Parents with children up to the age of five years should be sure to take the time to make sure their youngsters are reaching important milestones when it comes to hearing and speech.
That's the message from Heather McEwan, a speech-language pathologist who works in Central Alberta, including at the Sundre Health Clinic.
“Babies learn to talk by listening to voices and sounds - and babies develop at different rates,” sad McEwan. “It is often hard to detect if your infant or toddler has a speech or language problem. Early detection is vital.
“If a speech or language problem goes unnoticed the child may face life-long difficulties. Even children under the age of two can be helpful with speech and language development.”
She said there are a number of ‘milestones for development' that parents should watch for:
• Up to three months - makes lots of noises such as coos and gurgles, reacts to loud noises or new sounds, soothed by calm gentle voice.
• Six months - watches you faces and made noises when you talk, coos and squeals for attention, cries differently when hungry.
• One year - Understands their own name and other common words when used with gestures such as ‘bye-bye', says sounds like ‘ba, ba, na, na, ma, ma', sings along, laughs or imitates others.
• Eighteen months - Understands simple questions like ‘where is your nose', makes gestures or asks for ‘more' or ‘again', babbles, sounding like sentences.
