communication skills help children build relationships, express needs, and succeed in learning environments. When a delay is identified early, early intervention services can make a dramatic difference in a child’s development. Research shows that the brain is most adaptable and responsive to change in the early years of life, making early support more effective than waiting and hoping a child will “catch up” on their own. Early intervention doesn’t just support speech—it supports overall confidence, learning, and emotional well-being.
Areas to Monitor in Your Child’s Development
Below is a list of developmental areas that may suggest your child could benefit from professional support:
- Feeding or swallowing difficulties – Has trouble eating or drinking safely, especially with age-appropriate foods or textures.
- Speech sound production – Struggles with saying certain sounds clearly or is hard to understand compared to peers.
- Speech fluency – Repeats sounds, syllables, or words (stuttering), or has speech that feels tense or blocked.
- Expressive language skills – Has difficulty using words, phrases, or full sentences to communicate; may rely heavily on gestures or limited vocabulary.
- Receptive language skills – Finds it hard to understand what others say, follow directions, or answer simple questions.
- Cognitive-communication skills – Struggles with organizing thoughts, problem-solving, or regulating behavior during play or conversation.
If you notice ongoing challenges in one or more of these areas—especially if they persist past the typical age for that milestone—it may be time to consult with a speech-language pathologist or developmental specialist.
Want to learn more? Check out this resource: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/.
Each kid is unique in their development. However, how do you know when it’s time to get extra help in getting your child to the typical milestone for their age group?
At Strive, we have a developmental milestone list for you to keep to see if your child is on track.
One early sign that is usually a red-flag is a child that might be able to follow all of your commands but is having trouble verbalizing appropriate responses. Communication is a crucial part of being human, and early intervention supports the child’s development the best. Here is a list of areas to monitor:
- Feeding or swallowing – unable to safely eat or drink age-appropriate foods and liquids
- Articulating certain sounds
- With fluent speech – stuttering
- Using words, phrases, and sentences to communicate at an age appropriate level – needs help using words to communicate and/or turning words into phrases
- Understanding information such as directions or questions – needs help understanding words spoken to them
- Organizing information and regulating behavior
