OBJECTIVE: To know the perception of parents as to the identification of speech-language disorders in childhood. METHODS: Seventy-five parents of preschool children in southern Brazil were interviewed by structured questionnaire previously validated. We studied the following variables: gender, age, number of children and knowledge of the speech-language disorders, such as age language disorders, as a result of hearing problems, behavior problems before speech therapy, which can cause deleterious habits in children and knowledge about the speech therapy. RESULTS: It was found that 20 (26.7%) of parents think four years the age limit for exchanges in speech; 23 (30.7%) indicate that around 18 months the child should begin to speak; 30 ( 40%) reported that speech therapy can work with children from 02 years of age, 46 (61.3%) prioritize the assessment by a speech pathologist in cases of suspected late speech, 56 (74.7%) never sought treatment, assessment and / or orientation speech to their children, 65 (86.7%) reported that the hearing problem can have consequences in speech and 47 (62.7%) attribute the use of bottles and pacifiers to dental problems. CONCLUSION: In general, parents have appropriate knowledge regarding the normal development of speech, language and hearing in childhood, as well as indicative of the search for specialized evaluation. There is a proportional relation between the degree of knowledge about the speech-language intervention and changes in speech, language and hearing in childhood and parental education.