1 in 10 children need help finding their voice

In many Ontario households, the simple joy of a toddler’s first words can carry profound meaning. Yet for families like Erin’s in Haldimand, that anticipation often comes with worry.

“If you have a question about your child’s development, don’t be afraid to say something,” Erin urged, reflecting on her daughter’s journey through speech and language delays – and the transformative impact of early intervention. 

Ontario parents have watched post‑COVID trends with alarm: speech delay diagnoses among toddlers surged during the pandemic and remain stubbornly high: 16–17% by age two in 2023–24. Erin admits she is no expert in child development, but seeing her daughter interact with other kids the same age was enough to help her identify a concern. “She didn’t seem to be in the same place as her peers in terms of the number of words in her vocabulary, or the clarity of her speech.” 

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services estimates that one in ten children require speech‑language help before starting school. Yet many parents struggle to know when to act. Expert guidelines emphasize milestones: babbling by nine months, first words by 12 months, and two-word combinations by age two. Lansdowne Children’s Centre provides an interactive speech development checklist on its website to help families monitor progress.   

Once Erin’s daughter entered Lansdowne’s care pathway, the difference was clear. Initial assessment with Speech‑Language Pathologist Sarah Graham led to a focused therapy block with Communicative Disorders Assistant Leslie Thompson. 

“It was like night and day,” Erin said. 

“(Leslie) was really giving me a lot of pointers on how to make corrections or how to just help (my daughter) along in her journey,” Erin said, adding that her family also received resources, like flash cards, to better reinforce the lessons. 

With each session, her daughter’s confidence blossomed – and so did Erin’s. “My experience there, my daughter's experience there, really gave us peace of mind that she had grown and also gave me the teaching abilities to help her.” 

Ontario’s Preschool Speech and Language Program encourages caregiver engagement – from home-based games to parent training workshops. The emphasis is clear: therapy works best when parents and professionals act together early. To connect with Lansdowne Children’s Centre anyone can submit an online referral and start their journey with free online resources. Haldimand and Norfolk County residents are also connecting with Lansdowne faster, as wait times for access to Speech-Language services have been reduced with an increase in capacity. 

Erin’s message to other parents is consistent: “If you have a question about your child’s development, don’t be afraid to say something.” Lansdowne urges families to act early. 

Speech-Language services is just one of the many government-funded programs available at Lansdowne Children’s Centre to support child development in Haldimand and Norfolk counties, as well as Brantford, County of Brant, Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Autism Services, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy teams also work with children from birth through 18 years old to help explore their potential and unlock new abilities. 

“We’re so grateful for parents like Erin, sharing their voices,” said Lynda Henriksen, director of development and community relations. “Our community plays a vital role in supporting Lansdowne families—whether by giving through the Lansdowne Journey campaign or by encouraging parents to ask the questions that weigh on their heart and matter most. Together, we ensure we’re here when families need us.” 

Small steps make big moments. It’s a theme in child development stories shared in Lansdowne’s ‘Journey Together’ campaign this month. For Erin, each moment working with her daughter forming new speech abilities, every new sound, is a proud memory. 

“It's funny when I think back to that, because she has come so far from that first day. When I look at that time, I think, ‘Oh my goodness, I'm so glad that I brought her,’ because if I hadn't, I don't know where we would be with her speech.” 

Learn more about speech and language services and Lansdowne Children’s Centre at www.lansdownecentre.ca