Take Action Now

If your child demonstrates one or more of the warning signs of language delay, it’s important that you act right away. 

Here are two ways you can get started:

    1. Consult a speech-language professional

Getting an appointment with a speech-language pathologist is the first step in providing him with the help he needs. In most places you don't require a doctor's referral. You can contact a local speech-language professional directly.

You may wish to contact a Hanen Certified speech-language pathologist (SLP). These SLPs have received specialized training from The Hanen Centre and use the Hanen approach in their clinical work with children and their families. Many of them also offer Hanen Programs to groups of parents who learn how to use everyday activities to help their child communicate.

Click here to find a Hanen SLP in your area.

    2. Give yourself the tools to start helping your child now

You may encounter long waiting lists for speech therapy services, and this can be frustrating when you’re anxious to help your child.

The good news is that there’s so much you can do to give your child’s therapy a huge head start.  Hanen’s research-based programs and book and DVD resources are grounded in the belief that parents can and should be their child’s most important language teachers. Designed specifically for parents of children from birth to five years of age, these programs and resources can show you how to make the most of every interaction with your child to build his or her language skills naturally throughout the day.

Click here for more information on how Hanen helps parents.

 

Go back to the main What Parents Need to Know page.