Hablemos.Parlons.Parunasim

Sarah Warburton

In 2011 Fort Bend was ranked the fourth most racially-diverse county in the United States by USA Today. If you’re one of the hundreds of bilingual families here, you may have some questions for Jason and Dana Johnson, owners of Speech Therapy Unlimited. Dana says, “October is “Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month” and we talk to plenty of parents who aren’t sure how they’ll know if their bilingual children have speech or language issues. We hear plenty of myths and misinformation….but we’re here to give you answers and all the help you need!”

What’s the number one question Dana and Jason hear? Is my bilingual child more likely to develop a speech disorder? “Nope,” says Jason. “According to the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), bilingual children should generally hit language milestones at a rate that is on target for their age level. They may switch back and forth between languages in the same sentence or use the grammar of one language when speaking in another, but that’s normal. The most important thing for parents and other adults to do is to model correct speech in whichever language you are speaking with your child.”

How do you know if your bilingual child does have a speech problem? Dana says, “If your child does not reach language milestones, that’s a good time for an evaluation. Some children raised bilingual do take a little longer to start talking, but it’s not a general rule. Two and three-year-old children who have a very limited vocabulary in either language and don’t combine words into phrases and sentences should also be evaluated. If a child cannot be understood at school, then come in for an evaluation.”

Raising a bilingual child is a family effort. Dana says, “We also offer accent modification for adults. Jason and I have assembled an outstanding team of speech therapists, so we can find the perfect fit for you and your family. If you have any concerns or need any help…come and speak to us!”

Speech Therapy Unlimited, PLLC – most major insurance accepted

No Headaches, No Unreasonable Terms, Just Great Speech Therapists!

281-746-3053

12808 West Airport Blvd. Ste 332

Sugar Land, TX 77498

www.speechtherapyunlimited.com