Signs of a communication disorder

 

 

Because communication begins to develop at birth, one can watch for and be aware of warning signs at any age. The signs vary with the age of the child, but may include: 

 

• feeding difficulties;
• disinterest in communication or interaction;
• slow or atypical acquisition of words and/or sounds;
• unusual word combinations or sentence patterns;
• inability to follow directions, answer questions appropriately, or understand what others are saying to him/her;
• difficulty in being understood by others;
• frequent sound, syllable, or word repetitions (fluency or stuttering);
• exhibiting frustration in attempts to communicate, or frustration of those with whom he/she is attempting to communicate;
• difficulties in school;
• difficulties in social situations, or in getting along with others.

Steps to take:

1. Contact a Center such as ours, or another SLP in your area, and/or,
2. Talk to your primary care physician (PCP), or
3. Contact your local school district.