Late talkers and delayed speech
Our speech pathology services
Is your child not speaking like other kids their age?
Some children start speaking very young, and others take a while to say their first words. So how can you know if your child is progressing as expected?
By the age of two, there’s some key milestones your child should have reached. For most kids, this means having at least 50 words, using two to three-word phrases and asking questions about objects and people.
How old is considered late to talk?
Generally speaking, a child is considered a late talker if they are between 18 to 30 months and are saying less words than expected for their age. Most children are saying their first words around 12 months and rapidly increasing their vocabulary from then. One of the signs that your child might need speech therapy support is an absence of babbling as a baby.
Some key milestones to remember are:
- Frequently babbling by 10 months old
- Using first words by 12 months
- Using at least 20 words by 18 months
- Using 2 word combinations by 24 months.
If your child is not meeting these, then it’s a great idea to have an assessment with a speech pathologist.
Most children are saying their first words around 12 months and rapidly increasing their vocabulary from then.
Download our 2 year old checklist
Early intervention is proven to be successful with children who are late talkers. We can help to identify any potential issues and work with you to provide effective, evidence-supported strategies to support your child’s speech and language development.
Let’s work together to give your child a voice
Being able to communicate is a basic human right and we take our role in helping children to voice their thoughts, feelings and dreams very seriously. But that doesn’t mean that our sessions are serious.
North Shore Speech Therapy has some of Sydney’s most experienced speech therapists, and we specialise in working with children. This means we have a big emphasis on play-based therapy to keep it fun and rewarding for your child. We have therapists trained in using evidence-based programs like Hanen’s It Takes Two to Talk, and always tailor the therapy to your child.
We’ll also equip you with strategies you can use at home as a family or in conjunction with your child care provider to support your child’s progression.
Children who have delayed speech or language often have problems later with reading and spelling, so early intervention can have a big impact on your child’s life down the track.
Don’t “wait and see”
Would your child benefit from Speech Therapy?
Take our quick quiz to find out