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Speech and language problems may happen before your child starts school. Getting your child seen early is important. Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, can help.

On this page:

About Preschool Language Disorders

Children all learn language in the same way, but not always at the same time. Some children talk early and understand everything you say. Others do not talk much or have trouble listening. Children can have speech or language problems before they start school.

Your child is preschool age if they are 3 to 5 years old and has not yet started kindergarten. They may have problems following directions or understanding questions. They may have trouble learning new words or saying sentences. Your child can have problems with both. This is a language disorder.

Your child may also have trouble saying sounds clearly. This is a speech sound disorder.

Learn more about speech and language development from birth to 5 years old.

Speaking More Than One Language

Learning a second language does not cause language problems. Children all over the world learn to speak other languages. Speak to your child in the language that you know best. Your child will have problems in both languages if they have a language disorder.

Signs of Preschool Language Disorders

Some children have problems understanding, called receptive language. They may have trouble:

Understanding what people mean when they use gestures, like shrugging or nodding

Following directions

Answering questions

Pointing to objects and pictures

Knowing how to take turns when talking with others

Some children have problems talking, called expressive language. They may have trouble:

Asking questions

Naming objects

Using gestures

Putting words together into sentences

Learning songs and rhymes

Using correct pronouns, like "he" or "they"

Knowing how to start a conversation and keep it going

Changing how they talk to different people and in different places. For example, you speak differently to an adult than a young child. You can talk louder outside than inside.

Many children have problems with both understanding and talking.

Some children also have trouble with early reading and writing, such as:

Holding a book right side up

Looking at pictures in a book and turning pages

Telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end

Naming letters and numbers

Learning the alphabet

Causes of Preschool Language Disorders

You may not know for sure what caused your child's language problems. Some possible reasons are:

Other people in your family having language problems

Being born early

Low birth weight

Hearing loss

Autism

Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Stroke

Brain injury

Cerebral palsy

Poor nutrition

Failure to thrive

Testing for Preschool Language Disorders

Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, may work on a team to test your child. The team includes you, your child's preschool teacher, and others. The team can see if your child's language skills are at age level. The SLP will use some tests and also play with your child. The SLP wants to know:

Does your child know what to do with toys?

Does your child use pretend play?

For understanding and talking, the SLP will see if your child:

Follows directions

Names common objects and actions

Knows colors, numbers, and letters

Follows routines like putting their coat away or sitting during circle time

Sings songs or repeats nursery rhymes

Changes how they talk to different people and in different places

Is able to get what they need at home, during play, and at preschool

The SLP will see if your child's speech is easy to understand. The SLP will look at how your child uses their lips, tongue, and teeth to make sounds. The SLP will have your child imitate sounds or words.

For early reading and writing, the SLP will see if your child:

Looks at and talks about pictures in books

Knows common signs and logos, like fast food places or stores

Holds a book the right way and turns the pages

Knows what their name looks like and tries to write it

Tries to write letters and numbers

Treatment for Preschool Language Disorders

The SLP will work with your child to improve their understanding and talking. The SLP can also help your child get ready to read and write. Good language skills help your child learn, behave, make friends, and feel better about themself.

The SLP will work with you to set goals for your child. Here are some possible treatment goals:

Increase your child's understanding

Improve how your child uses words to tell others what they think

Teach you, your family, and teachers how to talk with your child

Help your child use other ways to communicate when needed. This may include simple gestures, picture boards, or computers that say words out loud. This is augmentative or alternative communication, or AAC.

Learn early reading and writing skills

Your child may work with the SLP alone or in small groups. The SLP may go into your child's preschool to work with the teacher. The SLP can also help you learn more about what you can do at home to help your child.

Tips for Helping Your Child

Here are some ways you can help your child:

Talk a lot to your child. This will help your child learn new words.

Read to your child every day. Point out words you see.

Point to signs in the grocery store, at school, and outside.

Speak to your child in the language you know best.

Listen and answer when your child talks.

Get your child to ask you questions.

Give your child time to answer questions.

Set time limits for watching TV and using computers. Use the time for talking and reading together.

Here are more activities for building your child's speech and language skills.

See ASHA information for professionals on the Practice Portal's Spoken Language Disorders page.

To find a speech-language pathologist near you, visit ProFind.

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Speech and language problems may happen before your child starts school. Getting your child seen early is important. Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, can help. On this page: Children all learn language in the same way, but not always at the same time. Some children talk early and understand everything you say.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Speech and language problems may happen before your child starts school. Getting your child seen early is important. Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, can help.

On this page:

About Preschool Language Disorders

Children all learn language in the same way, but not always at the same time. Some children talk early and understand everything you say. Others do not talk much or have trouble listening. Children can have speech or language problems before they start school.

Your child is preschool age if they are 3 to 5 years old and has not yet started kindergarten. They may have problems following directions or understanding questions. They may have trouble learning new words or saying sentences. Your child can have problems with both. This is a language disorder.

Your child may also have trouble saying sounds clearly. This is a speech sound disorder.

Learn more about speech and language development from birth to 5 years old.

Speaking More Than One Language

Learning a second language does not cause language problems. Children all over the world learn to speak other languages. Speak to your child in the language that you know best. Your child will have problems in both languages if they have a language disorder.

Signs of Preschool Language Disorders

Some children have problems understanding, called receptive language. They may have trouble:

Understanding what people mean when they use gestures, like shrugging or nodding

Following directions

Answering questions

Pointing to objects and pictures

Knowing how to take turns when talking with others

Some children have problems talking, called expressive language. They may have trouble:

Asking questions

Naming objects

Using gestures

Putting words together into sentences

Learning songs and rhymes

Using correct pronouns, like "he" or "they"

Knowing how to start a conversation and keep it going

Changing how they talk to different people and in different places. For example, you speak differently to an adult than a young child. You can talk louder outside than inside.

Many children have problems with both understanding and talking.

Some children also have trouble with early reading and writing, such as:

Holding a book right side up

Looking at pictures in a book and turning pages

Telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end

Naming letters and numbers

Learning the alphabet

Causes of Preschool Language Disorders

You may not know for sure what caused your child's language problems. Some possible reasons are:

Other people in your family having language problems

Being born early

Low birth weight

Hearing loss

Autism

Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Stroke

Brain injury

Cerebral palsy

Poor nutrition

Failure to thrive

Testing for Preschool Language Disorders

Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, may work on a team to test your child. The team includes you, your child's preschool teacher, and others. The team can see if your child's language skills are at age level. The SLP will use some tests and also play with your child. The SLP wants to know:

Does your child know what to do with toys?

Does your child use pretend play?

For understanding and talking, the SLP will see if your child:

Follows directions

Names common objects and actions

Knows colors, numbers, and letters

Follows routines like putting their coat away or sitting during circle time

Sings songs or repeats nursery rhymes

Changes how they talk to different people and in different places

Is able to get what they need at home, during play, and at preschool

The SLP will see if your child's speech is easy to understand. The SLP will look at how your child uses their lips, tongue, and teeth to make sounds. The SLP will have your child imitate sounds or words.

For early reading and writing, the SLP will see if your child:

Looks at and talks about pictures in books

Knows common signs and logos, like fast food places or stores

Holds a book the right way and turns the pages

Knows what their name looks like and tries to write it

Tries to write letters and numbers

Treatment for Preschool Language Disorders

The SLP will work with your child to improve their understanding and talking. The SLP can also help your child get ready to read and write. Good language skills help your child learn, behave, make friends, and feel better about themself.

The SLP will work with you to set goals for your child. Here are some possible treatment goals:

Increase your child's understanding

Improve how your child uses words to tell others what they think

Teach you, your family, and teachers how to talk with your child

Help your child use other ways to communicate when needed. This may include simple gestures, picture boards, or computers that say words out loud. This is augmentative or alternative communication, or AAC.

Learn early reading and writing skills

Your child may work with the SLP alone or in small groups. The SLP may go into your child's preschool to work with the teacher. The SLP can also help you learn more about what you can do at home to help your child.

Tips for Helping Your Child

Here are some ways you can help your child:

Talk a lot to your child. This will help your child learn new words.

Read to your child every day. Point out words you see.

Point to signs in the grocery store, at school, and outside.

Speak to your child in the language you know best.

Listen and answer when your child talks.

Get your child to ask you questions.

Give your child time to answer questions.

Set time limits for watching TV and using computers. Use the time for talking and reading together.

Here are more activities for building your child's speech and language skills.

See ASHA information for professionals on the Practice Portal's Spoken Language Disorders page.

To find a speech-language pathologist near you, visit ProFind.

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Speech and language problems may happen before your child starts school. Getting your child seen early is important. Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, can help. On this page: Children all learn language in the same way, but not always at the same time. Some children talk early and understand everything you say.

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Here are some tips to help families support their child's speech and language development:

Talk about what you're doing, what your child is doing, and what your child sees. Use longer sentences as your child grows older.

Communicate with your child in the languages that you are most comfortable using.

Use a lot of different words with your child. Don't worry about using big words. Children enjoy new and unusual words.

Listen and respond to your child.

Help your child listen. Give directions for your child to follow.

Have your child's hearing tested if you find yourself repeating a lot or using a loud voice.

Tell stories to your child a lot. Read to your child as much as you can.

Ask questions and talk about what happened in the story. Read to your child in the languages they are learning.

Don't interrupt your child to correct their speech sounds. It's okay if your child makes some mistakes with sounds. Say the sounds correctly when you talk.

Ask questions that need more than a yes or no answer. Encourage your child to ask you questions.

Set limits for screen time. Use that time for talking, reading, and playing together.

Don't wait to get help if you're concerned. You know your child best. Getting help early can stop later problems with behavior, learning, reading, and social relationships.

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ASHA's communication milestones are designed to help you know what to expect as your child grows and develops and to know when to seek the guidance of an audiologist or speech language pathologist.

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Early Childhood Speech and Language Best Practices

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Join Linsey Sandrew, veteran speech pathologist and CalECSE Exemplar Lead of Assessment Practices, for a no-cost, virtual training designed specifically for speech pathologists just beginning to work with the zero to five population.

What Will Be Covered:
• Speech and language developmental milestones
• Recommended assessment tools and measures
• Strategies for assessing pragmatic language skills
• Play-based assessment techniques
• Tips for taking accurate language samples
• Insights into assessing gestalt language learners
• Navigating eligibility determinations under Education Code

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Early Childhood Speech and Language Best Practices

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Join Linsey Sandrew, veteran speech pathologist and CalECSE Exemplar Lead of Assessment Practices, for a no-cost, virtual training designed specifically for speech pathologists just beginning to work with the zero to five population.

What Will Be Covered:
• Speech and language developmental milestones
• Recommended assessment tools and measures
• Strategies for assessing pragmatic language skills
• Play-based assessment techniques
• Tips for taking accurate language samples
• Insights into assessing gestalt language learners
• Navigating eligibility determinations under Education Code

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Early Childhood Speech and Language Best Practices

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Join Linsey Sandrew, veteran speech pathologist and CalECSE Exemplar Lead of Assessment Practices, for a no-cost, virtual training designed specifically for speech pathologists just beginning to work with the zero to five population.

What Will Be Covered:
• Speech and language developmental milestones
• Recommended assessment tools and measures
• Strategies for assessing pragmatic language skills
• Play-based assessment techniques
• Tips for taking accurate language samples
• Insights into assessing gestalt language learners
• Navigating eligibility determinations under Education Code

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Assessment Practices: Assessment Practices for Dual Language Learners

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This session covers the essential components for conducting comprehensive, legally defensible initial early childhood assessments for English Language Learners. When a student is multilingual, it is required that assessors determine if a student has a true disability versus a language difference. CalECSE has partnered with the Multilingual Students with Exceptional Needs (MUSE) to provide this training on how to administer cross-cultural non-discriminatory assessments,
including using a variety of methods to collect data and the hierarchy of options when assessments in a child’s primary
language are not available.