This is one of my biggest pet peeves!! Would you go to a speech pathologist if you were concerned that your child had strep throat? NO WAY! So…why are parents encouraged to see a pediatrician if their child is having a speech, language or social difficulty?

 Pediatricians are an incredible resource for all things medical. However, we cannot expect our doctors to also be speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, or any other type of professional that they are not.  The worst advice my clients receive is to “wait” and see if their child improves until the next doctor checkup. The best advice is to seek out and consult with a speech language pathologist whenever a concern arises! Only a licensed SLP can tell you if your child is showing signs of a delay or disorder, or if your child is developing as expected in their speech, language and social skills. Early intervention is known to be the best indicator of future success! Be that advocate for your child!