Speech and Language Development in Children
Find your care
You’ll receive customized, exceptional care from an expert team. Call 310-825-8551 to connect with our Speech Pathology department.
Speech and Language Development in Children
Alison Lamoureux, Speech Pathologist
September 1 and 8, 2026
7:00-8:00 pm
Registration: https://UCLASpeechandLanguageinChildren.eventbrite.com
Fee: $10 (covers both sessions)
This is a virtual class. The Zoom link will be emailed to you a few days before the class.
Course Description: This two-session online course explores early speech and language development in young children (18 months to 4 years old). Participants will learn about typical developmental milestones, practical strategies to encourage communication, and signs that may indicate a speech or language concern.
Through lectures, video demonstrations, and guided discussions, parents and caregivers will gain a deeper understanding of how speech and language skills develop, how to effectively support a child’s communication growth at home, and when it may be appropriate to consult a pediatrician. The course also provides an overview of common speech and language disorders and guidance on how to seek speech therapy services if needed.
By the end of the course, participants will feel more confident in recognizing developmental milestones and using evidence-based strategies to help young children communicate successfully.
Course Objectives: By the end of this two-session course, participants will be able to:
- Describe typical speech and language development and identify key milestones for children ages 18 months to 4 years
- Recognize potential red flags that may warrant consultation with a speech-language pathologist
- Apply practical speech and language facilitation strategies in everyday interactions with young children
- Identify common speech and language disorders and understand the process for seeking speech therapy services
Schedule:
September 1, 2026 - Speech and Language Development
- What is “speech?”
- What is “language?”
- Why does a speech and/or language delay happen?
- What are some common myths about speech and language development?
September 8, 2026 - Speech and Language Facilitation Strategies and Tips
- How do I use play to help my child communicate?
- What can I do to help my child develop speech and language?
- When should I seek speech therapy for my child?
Instructor Bio
Alison Lamoureux, Speech Pathologist
Alison Lamoureux has been a speech-language pathologist with UCLA since 2022. She received her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders with High Honors in 2002 and her MA in Speech-Language Pathology in 2004 from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining UCLA in 2022, Alison worked in both pediatric outpatient clinic, school, and children’s hospital settings and has served on multidisciplinary autism assessment and craniofacial teams. For over two decades, she has worked with children with a variety of speech and language delays. She currently focuses her work on early intervention, autism, complex articulation disorders, and augmentative communication.