SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Good Things Utah) – When parents notice their young child struggling to communicate, the most common response they hear from friends, family, and even some doctors is, “Don’t worry they’ll grow out of it.” But Kenna Meyer, M.S., CCC-SLP, founder of Davis County Speech & Language Center, says that well-meaning advice could actually cost children critical developmental time. Meyer has made it her mission to help local families understand the truth about speech and language delays, and to know what signs to watch for before those early windows of opportunity close.
Meyer says there are several key things parents can monitor right at home. One of the most important is intelligibility by age meaning, how clearly a child can be understood by others at a given stage of development. Parents should also pay attention to whether their child can follow simple directions appropriate for their age, and whether language is truly functioning the way it should in everyday life. If a child is consistently struggling in any of these areas, Meyer says it is worth taking action sooner rather than later. Early intervention in speech and language development has been shown to produce significantly better long-term outcomes, and waiting too long can make the road to improvement longer and more difficult.
Meyer also points out that summer is one of the best times for families to start or continue speech therapy. With school out of session, children often have more availability and less stress, making it easier to build consistent therapy habits and see real progress before the next school year begins. Whether a child is just starting their journey or already working toward communication goals, the summer months offer a valuable and often underutilized opportunity to get ahead…