When Should I Start Speech Therapy?
If you’re wondering when to start speech therapy for your child, your loved one, or yourself, you’re not alone. Many parents and adults have questions about timing: How early is too early? When is the right time to seek additional support? Is this something that could resolve on its own? At Resonate Therapy, our Colorado Springs speech therapists are here to help you navigate those questions with clarity and confidence.
Every child develops at their own pace. While some children begin speaking early, others may take a bit longer to find their words. Knowing when to seek support can make a world of difference in how smoothly communication skills develop, and how confident your child feels expressing themselves.
At Resonate Music Therapy, we understand that loved ones, parents, and guardians want their children to be happy, fulfilled people who can clearly communicate wants, protests, thoughts, ideas, advocate for themselves, and generally share their internal world with others! If you have concerns about any aspect of your loved one’s speech, language, or communication development, talk to your doctor and/or a local speech therapist.
Can You Start Speech Therapy Too Early?
One of the most common questions we hear from parents is: “Can my child start speech therapy too early?” This can often accompany questions of “Will they catch up with their peers?” or “Is my child’s speech intelligibility on track? They seem harder to understand than their peers”.
It is never too early! Our therapists can work with very young children—and their parents—to build the foundations of speech before words even begin! The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends that “Children with developmental language delay (i.e., late talkers) should receive child-centered, early intervention targeting vocabulary and syntax beginning at 2 years old”. However, you can always discuss developmental concerns with your child’s pediatrician, and it’s never to early to consider a formal speech therapy evaluation to determine if your child is on track.
Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information about communication developmental milestones. It's important to note that autistic and neurodivergent children in particular may develop skills at different rates or in different orders than what is expected (what loved ones may be looking for, or what might be expected from research-based norms on the general population). The information presented here should not be used as a diagnostic tool, and we all bloom in our own time! Sometimes, we do need a bit of help to bloom as much as we’re capable of. We recommend a formal speech therapy evaluation if you have any concerns at all, since this is ultimately what will determine if support would benefit your child.
Click here to learn about speech milestones for children.
If your child does start speech therapy at a young age, therapy will often focus on:
Sound awareness and imitation – Encouraging your child to listen to and copy sounds around them that form words
Building receptive vocabulary – Helping your child understand new words and directions
Increasing expressive language - Helping your child express their wants, needs, feelings, and thoughts (in a variety of ways, not just verbal speech)
Play-based interaction – Building engagement, attention, and play skills
Parent coaching – Teaching families strategies to encourage communication at home and beyond the therapy setting
By introducing these skills early, your child develops comfort and familiarity with communication before words naturally start to flow. It’s less about “starting too soon” and more about supporting speech readiness in a fun, low-pressure way.
On average, a child who would benefit from speech therapy should begin between 18 months and three years.
Why Children Often Start Speech Therapy
While every child’s journey is different, there are a few key points when families commonly begin speech therapy. If you’ve gotten any of these updates from a pediatrician, caregiver, or your child themself, you might consider speech therapy.
1. Continued Mispronunciations or Difficulty Communicating
Many toddlers make speech errors—like saying “wabbit” instead of “rabbit”—but as children reach preschool or early elementary school age, these mispronunciations should naturally fade. If they don’t, or if your child’s speech is difficult for you/others to understand, it’s time for an evaluation. The same applies to children who struggle to express themselves in sentences. Early support can help them build skills, increase confidence and reduce frustration.
2. After a Diagnosis
If your child has received a diagnosis such as Autism, Down syndrome, or developmental delay, speech therapy is often a recommended part of their care plan. Our SLPs at Resonate Therapy are trained to work with children with a range of diagnoses and needs, creating a person-centered treatment plan that promotes total communication.
At Resonate Music Therapy, we see and affirm unique neurotypes. Our neuroaffirmative approach means that you are welcome to be your authentic self in therapy—let’s happy stim! Let’s communicate holistically, without withholding or sabotaging. Instead of expecting you or your child to fit into neurotypical patterns (which extensive research shows causes increased emotional distress, burnout, and other adverse mental health effects), we shape our interventions to support your strengths, allocating valuable mental resources to advocacy, coping tools, and living authentically, rather than masking/conforming.
We believe in creating a safe space for you to unmask and freely express yourself. Our role is to partner with you, listen deeply, and value your self-advocacy and self-acceptance. Therapy with us is collaborative and client-led.
3. When Self-Esteem Is Affected
Speech challenges can impact more than communication—they can affect how a child feels about themselves. If your child avoids talking, shows embarrassment, or withdraws in social settings, it may be time for supportive speech therapy. Building clarity and confidence in speech often leads to greater self-esteem and social connection.
4. Upon Teacher or Pediatrician Recommendation
Educators and pediatricians often spot early communication concerns during screenings or classroom activities. Speech and language not only impacts how a child communicates, but can also impact their academic learning. If a teacher or doctor suggests an evaluation, it’s a good idea to schedule one. Early detection allows for faster progress and mitigates long-term frustration.
4 Benefits of Starting Speech Therapy Early
The earlier a child begins speech therapy, the more they benefit. Early intervention takes advantage of the brain’s incredible adaptability during childhood—a time when learning and forming new connections happens rapidly.
Faster Skill Development
Children’s speech and language centers develop quickly in the first few years of life. When therapy begins early, children can overcome articulation or language challenges before they affect reading, writing, or classroom learning.
Improved Academic Success
Clear communication helps children participate more fully in school. They can ask questions, share ideas, and engage socially—all of which build confidence and contribute to academic growth.
Better Emotional Regulation
Children who can express themselves are less likely to experience frustration, tantrums, or social withdrawal. Speech therapy supports emotional understanding and helps kids articulate how they feel in healthy, productive ways.
Reduced Long-Term Impact
Without early intervention, minor speech issues can persist and become harder to correct later in life. By starting early, you give your child the best chance at developing natural, effortless speech patterns that last into adulthood.
It’s Never Too Late for Speech Therapy
Do you feel you’ve missed the window for starting speech therapy? You truly haven’t. We work with all ages at Resonate, and can see individuals for rehabilitative and habilitative services of all kinds, whether the individual has always had communication needs or whether those challenges have been brought on by a stroke, other brain injury, vocal disorder, or other diagnosis.
Remember that it’s never too late to start speech therapy. Many teenagers and adults experience breakthroughs in therapy—even after living with speech challenges for years.
Adults may seek therapy for a variety of reasons, such as:
Lifelong speech impediments (like lisps or stuttering)
Voice strain or vocal fatigue from professional use
Communication challenges after stroke, brain injury, or neurological conditions
Accent modification or improvement in public speaking clarity
Speech therapy for adults often focuses on retraining the muscles and neural pathways involved in communication, using tailored exercises and techniques that align with your goals. It can improve not only your ability to speak clearly but also your confidence in work, relationships, and everyday life.
When Should You Schedule an Evaluation?
If you’ve noticed communication challenges—whether in your child or yourself—the best first step is to schedule an evaluation. Our speech-language pathologists at Resonate Therapy in Colorado Springs will take the time to understand your concerns, assess current abilities, and identify the right plan for progress.
During your evaluation, you can expect:
A relaxed, supportive environment designed to put children and adults at ease
Relxaed play-based or conversational assessments depending on age
A review of speech sounds, vocabulary, comprehension, and communication goals
Clear guidance on next steps and how therapy could help
Even if you’re unsure whether therapy is needed, an evaluation can provide peace of mind—and, if needed, an early start to meaningful progress.
Schedule an evaluation with one of our licensed Speech-Language Pathologists at Resonate Therapy in Colorado Springs today and discover how early, personalized support can make all the difference.