Of the four child-development checks, the most crucial one for speech and language issues is probably the one scheduled for between 18 and 24 months. Although all the checks are important, the one coming up to two years of age is when concerning delays in speech and language are most likely to be flagged. However, she stresses that parents should view milestones as “windows of development” as opposed to strict age cut-offs because all children develop at slightly different paces. In normal times, public health nurses are responsible for more than half of child referrals to speech and language therapists (SLTs). “Don’t listen to people who say they will ‘grow out of it’ if you have particular concerns,” she adds.

Source: The Irish Times March 24, 2021 06:00 UTC