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Free Speech Screenings For Children
A $125 Value, Available in May Only
By Isa Marrs, MA CCC-SLP
Imagine the frustration of not being able to communicate effectively. Communication is at the core of who we are and how we experience life, and thus speech and language disorders can be devastating to a developing child both academically and socially.
 The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that 10 percent of children entering the first grade have moderate to severe speech disorders. And unfortunately many of their parents have been told, "wait and see" or "he'll grow out of it" by well-meaning friends, family and health professionals. While some children do grow out of it, many don't. And studies show that speech/language disorders are warning signs for other problems such as learning disabilities. They're also more difficult and costly to treat the older a child is.
How do you know if you should be concerned?
As parents we typically know what our child is trying to say even when others don't. However, if your child is three or older, he should be understood by most listeners. In other words people who rarely see your child should be able to understand him.
Another warning sign is frequent temper tantrums. They are often related to a child's difficulty expressing his thoughts, wants and needs.
 There are many other warning signs, but I don't have the room to cover them here. And I don't want you to get caught in the "wait and see" trap because you don't know where to go or who to consult. So, if you have any concerns about your child's speech/language development, I will gladly offer you a 100% free screening during the month of May.
During your free screening you will have thirty minutes to discuss your concerns and ask me any questions you want. This screening does not obligate you to anything. You can even use it for a second opinion.
I only do this once a year in honor of Better Speech and Hearing Month. And I don't have the ability to see everyone who will request a screening. But I have set aside time for three essentialmom.com readers to take advantage of this opportunity. You can reserve a screening for your child now by calling (914) 488-5282.
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