Signs of a speech delay, age by age

Almost every parent asks the same question at some point: is this normal, or should I do something about it? This article is a rough map of what usually happens, and of the signs that are worth a conversation with a specialist. It describes patterns, not rules.

Ages are ranges, not deadlines

Children do not learn to talk on a schedule. Two children in the same family can be months apart and both be doing fine. So the more useful question is usually not "is my child late?" but "is my child still moving forward?"

A child who keeps adding new sounds, words and gestures month after month is usually on a reasonable path, even if they started slowly. A child who has stopped moving forward — or who has lost something they could already do — is worth checking at any age.

Around 12 months

By the end of the first year, many children:

• turn when you say their name, and react to words like "no" or "bye"
• babble in long strings that carry the melody of speech
• use gestures: pointing, reaching, waving, holding something up to show you
• try one or two recognisable words

Gestures matter as much as words at this stage. A child who does not point, wave or share attention with you by around a year is worth mentioning to your doctor even if words are on the way.

Around 18 months

• understands much more than they can say
• uses a small set of words consistently, and picks up new ones
• follows a simple instruction without you pointing
• brings you things, and pulls you towards what they want

Around two years

• starts putting two words together: "more juice", "baba gone"
• follows a simple two-part instruction
• an unfamiliar adult can understand a fair part of what they say
• names familiar people, body parts and everyday objects

Around three years

• speaks in short sentences of three or four words
• asks questions constantly
• people who know the child understand most of what they say
• talks about things that are not in the room right now

Around four years

• tells a simple story about something that happened earlier
• is understood by strangers most of the time
• uses most everyday speech sounds, though a few later ones may still be shaky
• takes turns in a conversation instead of only announcing things

Signs worth asking about at any age

Some things are worth raising regardless of the child's age:

• Losing something they already had — words, sounds, eye contact or social interest that used to be there and is not any more. This is always worth a prompt check.
• No babbling, pointing or other gestures by around 12 months.
• No words by around 18 months, or no two-word combinations by around two years.
• Speech that close family still cannot understand around age three.
• A voice that is always hoarse, or speech that sounds very nasal.
• Repeating, stretching or getting stuck on sounds that continues for several months, especially with visible effort, frustration, or the child starting to avoid talking.
• Not responding to sound, or seeming to hear well one day and not the next. Hearing is checked first, always — a lot of what looks like a speech delay starts there.
• Trouble with chewing or swallowing, or frequent choking on food.

Things that get blamed and usually are not the cause

Growing up with two languages. Learning Arabic and English at the same time does not cause a delay. Bilingual children may mix the two languages for a while, which is normal. If a child is behind, they are usually behind in both languages — and that is what a specialist looks at.

"Boys talk later." You will hear this a lot. It is a common belief, not a reason to wait once you already have a concern. Waiting has a cost; a check-up does not.

Being the youngest, or having older siblings who talk for them. It may explain why a child talks less. It does not explain a child who cannot.

What to do next

Start with hearing. Ask your doctor for a hearing check before anything else, even if you are sure your child hears you.

Write down what you actually see, with examples: how many words, what they sound like, what your child does when they want something, and whether last month looked different. Concrete examples are far more useful to a specialist than "he doesn't talk much".

Then book an assessment rather than waiting for the next milestone to pass. A first session is mostly conversation and observation, and you can read what usually happens in it before you go. If you would rather start practising at home in the meantime, there are simple ways to build practice into the day.

If you want to look for a specialist and keep everything — sessions, plans, reports — in one place, you can create an account.