Dear Ruth,

I have a son that will soon be three years old, but he doesn’t speak very many "intelligible" words. My questions are: what is normal for this age group, and who do I talk to about my concerns? We live in a rural area with limited medical facilities and expertise.

C.G.

Dear C.G.,

You might be interested in Caroline Bowen’s wonderful web site. She is a speech/language pathologist and has a section about ages and stages of speech intelligibility. Check it out at http://members.tripod.com/Caroline_Bowen/home.html.

I would seek out a speech and language evaluation for your son. Start at the local public school. A three-year-old should be eligible for evaluation, and I urge you to get one. Beyond any general information you read, you need to have your concerns answered by a professional who is acquainted with your son.

Another source would be a local physician: ask for a referral to a speech/language pathologist. Also, you can call the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for the names of qualified clinicians in your area. Visit www.ASHA.org or phone the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071.

Best Wishes,
Ruth Alice Jurey, M.S., C.C.C.
Speech/Language Pathologist