• Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Youtube
  • News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • For Employees
  • Patient Portal
JC Health and Life
  • Care & Services
    • Family Medicine
    • Programs
    • Emergency Care
    • Fitness Classes
    • Laboratory
    • Patient Resources
    • Radiology
    • Specialty Care
    • Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
    • Surgery
    • Women’s Health
  • Locations
    • Health Center
    • Burkley Fitness Center
    • Fairbury Clinic
    • Gardenside
    • Home Health
    • Outpatient Services
    • Cedarwood Assisted Living
  • Providers
    • Physicians/Specialists
    • Health Coaches
    • Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapists
    • Additional Providers
  • I Want To…
    • Find a Job
    • Make a Donation
    • Pay My Bill
    • Refer a Patient
    • Request Copies of My Medical Records
    • Schedule an Appointment
    • Sign Up for a Class
    • View Surprise Billing/Good Faith Estimate information
    • View Baby Gallery
  • COVID
  • News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • For Employees
  • Patient Portal
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
Amanda Carlson, M.S., CCC-SLP

JCH&L Speech Therapist Stresses Early Intervention During Better Hearing & Speech Month

May 17, 2021/by Lana Likens

Families Should Seek Help Immediately If a Child Shows Signs of a Speech or Language Delay or Disorder

With speech and language disorders among the most common conditions that young children experience, Jefferson Community Health & Life speech-language pathologist Amanda Carlson, M.S. CCC-SLP, is encouraging parents and caregivers to learn the signs of communication disorders—and seek an evaluation now if they have any concerns. The message is a timely one, as May is national Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM).

“Many parents have questions about their child’s speech, language, or social communication skills but are often told by family, friends, or even other professionals to wait and see if their child outgrows a potential problem,” said Carlson, who provides services at JCH&L Sports Medicine and Rehab Services. “Unfortunately, this often results in a delayed diagnosis of a disorder that is highly treatable—particularly when caught early.”

The COVID pandemic has made it even more important to seek care.

“It’s especially important to be vigilant now,” Carlson said. “Some children who traditionally would have been recommended for speech and language services by a daycare provider or pediatrician may have been missed due the pandemic—since many kids remained at home, with more limited interaction with these professionals. Families should know that early intervention services are still available at this time, even if they have been modified due to the pandemic, through JCH&L Sports Medicine and Rehab Services. Now is the time to act on any concern.”

Here are some signs of a speech or language disorder in a young child (age 3 and under):

  • Does not smile or interact with others (birth and older)
  • Does not babble (4–7 months)
  • Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7–12 months)
  • Does not understand what others say (7 months – 2 years)
  • Says only a few words (12–18 months)
  • Says words that are not easily understood by others (18 months – 2 years)
  • Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5–3 years)
  • Produces speech that is unclear, even to familiar people (2–3 years)

Here are some of the key benefits of early treatment:

  • Maximizes a child’s success. Treatment at any age is worthwhile, but earlier is usually most effective. Early treatment can reduce the need for school-based services later.
  • Saves time and money. It can take less time to treat a communication delay or disorder when families act on the early warning signs. Fewer treatment sessions can also mean fewer out-of-pocket expenses. Many early intervention programs offer free or low-cost services to children ages birth to 3 years and their families. They also can link you to other community supports.
  • Prepares a child for kindergarten. What happens between birth and age 3 lays the foundation for kindergarten readiness. Strong speech, language, cognitive, and social skills are necessary for reading, writing, and academic success—as well as all the other demands of school.
  • Sets a child on a course to school, social, and life success. All families want what’s best for their children. Acting early can have positive, long-lasting effects on your child’s communication, social relationships, learning, and daily life activities well into adulthood.

Learn more about the benefits of early identification and treatment at www.IdentifytheSigns.org. An order for speech therapy services prescribed by physician is required for completion of evaluation.

For more information, call JCH&L Sports Medicine and Rehab Services at 402-729-6840.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://www.jchealthandlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Amanda-Carlson-e1536155503894.jpg 400 495 Lana Likens https://www.jchealthandlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/JCHL_Logo_header_340x156.png Lana Likens2021-05-17 12:56:472021-05-17 13:30:24JCH&L Speech Therapist Stresses Early Intervention During Better Hearing & Speech Month

Recent Posts

  • JCH&L Billing Process Changes May 20, 2025
  • JCH&L Auxiliary Salad Festival Successful May 9, 2025
  • Wolff Now JCH&L Gardenside Administrator May 6, 2025
  • Caregivers Support Group to Meet May 8 April 16, 2025
  • Nebraska Community Bloodbank Visits April 7 April 3, 2025

Archive

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017

2200 H St., PO Box 277, Fairbury, NE

© Copyright 2022 - Jefferson Community Health & Life
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Youtube
  • Price Transparency
  • Website Terms & Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Link to: JCH&L Women’s Health Day Scheduled for June 2 Link to: JCH&L Women’s Health Day Scheduled for June 2 JCH&L Women’s Health Day Scheduled for June 2 Link to: Kline Named to ACHE Editorial Board Link to: Kline Named to ACHE Editorial Board Kline Named to ACHE Editorial Board
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top