It's pretty normal for little children to have trouble establishing proper speech patterns. In fact, when little ones can't say their Rs, it is even pretty cute. For example, what can be more adorable than a little boy or a little girl saying "wabbit" instead of the word "rabbit?" However, if you feel like your child's speech is not age-appropriate, it might be time to see a therapist. Those who work in this field of therapy are also called speech pathologists, speech therapists or language therapists.

Getting Referrals - If your child is already in school, the school counselor will be happy to give you names of therapists that work with children. In fact, there will more than likely be a therapist that comes right to the school for sessions. If your child is not in school yet, your family doctor or your child's pediatrician will be able to recommend speech therapists they have worked with in the past. 

The Right Person To Help Your Child - Of course, it's important for the therapist you select to have the proper licensing and training. In addition, for your child to truly cooperate with the therapists, the therapist needs to be kid-friendly. As you are meeting with different therapists, see how they interact with your child. Is your child having an enjoyable time with the therapist? Does the therapist get down to his or her level, even sitting on the floor to play games? Is the therapist taking the time to learn more about your child's interests? 

What To Expect - A thorough assessment will be the first step in knowing what your child needs. You will have to answer many questions regarding your child's medical history. For example, if your child had many ear infections, that will be important for the therapist to know. Your child will probably be given a hearing test. After all of the preliminaries have been covered, a therapy regimen will be established. Kid-friendly speech therapists build better speech through games and other fun activities. They use plenty of praise for a job well done and, when your child is still struggling, the therapist will be patient, repeating the necessary action until your child has mastered it. You will also be asked to work with your child at home.

It would be great for you to keep a journal where you record your child's progress. Unless your child objects, it would also be fun to record his or her speaking so he or she can see the progress that has been made. If your child is struggling with speech, contact a speech pathology center such as ABC Pediatric Therapy.