My son receives therapy at school through child find. They have different tests that the child receives and the results of the test as well as your location will tell what school your child goes to. Early steps is from birth to three and once they turn three they start school to prepare them for prek and kindergarten. My son is 3 and will be 4 in October. Every state has an early intervention program that can help to identify and evaluate specific disabilities or problems in children and start a plan or an IEP (individualized education plan) specific to his needs. They run different tests to determine what your child's needs are. The best part about it is they completely involve the parents in every step in the process and the parent is able to address their needs based on what they believe is best for their child and what they want their child to accomplish. The parent can set goals for their child as well as the goals set up by the therapist(s) and/or IEP team.

I have my 4yrs old in Pre-k this is his second year and the reason why I was able to get him into school so early was that I took him to a private speech pathologist and they told me that my son was okay and just needed to be around other kids. So with that recommandation he was accepted in to a all day pre-k program and was tested by the schools Speech thereapist, this is where they did determine that he did need speech. My child was unable to say the c, r, f, and s, sounds. This is a great program that has helped my son tremedosly. He was unable to make a sentences and now we have to shush him. (haha) check in to public school speech therapy set up an appointment so that they can check your child out. Only good will come out of it, you'll find out somethings wrong and it is fixable or you'll find out he is okay and just needs to practice talking.

Try mentioning your concern with your child's doctor. My oldest went into speech therapy for a short time due to me persisting that he, at least, got evaluated.

Doctors have resources readily available for all sorts of issues--therapies, counseling, support groups, etc. So, they can help you find something that is accepted by your insurance, is free, and/or offers a sliding-scale pay option.

My little boy got therapy when he was 3 years old. My nephew got it when he was two years old. Both are in school and talk better than kids never had to take therapy. Your baby doctor can reccomend he get help and most insurance pay for it and go to the school system and they will pay also. My little boy get therapy through private therapy and public school system that has help wonderfully.

Under IDEA (federal special education law), local school districts are responsible for providing speech therapy, OT, PT and other interventions if the child is found to be eligible.

How do you find out if he is eligible? Write to your school district (local principal or Superintendent) and request a full educational and speech and language evaluation. They must evaluate in 60 school days or so (varies by state) and provide you with an evaluation report that includes, scores, interpretation of the tests and observations and recommendations.

The school will convene a TEAM meeting that includes you as an equal member, the SLP, a teacher and special ed decision maker. You will discuss the results and determine if your son is eligible for services through the district.

If he is found eligible, you will construct an IEP (individualized ed program) that includes his current level of performance, goals and services.

www.concordspedpac.org has good sample letters and explanations about testing. Ignore the info about Massachusetts state law - everything else applies.

The other option is to work with your pediatrician to get a referral for private therapy. Sometimes insurance will pay.

Best case - you'll get services both privatly and through the school.

Please don't wait. Speech problems can lead to other academic difficulties in writing, reading and of course oral expression. Therapy can help insure that he has the skills needed to be successful academically and socially! Best of luck.

Greatschools is a nationwide forum, and we don't know where Harrison District is...There's a federal law called "child find" that is designed to help young children with special needs get help/remediation early, so they don't have as many difficulties in school later on...If I were you, I would first contact your pediatrician, and see if he/she can give you some referrals...If not, contact your local public school district, and see what they advise...You might also want to join Greatschool's Learning and Attention Difficulties group at community.greatschools.net/groups/11554, where other parents whose children have had speech/language therapy can give you advice.

My brother studder, and the public school system, did not get to him untill the 3rd grade....however,studdering runs in our family.....if they are offering you help i would take it...i really don't know the problem your child is having, but i would take them on their offer...good luck