Is your child not talking as much as other kids their age? It’s natural to wonder whether they’re just taking their time or if there’s something more going on. While every child develops at their own pace, knowing what’s typical and what isn’t can help you support your child’s speech development with more confidence.
This guide will help you understand what delayed speech is, the speech milestones your child should reach by certain ages, and how you can support your child’s speech development at home.
What Is Delayed Speech?
Delayed speech is when a child is not developing speech skills at the expected rate for their age. A child with delayed speech may have difficulty forming words, making sounds, or speaking in sentences compared to their peers.
For instance, a child with a speech delay might know exactly what they want to say but stutter or struggle to pronounce words, which makes their speech difficult to understand.
Speech Delays vs. Language Delays: What’s the Difference?
Speech and language are closely related skills, but there is a difference between them. Speech refers to the ability to produce sounds and words clearly, while language is about understanding and using words to communicate.
For example, a child with a language delay might be perfectly able to speak, but struggle to understand others or express their ideas clearly.
Speech Milestones from Birth to Age 5 Years
There are speech milestones that most children achieve as they grow. If your child hasn’t reached one or more milestones within a few months of the expected age, it may be a sign of a speech delay. Below are the key speech milestones for each age group from birth to five years old:
Speech Milestones by 2 Months
- Makes cooing and gurgling sounds
- Reacts to loud noises
Speech Milestones by 4 Months
- Babbles and makes different cooing sounds (like, “aahh,” or “oooh”)
- Responds to your speaking by making sounds
- Turns to look for you when you speak
Speech Milestones by 6 Months
- Sticks out their tongue and blows “raspberries”
- Makes squealing or excited noises
- Has a “conversation” with you by making sounds
Speech Milestones by 9 Months
- Uses different babbling sounds (e.g., “ba-ba,” “da-da”)
- Lifts their arms so you can pick them up
Speech Milestones by 12 Months
- Says simple words like “mama” or “dada” with meaning
- Knows how to wave goodbye
- Understands the word “no”
Speech Milestones by 15 Months
- Uses a few more words (e.g., “ball,” “up”)
- Follows simple directions when you use a gesture
- Points at things to ask for help
- Looks at familiar toys when you name them
Speech Milestones by 18 Months
- Says at least three more words aside from “mama” and “dada”
- Follows simple directions without gestures
Speech Milestones by 2 Years
- Uses more gestures like shaking their head or blowing a kiss
- Makes simple two-word sentences (e.g., “want ball”)
- Can point out pictures in a book when you ask (e.g., “Where’s the dog?”)
- Recognizes some body parts (like, “foot” or “hands”)
Speech Milestones by 2.5 Years
- Uses pronouns (“I,” “we,” “mine,” etc.)
- Knows and uses about 50 different words
- Puts nouns and verbs together (e.g., “Kitty sleeping”)
- Names items when you point and ask what they are
Speech Milestones by 3 Years
- Has simple conversations with at least two back-and-forth exchanges
- Can tell you what’s happening in a picture book
- Knows their first name and can tell others
- Asks questions (e.g., “What’s that?” or “Where is mama/dada?”)
- Speaks well enough to be understood by others most of the time
Speech Milestones by 4 Years
- Repeats some words from a familiar song or story
- Can tell you what they did that day (e.g., “I painted a picture”)
- Says sentences with more than three words
- Can answer simple questions like “What’s an umbrella for?”
Speech Milestones by 5 Years
- Can answer simple questions about a story
- Continues conversations for multiple back-and-forth exchanges
- Makes up a story and tells it to you
- Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (e.g., “hat” and “cat”)
What Causes Delayed Speech in Children?
There are many reasons why a child might have delayed speech, which is why an evaluation from our speech therapists is so important. Some kids just need a little extra time, while others have underlying challenges that require professional support.
Some common causes of speech delays include hearing loss or impairment, tongue ties, and conditions like autism or Down syndrome.
What Parents Can Do to Support Your Child’s Speech at Home
As a parent, there’s a lot you can do to help your child develop their speech skills. Here are some fun and easy things you can do at home:
- Narrate what you’re doing: Describe out loud what you’re doing as you go about your day. “Let’s put on your shoes! One shoe, two shoes. Now we’re ready to go!”
- Read together: Choose colorful picture books where you can point to pictures and name them. Ask simple questions like, “What’s this?” or “Where’s the dog?”
- Sing songs together: Kids love music, and singing helps with learning new words and rhythms.
- Repeat and expand on what your child says: If your child sees a car drive down the street and says “car,” you can add, “Yes! A red car. The car goes fast!”
When to Seek a Speech Therapy Evaluation
If your child is struggling to express themselves, or if you just have a gut feeling that something isn’t right, trust your instincts! A speech evaluation can provide clarity so you can support your child with confidence.
Plus, the earlier a speech delay is identified, the more effective therapy can be. Seeking help early gives your child the best opportunity to build strong speech skills, which sets them up for success in school and beyond.
How Pediatric Speech Therapy Can Help
Our speech therapists use proven, play-based strategies designed to make therapy both fun and effective. Depending on your child’s specific needs, we may focus on:
- Improving speech clarity
- Increasing vocabulary
- Strengthening speech muscles
- Building conversation skills
Every session is designed to be fun, supportive, and encouraging so your child can gain confidence in their ability to communicate.
Reach Out to Little Hands at Play for Personalized Support
If you’re concerned about your child’s speech development, we’re here to help! Our team at Little Hands at Play is ready to support you and your child.
Give us a call at (479) 226-3409 to schedule an evaluation. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can help your child build their speech skills for a lifetime of easy communication.
