Determining whether or not to make a speech and/or language referral for a child in the classroom can sometimes be a tricky call. Teachers often wonder if the behaviors they are seeing happen all the time or just in class and aren’t sure if a referral is needed.
If in doubt, we always advise teachers to err on the side of caution, and make the referral, so an evaluation can be completed by a specialist to determine if services are truly needed. However, here are some red flags that teachers can look for when considering whether or not to make a speech and/or language referral for a student:
Speech:
If the child has any sound in error that they should have already acquired developmentally. Please see the chart below for when sounds develop:
Language:
Difficulty answering age-appropriate questions.
Difficulty formulating age-appropriate sentences (sentence length should match child’s age) or using grammar.
Limited vocabulary for age.
Difficulty understanding language and following directions.
Uses words incorrectly.
Repeats parts of words, whole words or phrases
Difficulty remaining on topic
Of course these are just a few red flags that may constitute a speech and/or language referral.
If you have any questions about any other red flags or concerns, please give us a call at 404-606-3755 and we can further assist you in determining if a speech and/or language evaluation is needed.
