I wouldn’t panic, but I would ask my pediatrician for a referral to a licensed speech-language pathologist. An SLP is uniquely educated, trained, and qualified to evaluate, diagnose, and provide therapy for communication delays and difficulties.
SLPs take distinctive graduate coursework unique to their scope of practice, in areas including: Voice Disorders, Stuttering, Motor Speech Disorders, Neurogenic Communication Disorders, Dysphagia, Language Acquisition, Articulation Disorders, Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Articulation and Phonological Disorders, Dysphagia in Public Schools, Dysphagia in Infancy, Medical terminology and scope of practice of the medical SLP, Dementia, Pulmonary Issues, and Tracheostomy and Ventilators, Pediatric Feeding, Speech Science: Anatomy, physiology and functional organization of speech. Mechanisms of normal speech production and perception with applications to the clinical setting.
It’s important for parents to understand the difference between a licensed speech-language pathologist and other therapists who may claim to provide speech and language therapy in conjunction with ABA therapy.
Neither BCBAs (ABA therapists), nor the unskilled, unlicensed RBTs under their supervision are uniquely trained in communication disorders, language acquisition or AAC, similarly to SLPs.
In fact, if an untrained therapist is providing therapy that is actually within the scope of practice of the SLP, they could possible cause significant emotional and physical harm to your child because they don’t have the educational background and training to determine whether your child’s speech delay may be related to a motor issue like apraxia, or if your child has other accompanying anatomy and physiology issues that are contributing to delayed speech production.
In the U.S., your local public school will also conduct speech and language evaluations for free to children exhibiting language delays, starting at age 36 months.
If your child is language delayed, or if they are nonspeakers altogether, it’s always important to honor and respond to the communication they are exhibiting (pointing, grabbing for items, producing the word incorrectly, or saying another word altogether).
Ignoring their communication attempts or demanding that they communicate in a certain manner could cause trauma, frustration, and even long-lasting emotional harm. Presume competence, respond, and model the language. And remember, AAC is always recommended to supplement communication delays. There are no learner prerequisites to AAC.