By: Alexis Dewey
I remember growing up with my speech impediment, not being understood and not feeling heard. Sometimes, I even felt like no one was trying to understand me, and that it was their fault and not mine. This was frustrating because I did not fully understand my impediment as a child. All I knew was that I could understand myself, and I was left confused on why others couldn’t.
Thankfully, my parents caught on to my speech impediment quickly, and I began to receive the help that I needed. I might be in a very different place if I did not receive help so early on.
This timeline can help guardians better understand the rate at which a child’s speech should be developing. If you know these signs, you are more likely to notice when a child has a speech impediment. The quicker you realize, the faster the child can receive help. The more you understand and support your child through their impediment, the more heard and cared for they will feel.