How Do I Know If My Child's Speech, Language or Communication Skills Are Delayed? Common Questions Answered

Suzie Griffiths
Mar 3
3 min read

SaplingSLT | Specialist Speech and Language Therapy for Children in Cheshire & Across the UK

When you notice that your child is not speaking as much as other children it can be a worry. As a Mum, I know how late night googling can send us down a deep dark path. This short post covers some common concerns and sign-posts to places that can offer reliable advice.

We answer common questions about speech, language and communication delays and offer practical advice on when to seek help.

General Milestones

We know that milestones vary widely but there are some typical milestones that can give you an idea of what you should expect.

If your child isn't meeting these milestones don't panic. This is an indication that you should be looking at talking to a speech and language therapist who can give you more specific details, look at your child's skills as a whole and guide you with the next steps.

By 12 months, most children say 2 - 6 simple words in addition to caregivers names such as "Mama" or "Dada" They can follow simple instructions and enjoy playing social games with adults.
By 18 months, they usually have a vocabulary of about 20 - 50 words. They will bring toys to you and will frequently point to things to direct your attention.
By 2 years, toddlers should be combining two words, such as "More juice" or "Daddy car" They are following longer instructions such as "Give the book to Daddy"
By 3 years, children typically use a wide range of simple sentences, can answer questions and are understood by familiar adults most of the time. They understand and use action words and some describing words.

**LinguiSystems Guide to Communication Milestones cites sources as "Child Development Institute" at www.childdevelopmentinfo.com. Nicolosi, Harryman, Kresheck (2006). Owens (1996).

If your child has difficulty following simple directions, isn't engaging with adults or other children or is getting frustrated when trying to communicate I would always recommend talking to a speech and language therapist.

Is It True That Boys Talk Later Than Girls?

We often hear that boys develop speech more slowly than girls. While some girls do develop language skills slightly earlier, the difference is usually very small and your child should still meet the milestones within the expected range even if they are a boy.

If you are worried about your little boy's development you should contact a speech and language therapist.

My Child is Bilingual, is that why they aren't talking yet?

Raising a child in a bilingual environment often raises questions about speech delays. It is completely normal for your bilingual child to mix languages, know some words in one language but not the other or not talk for a while in a new setting if the setting is in a different language than the home language. However, being bilingual does not cause speech and language delays. Your child should still meet the overall milestones in their home language.

Does the Second Child Usually Talk Later Than the First?

Some parents notice their second child talks later than their first. However, a delay should not be dismissed because a child has siblings. If you feel that your child's speech, language and communication skills are not where they should be it's always okay to ask a speech and language therapist to double check.

I'm Worried but Everyone Else Is Telling Me They Will Catch Up

Some late talkers do catch up to their peers. However, the difficulty is identifying those children who will catch up alone vs those who need some extra support. A speech and language therapist can help you to look in more detail at your little one's development and work with you to identify if further support is needed.

"It is never too early to ask for advice" - If you are concerned, ask.

What Next?

If you have any concerns the best thing to do is contact a speech and language therapist. It really is never too early to ask for advice. Most private speech and language therapist's offer a free consultation and some NHS services offer drop in sessions. You can arrange a free consolation with me here.