Esperanza Speech and Occupational Therapy Centre | Dubai, UAE
Living as a parent, you will always wish your child to be the best, especially in his or her growth. Are there signs of developmental delay in your child’s speaking ability, you may be wondering whether speech therapy might be beneficial. Don’t worry; even today, many parents struggle to find proper answers or even ask themselves similar questions.
If your child has a speech disorder such as cleft palate or childhood apraxia of speech, or even if you just notice your child’s speech development is slower than other children of the same age, help can be as close as calling your pediatrician.
At Esperanza Speech and Occupational Therapy Centre, located in Dubai, UAE, we specialize in helping children of all ages overcome speech and communication challenges. Here we examine when and why it’s appropriate to commence with speech therapy based on the science, research, and observations in the field for over twenty-five years.
Why Are Speech Development Milestones Crucial?
Communication and language achievements are patterns that would help you know how your child is growing in terms of communication. These developmental milestones are things like learning to babble by six months or making their first attempts to say words by 12 months of age to give us an idea of how the kid is learning to interact and communicate.
Research consistently shows that delays in reaching these milestones can sometimes indicate underlying challenges, including:
- Hearing loss
- Speech sound disorders
- Language delays
- Developmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
In addition to this, a study in the journal Pediatrics supports this call for early identification of speech and language delays because it has identified a close relationship between early intervention and later academic and social success. This only goes to show how important it is to watch out for these early signs and to consult professionals whenever possible.
What Are the Early Warning Signs?
Of course, it should be understood that all children have their rates of working and development. However, there are specific signs that could indicate the need for a speech therapist:
- Limited babbling or cooing by 6–9 months
- Not responding to their name by 12 months
- Difficulty imitating sounds or gestures
- Fewer than 10 words by 18 months
- Struggles to combine words into simple sentences by age two
If in this case, you observe any of these signs, a speech therapist will offer you clarification and assistance.
The Science Behind Early Intervention:
The fundamentals of brain development state that during the first years of life, the human brain is capable of significant changes—a process called neuroplasticity. This implies that young children have optimum plasticity, which creates high potentiality for the absorption of new learning experiences.
A study done in Developmental Science shows that children who start speech therapy before the age of three have faster recovery and reap long-term benefits compared to children who start speech therapy late. Early intervention builds on this important phase to ensure that children set the initial working methods for communication.
On the other hand, waiting for a long time before seeking therapy means that those communication barriers become more entrenched. If we deal with these problems early on then, we are able to avoid secondary problems such as frustration, behavioral problems, or even socialization problems.
When should Speech Therapy start?
You might be shocked to find out that children can begin receiving speech therapy as soon as they are six months old. The majority of speech problems manifest themselves at the age of 18 months to 2 years, however, early diagnosis can foresee minor impairments to communication even when the child is not speaking.
For instance, speech therapists may assess your child’s hand movements, his or her eye contact, or noises they make. If therapy targets these early behaviors, therapy creates a good foundation for speech development to begin.
Why Parents Often Hesitate and Why Early Action Matters:
Most people feel a certain degree of anxiety about beginning therapy. Some of the parents have issues with labeling their child too soon or they are concerned that the child will be upset with them by doing therapy. Some people ask themselves if their child just ‘needs time to grow into it’ and he’ll eventually make progress.
Although, each child is a special one, waiting long may have repercussions for many young ladies. Research efforts have also established that early speech and language difficulties especially when left unaddressed result in later learning problems, low self-esteem, and poor peer relationships.
The good news is that early intervention can do more than work with the delays that are currently in place; it can also help to keep future difficulties in check. All the sessions are play and age-appropriate and to achieve the purpose of the practice, individual attention is given to your child, and nobody feels embarrassed.
How Does Speech Therapy Work for Young Children?
Special speech therapy for very young children might not look like standard speech therapy at all. Instead of focusing on how your child articulates words, therapists assess broader communication skills, such as:
- How they respond to your voice
- Their ability to make eye contact
- The gestures and sounds they use to express themselves
Through play-based activities and parent-guided strategies, therapy helps children build the skills they need to communicate effectively.
What Does the Research Say About Early Speech Therapy?
Numerous studies demonstrate the advantages of early treatment initiation. As an example:
According to research published in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, children who started therapy before the age of three had a twofold higher chance of speaking in kindergarten.
According to research by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), early treatment enhances social and cognitive development in addition to speech results.
How Esperanza Can Help
Esperanza Speech and Occupational Therapy Centre acknowledges just how daunting it can be as parents to find your way around your child’s speech and language development. Our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way, offering:
- Free 60 minutes consultation
- Comprehensive assessments tailored to your child’s needs
- Evidence-based therapy approaches, including play-based and parent-coaching strategies
- A warm, child-friendly environment that fosters growth and confidence
Don’t Wait—Take the First Step:
If you are concerned about your child’s speech improvement, do not wait to are seeking for help. Early intervention is a powerful tool that could set your toddler in the direction of a hit verbal exchange.
Contact us today at +971 55 524 1094 or visit our website at https://esperanzaelc.com to schedule an assessment.
