Language development starts from the first months of life and is linked to the innate need for communication and the social development of the individual.

Indicative stages of language development:
Up to 6 months

Reacts to sounds.
He turns his head towards the source of the sound.
He smiles at familiar faces.
It makes sounds.
Up to 12 months

Understands simple instructions.
He understands no.
He says mom, dad.
Communicates non-verbally.
It lives up to its name.

Up to 18 months

Understands simple sentences.
Recognizes 2-3 body parts.
Shows objects and pictures.
Names familiar objects – enriches his vocabulary.
It imitates sounds
His speech is not yet understood by all.
Up to 24 months

Understands complex instructions.
Recognizes more body parts.
He says his name.
It combines a noun and a verb.
Uses 2-3 word sentences.
Uses 1-2 personal pronouns.
Up to 3 years old

He understands simple stories.
Uses more pronouns.
Uses sentences.
He asks questions.
Uses plural and prepositions.
Expresses negation with no, no, no.
His speech is more understandable.
Up to 4 years old

Understands spatial, quantitative and descriptive concepts.
It groups objects and names categories.
He is learning colors.
Understands and uses why, how, who questions.
Grammar and syntax are close to adult.
His speech is largely understandable by adults.
Up to 5 years

Understands basic concepts.
Understands concepts of time.
Can tell simple stories.
Pronounces all sounds correctly, except r.
Says most words clearly. Sometimes he makes mistakes in polysyllabic words and in
combinations of three consonants.
He speaks without making grammatical or syntactical mistakes.
Can describe the steps of a process.
Up to 6 years old

Uses time concepts appropriately.
Begins to tell stories with appropriate narrative and grammatical structure and information
adequacy.
Communicates easily with adults and children.
Understands social norms and rules of politeness.
Pronounces all the sounds correctly and masters the triple symphonic complexes

Speech therapy deals with the treatment and rehabilitation of the following disorders:

• Joint disorders
• Phonological disorders
• Learning difficulties
• Neurogenic motor speech disorders (dysarthria and apraxia)
• Speech rhythm disorders (stuttering, slurred speech)
• Distraction and hyperactivity
• Voice disorders
• Pervasive Developmental Disorders (Autism)
• Speech delay and Specific language disorders
• Various syndromes
• Mental retardation
• Cases of Bilingualism
• Hard of hearing
• Brain paralysis
• Chewing-swallowing difficulties
• Cleft Lip and Palate
• After a stroke
• After Brain Injuries
• In Dementia
• In Parkinson's Disease
• In Alzheimer's Disease

A preschool child may have difficulties in Language Comprehension (difficulties understanding instructions, questions, concepts and complex sentences) and/or Language Expression (difficulties expressing what they want or doing it in a simple and/or inappropriate way).

Difficulties affect one or more areas of language:

• Arthrosis, e.g. does not produce the sound correctly
• Phonology, e.g. confuses, omits or substitutes the sounds of words.
• Morphology, e.g. struggles with plural endings – says “two ball” and not “two balls” etc.
• Syntax, e.g. has difficulty forming correct sentences.
• Semantics, e.g. does not use many words and seems to have difficulty recalling familiar words.
• Pragmatics, e.g. has difficulty starting or maintaining a conversation, taking turns in a conversation, etc.

Expression difficulties based on the chronological age of the child can be:

• Not using words at age 18 months.
• The lack of 2-word sentences at age 2.
• His vocabulary is limited to a few words at 3 years old.
• The lack of use of prepositions or plurals at 3-4 years.
• To make sentences with less than 4 words by 3-4 years.
• To omit part of words (syllables) at the age of 4-5 years.

In comprehension difficulties we have:

• The lack of response to familiar names at the age of 1 year.
• Failure to locate everyday objects when asked at 18 months of age.
• Failure to follow simple commands (e.g. give – take)
• Not understanding grammatical elements (e.g. question – negation) at the age of 2.5 years.

Other difficulties they may experience are:

• In feeding (selectivity in foods, chewing, swallowing)
• In communication functionality and social skills
• In the orofacial mechanism, muscle functional skills and facial-mouth sensory difficulties
• In cognitive and executive functions (attention, concentration, memory, thought organization, visual and auditory perception and processing, logical processes, Central Coherence, flexibility of thought, problem solving, ideation, Theory of Mind, Theory of Association)

**The ages mentioned are indicative.
Speech and language problems affect the child's communication as well as his relationship with himself and those around him. Their most frequent manifestation is during the preschool age, which proves the necessity of the speech therapist's early intervention, in order to restore the language organization.

These difficulties are detected by the parents and pointed out by the pediatrician, but are evaluated by the speech therapist. The speech therapist, after receiving a detailed history of the child's development, can proceed to the evaluation of the child himself. Based on the data from the history as well as his clinical picture, he can identify and focus on the child's difficulties. At the same time, he also assesses the cognitive and motor development of the child, as well as his psychological maturity, referring in some cases to another specialist (child psychologist - occupational therapist).

It is good that the therapeutic-restorative intervention of the children starts as soon as possible, with the ultimate goal, where and when possible, that the difficulties have been dealt with before the child starts school, in order to avoid a series of other problems (reading, writing, psychological problems etc.)

Because very often the speech therapist is the first to see a child, as speech difficulties are usually the first to concern parents, an important part of his work is to work closely with an interdisciplinary team made up of a child psychiatrist, child psychologist, occupational therapist, special educator.

Speech therapy for adults may be necessary in cases of:

• Aphasia: Loss of the ability to use or understand language, often due to stroke or injury.
• Dysarthria: Difficulty pronouncing words due to neurological disorders.
• Dysphagia: Swallowing problems that can result from strokes, neurological conditions or other causes.
• Voice disorders: Problems with the voice, such as hoarseness or changes in pitch and volume.

The managers of the "Lighthouse of Words" have high scientific training and expertise, including the following certifications:

• Certified in Neuromuscular Banding for feeding, swallowing and speech disorders.
• Certified sponsors of the "Pais" Test for the detection of autistic spectrum communication disorders in children from 18 months of age.
• Certified providers of the MOXO ADHD assessment test for children and adults.
• Certified in neuromuscular electrical stimulation and surface electromyogram applicable to all ages.