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Diagnosis and Evaluation of Children Who Are Not Talking

“My child is not talking” is a concern voiced by many parents and families. Possible etiologies for developmental language disorders and articulation disorders are many: mental retardation, craniofacial disorders, cerebral palsy, autism, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss. Sometimes there will be a single etiology; however, most times there are multiple etiologies, mild in nature, that come together to produce speech and language delay. As health care providers, therapists, and educators it is essential that we assist the child's family in finding answers to their questions. We are wise to seek the advice of an interdisciplinary team of professionals to determine whether the child's communication abilities are developing normally or whether professional intervention is needed. It has been well documented that early diagnosis and treatment for speech and language problems greatly improve the child's overall prognosis, and can often prevent the development of additional disorders in the areas of behavior, learning, reading, and social development.