Speech & Communication

Speech Delay in My Child

Medically reviewed by Dr. Emily Torres, PhD, CCC-SLP · Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist

Content reviewed against published CDC, AAP, ASHA guidelines

Editorial policy

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Speech and communication milestones vary widely, and worries about speech delay in my child, here is what you need to know.

The short answer

Speech delay means a child is developing speech and language skills in the expected order but at a slower pace than typical. It's one of the most common developmental concerns - affecting about 10-15% of toddlers - and early intervention through speech therapy is remarkably effective, with many children catching up fully by school age.

Key takeaways

  • Speech delay means a child is developing speech and language skills in the expected order but at a slower pace than typical. It's one of the most common developmental concerns - affecting about 10-15% of toddlers - and early intervention through speech therapy is remarkably effective, with many children catching up fully by school age.
  • Usually normal when: Your child is meeting pre-speech milestones (babbling, gesturing, pointing) even though words are slow to arrive.
  • Call your doctor if: Your child has lost words or language skills they previously had - regression is always a reason for prompt evaluation.
  • Varies by age — see the age-by-age breakdown below

This is one of the most common questions parents ask. Searching for answers means you care.

What Parents Should Know

According to CDC, AAP, ASHA guidelines, speech delay means a child is developing speech and language skills in the expected order but at a slower pace than typical. It's one of the most common developmental concerns - affecting about 10-15% of toddlers - and early intervention through speech therapy is remarkably effective, with many children catching up fully by school age. At 0-12 months, during the first year, pre-speech milestones matter most: cooing by 2-3 months, babbling with consonants by 6-9 months, and responding to their name. Babies who are quiet but socially engaged - smiling, making eye contact, and responding to voices - are usually developing normally. A very quiet baby who also doesn't engage socially may benefit from early evaluation. It is generally considered normal when your child is meeting pre-speech milestones (babbling, gesturing, pointing) even though words are slow to arrive. However, you should contact your pediatrician promptly if your child has lost words or language skills they previously had - regression is always a reason for prompt evaluation.

Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Normal vs. Concerning

Usually Normal
Worth Discussing
Your child is meeting pre-speech milestones (babbling, gesturing, pointing) even though words are slow to arrive.
Your child has lost words or language skills they previously had - regression is always a reason for prompt evaluation.
Your child understands far more than they can say - they follow directions, identify objects, and respond to questions with actions even if not with words.
Your child has no words AND limited comprehension, no gestures, no pointing, and limited social engagement - this pattern warrants comprehensive evaluation.
There's a family history of late talking with eventual catch-up, and your child is otherwise developing typically.
You suspect your child may not be hearing well - they don't startle at loud sounds, don't turn toward voices, or need the TV unusually loud.
Your child is in a bilingual or multilingual environment - these children may have fewer words in each individual language but a combined vocabulary that's on track.
No words by 18 months, even if your child is communicating with gestures.

By Age

What to expect by age

0-12 months

During the first year, pre-speech milestones matter most: cooing by 2-3 months, babbling with consonants by 6-9 months, and responding to their name. Babies who are quiet but socially engaged - smiling, making eye contact, and responding to voices - are usually developing normally. A very quiet baby who also doesn't engage socially may benefit from early evaluation.

12-18 months

By 12 months, most babies have at least one word and understand simple phrases. By 18 months, the expectation is about 5-20 words. If your child has no words by 18 months but is pointing, gesturing, and understanding language, they may be a "late talker" - a category with generally excellent outcomes, especially with support.

18-24 months

This is when many speech delays become apparent. The CDC recommends evaluation if a child has fewer than 50 words by 24 months or isn't combining words. Importantly, hearing should always be tested as a first step - undiagnosed hearing loss is a common and very treatable cause of speech delay.

2-3 years

By age 2, children typically use 2-word phrases, and by age 3, they're speaking in short sentences that strangers can understand about 75% of the time. If your child is significantly behind these benchmarks, speech-language therapy can help. Research consistently shows that earlier intervention leads to better outcomes.

What to Tell Your Pediatrician

  • Describe when you first noticed speech delay in my child and how it has changed over time.
  • Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
  • Mention if no words by 18 months, even if your child is communicating with gestures.
  • Mention if fewer than 50 words by 24 months, or no two-word combinations.
  • Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
  • Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.

What Should You Do?

When to take action

Probably normal when...
  • Your child is meeting pre-speech milestones (babbling, gesturing, pointing) even though words are slow to arrive.
  • Your child understands far more than they can say - they follow directions, identify objects, and respond to questions with actions even if not with words.
  • There's a family history of late talking with eventual catch-up, and your child is otherwise developing typically.
  • Your child is in a bilingual or multilingual environment - these children may have fewer words in each individual language but a combined vocabulary that's on track.
  • Your child is adding new words steadily, even if the total count is below average.
Mention at your next visit when...
  • No words by 18 months, even if your child is communicating with gestures.
  • Fewer than 50 words by 24 months, or no two-word combinations.
  • Your child's speech progress seems to have stalled - no new words for several weeks.
  • Strangers can't understand any of your 2-year-old's speech.
Act now when...
  • Your child has lost words or language skills they previously had - regression is always a reason for prompt evaluation.
  • Your child has no words AND limited comprehension, no gestures, no pointing, and limited social engagement - this pattern warrants comprehensive evaluation.
  • You suspect your child may not be hearing well - they don't startle at loud sounds, don't turn toward voices, or need the TV unusually loud.

What You Can Do at Home

  • Keep track of when you notice speech delay in my child — noting the time of day, duration, and any triggers can help your pediatrician.
  • Remember that your child is meeting pre-speech milestones (babbling, gesturing, pointing) even though words are slow to arrive — this is generally within the range of normal.
  • At 0-12 months, focus on observation rather than intervention unless your pediatrician advises otherwise.
  • Talk, read, and sing to your baby frequently. Narrate daily activities to build language exposure.
  • While monitoring at home, seek immediate care if your child has lost words or language skills they previously had - regression is always a reason for prompt evaluation.

My Baby Isn't Talking

First words typically appear between 10 and 14 months, but there's enormous variation in what's normal. What matters most at first is whether your baby is communicating - pointing, gesturing, making eye contact, and babbling with different sounds - even if actual words haven't arrived yet.

My Child Is a Late Talker

Late talkers are children who have fewer than 50 words or aren't combining words by age 2, but are developing normally in other areas. About half of late talkers catch up on their own by age 3, but the other half go on to have lasting language delays. Early evaluation and speech therapy can make a big difference, so it's worth acting even if you're told to "wait and see."

Baby Not Babbling

Babbling with consonant sounds like "ba," "da," and "ma" typically begins between 6 and 9 months and is an important building block for speech. Babies develop at different rates, but if your baby is not making any consonant sounds by 9 months, a hearing check is a good first step.

Baby Not Using Gestures

Gestures - like pointing, waving, reaching, clapping, and shaking their head - are among the most important early communication milestones. Most babies start using gestures between 9 and 12 months. Gestures actually predict later language development better than early words do, so if your baby is gesturing, their language is likely developing well even if words are slow to come.

Milestone

Milestone Checklists by Age

Track your baby's developmental milestones from birth to 5 years with age-specific checklists.

Milestone

Month-by-Month Development

Detailed monthly development guides from birth through 24 months.

Guide

When to Call the Doctor

General guide on when to call the pediatrician, visit urgent care, or go to the ER.

Frequently asked questions

Is speech delay in my child normal?
Speech delay means a child is developing speech and language skills in the expected order but at a slower pace than typical. It's one of the most common developmental concerns - affecting about 10-15% of toddlers - and early intervention through speech therapy is remarkably effective, with many children catching up fully by school age.
When should I call the doctor about speech delay in my child?
Your child has lost words or language skills they previously had - regression is always a reason for prompt evaluation. Your child has no words AND limited comprehension, no gestures, no pointing, and limited social engagement - this pattern warrants comprehensive evaluation. You suspect your child may not be hearing well - they don't startle at loud sounds, don't turn toward voices, or need the TV unusually loud.
When is speech delay in my child normal?
Your child is meeting pre-speech milestones (babbling, gesturing, pointing) even though words are slow to arrive. Your child understands far more than they can say - they follow directions, identify objects, and respond to questions with actions even if not with words. There's a family history of late talking with eventual catch-up, and your child is otherwise developing typically.
What causes speech delay in my child?
Speech delay means a child is developing speech and language skills in the expected order but at a slower pace than typical. It's one of the most common developmental concerns - affecting about 10-15% of toddlers - and early intervention through speech therapy is remarkably effective, with many children catching up fully by school age. Common explanations include: Your child is meeting pre-speech milestones (babbling, gesturing, pointing) even though words are slow to arrive.. Your child understands far more than they can say - they follow directions, identify objects, and respond to questions with actions even if not with words..
What should I mention to my pediatrician about speech delay in my child?
You should mention speech delay in my child at your next visit if: No words by 18 months, even if your child is communicating with gestures.. Fewer than 50 words by 24 months, or no two-word combinations.. Your child's speech progress seems to have stalled - no new words for several weeks..
Is speech delay in my child normal at 0-12 months?
During the first year, pre-speech milestones matter most: cooing by 2-3 months, babbling with consonants by 6-9 months, and responding to their name. Babies who are quiet but socially engaged - smiling, making eye contact, and responding to voices - are usually developing normally. A very quiet baby who also doesn't engage socially may benefit from early evaluation.
Is speech delay in my child normal at 12-18 months?
By 12 months, most babies have at least one word and understand simple phrases. By 18 months, the expectation is about 5-20 words. If your child has no words by 18 months but is pointing, gesturing, and understanding language, they may be a "late talker" - a category with generally excellent outcomes, especially with support.
Should I go to the ER for speech delay in my child?
Seek emergency care if your child has lost words or language skills they previously had - regression is always a reason for prompt evaluation, or if your child has no words AND limited comprehension, no gestures, no pointing, and limited social engagement - this pattern warrants comprehensive evaluation. When in doubt, call your pediatrician's after-hours line for guidance.
Does speech delay in my child go away on its own?
In many cases, speech delay in my child resolves on its own, especially when your child is meeting pre-speech milestones (babbling, gesturing, pointing) even though words are slow to arrive. By 2-3 years, by age 2, children typically use 2-word phrases, and by age 3, they're speaking in short sentences that strangers can understand about 75% of the time. If your child is significantly behind these benchmarks, speech-language therapy can help. Research consistently shows that earlier intervention leads to better outcomes.
CDCAAPASHA

References

  1. [1]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Language and Speech Disorders in Children. CDC
  2. [2]American Academy of Pediatrics. Language Delays in Toddlers: Information for Parents. HealthyChildren.org. AAP
  3. [3]American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Late Language Emergence. ASHA

Doctor Visit Checklist

Bring this checklist to your next pediatrician visit to discuss Speech Delay in My Child.

Things to mention

  • Describe when you first noticed speech delay in my child and how it has changed over time.
  • Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
  • Mention if no words by 18 months, even if your child is communicating with gestures.
  • Mention if fewer than 50 words by 24 months, or no two-word combinations.
  • Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
  • Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.

Observations to share

  • No words by 18 months, even if your child is communicating with gestures.
  • Fewer than 50 words by 24 months, or no two-word combinations.
  • Your child's speech progress seems to have stalled - no new words for several weeks.

Urgent signs to report immediately

  • Your child has lost words or language skills they previously had - regression is always a reason for prompt evaluation.
  • Your child has no words AND limited comprehension, no gestures, no pointing, and limited social engagement - this pattern warrants comprehensive evaluation.
  • You suspect your child may not be hearing well - they don't startle at loud sounds, don't turn toward voices, or need the TV unusually loud.

My notes

From ismybabyalright.com — free, evidence-based baby health guides

All content follows our editorial policy and is reviewed against published clinical guidelines.

2,705 evidence-based guides6 authoritative medical sources5 medical advisory board members

Related Resources

Ear Infection TriageMilestone ChecklistsEarly Intervention DirectoryDevelopmental ActivitiesBaby Sign Language GuideEmergency ContactsBaby Tracker

Bottom line

Most cases of speech delay in my child are normal. Talk to your pediatrician if your child has lost words or language skills they previously had - regression is always a reason for prompt evaluation.

Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician. Worrying about your baby means you care — that is a good thing.

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Related Speech Concerns

My Baby Isn't Talking

First words typically appear between 10 and 14 months, but there's enormous variation in what's normal. What matters most at first is whether your baby is communicating - pointing, gesturing, making eye contact, and babbling with different sounds - even if actual words haven't arrived yet.

My Child Is a Late Talker

Late talkers are children who have fewer than 50 words or aren't combining words by age 2, but are developing normally in other areas. About half of late talkers catch up on their own by age 3, but the other half go on to have lasting language delays. Early evaluation and speech therapy can make a big difference, so it's worth acting even if you're told to "wait and see."

Baby Not Babbling

Babbling with consonant sounds like "ba," "da," and "ma" typically begins between 6 and 9 months and is an important building block for speech. Babies develop at different rates, but if your baby is not making any consonant sounds by 9 months, a hearing check is a good first step.

Baby Not Using Gestures

Gestures - like pointing, waving, reaching, clapping, and shaking their head - are among the most important early communication milestones. Most babies start using gestures between 9 and 12 months. Gestures actually predict later language development better than early words do, so if your baby is gesturing, their language is likely developing well even if words are slow to come.

My Baby Isn't Pointing

Pointing typically develops between 12 and 14 months and is considered one of the most important social communication milestones. It shows your baby wants to share their world with you. If your baby isn't pointing by 18 months, a developmental evaluation is recommended - but there are lots of other ways babies start communicating that are worth noticing too.

Is Bilingualism Causing My Baby's Speech Delay?

Bilingualism does not cause speech delays. Bilingual children may take slightly longer to say their first words in each individual language, but when you count words in both languages together, they're right on track. If your bilingual child has fewer than 10 total words (in any language) by 18 months or fewer than 50 by age 2, that's a delay - and you should get a speech evaluation, not drop a language.