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Data-backed information about childhood speech disorders, treatment effectiveness, and developmental milestones.
How common are speech and language disorders?
U.S. children ages 3-17 had a voice, speech, or language disorder in the past year (7.2%)
Source: NIDCD
children ages 3-6 had a voice, speech, or language disorder in the past year (10.8%)
Source: NIDCD
of children ages 3-17 had a speech problem in the past year (2012 national survey)
Source: NCHS Data Brief 205 (2015)
of children stutter for some period, usually starting between ages 2 and 6; most outgrow it
Sources: NIDCD, NIDCD (2017)
About 1 in 14 children has a voice, speech, or language disorder, rising to about 1 in 10 at ages 3 to 6. Therapy for young children, especially with parents coached to help at home, improves language skills.
Sources: NIDCD, Roberts & Kaiser, AJSLP (2011)
What does research say about treatment effectiveness?
of late talkers catch up on their own by school age, so an evaluation helps tell which children need support
Source: ASHA
in young children's language when parents are coached to support it at home (meta-analysis of 18 studies)
Source: Roberts & Kaiser, AJSLP (2011)
for school-age children treated online or in person for speech sound disorders
Sources: Coufal et al., AJSLP (2018), Wales et al., Int J Telerehabil (2017)
reported by families in studies of online speech therapy for school-age children
When should children reach speech and language milestones?
| Age | Expected Milestone |
|---|---|
| 12 months | First words (mama, dada, ball) |
| 24 months | Starts putting two words together |
| 30 months | Says about 50 words |
| 3-4 years | Strangers understand about half of what they say |
| 5-7 years | Strangers understand about 90% of what they say |
| About 6-7 years | Says nearly all English sounds, including R, L, and TH |
Sources: CDC, Hustad et al., JSLHR (2021), Crowe & McLeod, AJSLP (2020)
These are general guidelines. If your child isn't meeting these milestones, consider a professional evaluation.
Clear definitions of common speech disorders
A condition where a child's speech development falls significantly behind typical milestones for their age. Children with speech delay may have fewer words, difficulty combining words, or trouble being understood.
A communication disorder affecting a child's ability to understand language (receptive) or express themselves (expressive). Unlike speech delay, language disorders typically don't resolve without intervention.
A speech sound disorder where a child has difficulty producing specific sounds correctly, such as substituting 'w' for 'r' (saying 'wabbit' instead of 'rabbit').
A motor speech disorder where the brain has difficulty coordinating the movements needed for speech. CAS requires specialized treatment approaches and typically longer-term therapy.
A fluency disorder characterized by interruptions in the flow of speech, including repetitions, prolongations, or blocks. Stuttering is a neurological condition, not caused by anxiety.
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age range of children we serve
If your child isn't meeting milestones, early evaluation is recommended. Our free screener takes just 5 minutes.
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