1 in 12
- Chelsi Dalton
- May 9
- 2 min read
Updated: May 14
Did you know that about 1 in 12 children in the United States have a speech, language, or voice disorder? So basically, in almost every preschool classroom or playgroup, there's at least one child who may be struggling to communicate clearly—and they’re often bright, curious, and full of things to say.
As parents, it’s easy to assume all kids will “catch up" or "grow out of it," especially if they’ve been hitting other milestones. But communication disorders are actually more common than you'd think. Recognizing the signs of a communication disorder early on can make a world of difference.
So, What Is a Communication Disorder?
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) describes a communication disorder as "an impairment in the ability to receive, send, process, and comprehend concepts or verbal, nonverbal and graphic symbol systems." A communication disorder can affect a child’s ability to understand, talk, express needs, or use their voice clearly. These disorders come in many forms, including:
Speech disorders (which can include articulation disorders, fluency disorders, or voice disorders)
Language disorders (trouble understanding or using words)
Hearing disorders (including being deaf or hard of hearing)
Central auditory processing disorders (difficulty in processing auditory information)
Why does early detection matter?
Children with untreated communication disorders may experience frustration, behavior challenges, difficulty in social aspects of their lives, or trouble keeping up with their academic load. It's better to treat communication disorders as soon as possible.
The good news is that speech-language therapy helps! Therapy can help children better understand language, express themselves, and gain confidence in themselves.
What Can Parents Do?
Trust your parental instincts. If you feel like something's off, get it checked out. You know your child better than anyone.
Talk to your child’s pediatrician. They can refer you to a speech-language pathologist (SLP).
Don’t procrastinate. Even if your child is still little and hitting other milestones, it's always better to get things checked early on.
Remember: You are not alone
If your child is the 1 in 12, know that support is out there—and you’re not the only parent navigating this journey. Speech and language growth looks different for every child, and with the right help, amazing progress is possible. Even my little one is regressing a little in his language abilities. You've got this!
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