How to Spot a Language Delay Early
As a parent, watching your child grow and learn can be a beautiful experience, but sometimes it comes with a lot of unknowns and questions. If you’ve ever wondered about your child's speech and language development, you’re not alone! It’s a common question that many parents have, even if their child is developing at a rate that seems on pace with their age. When it comes to children and their speech and language development, it’s important to get your information from the right places so that you’re not unnecessarily stressed or adding more pressure on their growth and development than is needed. Today, we’ll share signs to look for that may indicate a language delay across four different ages. from Rachael at Find My Voice Therapy in St. Pete. By identifying these potential indicators and getting your child evaluated early, you’ll be able to determine a course of action and get them the speech and language development support that they need!
Before we dive into these, it’s important to know that all children develop as individuals. While these may be indicators of developmental delays, expressive language disorder, or other types of language disorders, they are not a diagnosis. If your child is not meeting milestones as described by their medical provider, it’s important to have them evaluated by a licensed speech professional.
Language Delay Signs at 12 Months
No babbling
Doesn’t respond to sounds or their name
No gestures like pointing or waving
Language Delay Signs at 18 Months
Says fewer than 10 words
Doesn’t try to imitate sounds or words
Difficulty understanding simple directions
Language Delay Signs at 2 Years
Not combining words
Very limited vocabulary
Hard to understand even for familiar adults
Language Delay Signs at 3 Years
Short phrases only
Limited understanding of questions
Speech mostly unclear to others
If your child is showing any of these signs, the great news about things like expressive language disorder or receptive language disorder is that they’re treatable, especially when they’re addressed promptly. If you notice your child is lacking skills or slowing down in their development as these age milestones progress, it’s a good idea to ask your provider about a speech and language evaluation. At Find My Voice Therapy, we offer complimentary screenings to determine if your child is a candidate for a speech evaluation. If their screening reveals the need for a speech evaluation, that is something Rachael can conduct as well.
Next Steps
Once your child has completed their speech evaluation, Rachael will share the results with you and help your family come up with a plan. If speech therapy is recommended, Rachael and Find My Voice offer flexible and individualized treatment plans that meet your child where they’re at with methods that make learning fun. We’ll even come to you! Our mobile appointments make scheduling at home or school easy and allow the child to learn in a familiar environment.
If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment for screening, please reach out to request a consultation.
