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Expert Q&A
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| By Mindy Hudon Speech and Language Pathologist | ||
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My 2-year-old will only eat pureed foods and is not speaking very much at all. Should I have him evaluated?
I think that a speech-language and feeding/swallowing evaluation by a speech-language pathologist who specializes in feeding and swallowing is a good idea. Often, feeding/swallowing delays go hand in hand with speech delays. The same muscles are used for both speech and chewing/swallowing.
Also, your son may have an oral sensory issue that is making it difficult for him to transition to solid foods. By this time, he should be eating solid foods. Babies start to eat textured foods by 6 months of age. I would contact your pediatrician and discuss your concerns. He/she may be able to refer you a speech-language pathologist in your area. If not, contact the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association at www.asha.org to find a clinician in your area."
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