Rehab

Some parents jump to speech conclusions

Rehab Regs, June 17, 2004

The availability of free or low-cost speech therapy for preschoolers may prompt some parents to seek services for their children unnecessarily, according to the Saint Paul [MN] Pioneer Press. These services, available under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, are sometimes used for children with articulation difficulties or seemingly slow speech development that are well within the normal range for their age. It is not unusual for a four- or five-year-old child to mispronounce l, s, r, v, z, j, ch, sh, and th. Concern arises when these errors continue beyond the age of seven or eight, experts say.

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