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Communication
Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with communication.
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Signs & concerns
Few Words at 3.5 Years — Should I Be Worried?
At 3.5 years most children speak in short sentences and are understood by strangers most of the time. A child using only a few single words should have speech and hearing checked promptly — not with alarm, but because support at this age works very well. Only a Pinnacle clinician can establish an AbilityScore or any diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerUnclear speech at 3.5 years
At 3.5 years a child should be understood by strangers about 75% of the time, so a few fuzzy sounds are normal but speech that is very hard to follow is worth a friendly check. Early speech-sound support works very well at this age. Only a Pinnacle clinician can establish an AbilityScore or any diagnosis.
Read the answer Answer3-Year-Old Behind in Communication — How Concerned Should I Be?
At three, communication develops across a wide, normal range, and many late talkers catch up well. Being behind in communication is a clear reason to arrange a developmental check now — not a diagnosis and not cause for alarm. Watch for few or unclear words, trouble understanding instructions, little back-and-forth, or loss of skills once had. Early support at this age works beautifully, so a calm, structured look brings clarity and peace of mind.
Read the answer Answer3-Year-Old Not Following Instructions — Should You Worry?
Following one- or two-step instructions is emerging at 3, but depends on hearing, distractions and language stage. A one-off miss is normal; a consistent pattern across situations warrants a hearing test and a general developmental review. Worry is a reason to check, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer Answer3-Year-Old Not Responding to Name: Should I Worry?
At 3 years, consistently not responding to their name is a reason to check calmly — first a hearing test, then a developmental review — not a diagnosis. Causes range from deep focus or ear infections to communication differences. Early assessment, done only at a Pinnacle centre under clinician care, brings clarity and support.
Read the answer AnswerNot combining words at 3 years — should I be worried?
By age 3, most children combine two words. Single words only, with no two-word pairs, is a clear and actionable signal worth a developmental check — starting with hearing and language understanding. Many late talkers catch up; an early check tells who needs support. A clinical AbilityScore and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle centre under clinician care.
Read the answer AnswerFew Words at 3 Years — Should I Be Worried?
At three, most children use two- to three-word phrases, so only a few words is worth a closer look — but it is not a diagnosis and not your fault. A simple developmental and hearing check is the right next step, and early support at this age works wonderfully. A clinical AbilityScore and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle centre under clinician care.
Read the answer AnswerUnclear speech at 3 years — should I be worried?
At age 3, familiar adults should understand about 75% of a child's speech and strangers about half; some sounds genuinely come later. If most speech is hard to follow even for you, a gentle play-based check is wise — speech clarity responds very well to early support. Worry is a reason to assess, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer Answer4-Year-Old Behind in Communication: How Concerned to Be
At four, being behind in Communication is worth a calm, timely developmental check — but it is not a diagnosis and not a reason to panic. Many four-year-olds catch up well with the right support, and Communication is one of the most responsive areas to early help. Seek an assessment now if your child is hard to understand, uses very short sentences, struggles to follow simple instructions, or has slipped back in skills. Acting now opens opportunities early.
Read the answer AnswerMy 4-year-old does not follow simple instructions — should I be worried?
At 4, most children follow simple two-step instructions. Rarely following even one-step requests is worth a gentle check — starting with a hearing screen — but is not a diagnosis. A Pinnacle clinician can establish a clear starting point and, if needed, a plan.
Read the answer Answer4-Year-Old Not Combining Words: Should I Worry?
By four, most children speak in short sentences, so still using single words and no two-word combinations is a clear sign worth assessing — starting with a hearing check and a speech-language assessment. This isn't a verdict; early support brings fast progress. Only a Pinnacle clinician can establish an AbilityScore® or any diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerUnclear speech at 4 years — should I be worried?
By age 4, most people — including strangers — should understand around three-quarters of what your child says, even if some sounds are still developing. A few late sounds are normal; if unfamiliar listeners follow less than half, or your child is frustrated, a speech-and-hearing check is the calm, helpful next step. Speech difficulties at four respond very well to early therapy.
Read the answer Answer5-Year-Old Behind in Communication
At five, communication delays are worth taking seriously but not fearing — seriously means timely. Many children make strong progress with the right support, and five is a highly responsive age for it. The most useful step is a developmental check now, so you understand where your child is and what helps. This is information that turns worry into a clear plan, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerUnclear speech at 5 years — should I be worried?
By age 5 a child's speech should be understood by almost any listener. If strangers often can't follow your child, that's worth checking now — a hearing check and a speech assessment are the sensible first steps. Speech-sound difficulties respond very well to early therapy. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess and form an AbilityScore®.
Read the answer AnswerMy 6-year-old is hard to understand — should I be worried?
By age 6 a child's speech should be understood by almost everyone. Persistent difficulty being understood is worth a proper check — often it's a treatable speech-sound difficulty that responds well to therapy. Worry is a reason to assess, not a diagnosis; only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm what's happening.
Read the answer AnswerBabbling but no first words yet — how to help
Most children say first words between 12 and 15 months. If your child is babbling but not yet using words, fill the day with warm, repeated, back-and-forth talk — name things, pause and wait, honour every babble, and cut screens. Seek a gentle developmental check if by around 15–18 months there are still no clear words, little response to their name, reduced pointing or eye contact, or trouble understanding simple requests. This is reason to support early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerHelping your baby move from cooing to babbling
Most babies move from cooing to babbling between about 6 and 9 months. The best help is warm, responsive talk all day — copy your baby's sounds, narrate, sing and read face to face, and limit screens and background noise. If babbling hasn't begun by around 9–10 months or your baby isn't responding to sound, arrange a gentle developmental and hearing check. This is not a diagnosis — early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerFrom gestures to words: how to help your child talk
Pointing and gesturing are an encouraging milestone — they show strong communication intent ready to be built upon. Help by naming what your child points to, pausing to invite a word, and adding one word to each attempt through playful daily routines. Seek a developmental check if your child is over 18 months with very few or no words, isn't combining words near age 2, or has lost words once used — early language support works best now.
Read the answer AnswerFrom short sentences to back-and-forth conversation
Moving from short sentences to back-and-forth conversation needs listening, turn-taking and topic-holding skills that grow through everyday practice. Parents can help by pausing for their child's turn, extending what their child says, asking open questions and playing turn-taking games. A calm developmental check is wise if conversation stays stuck for months or comes with difficulty understanding questions or connecting socially — this is early opportunity, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerHelping your child move to two-word phrases
Two-word phrases typically emerge around 18–24 months, often once a child has roughly 50 single words. You can help most by modelling short phrases in play — adding one word to whatever your child says, narrating daily routines, offering choices and pausing to let them respond. Seek a gentle developmental check if your child is past two with very few single words, little pointing or gesture, or growing frustration — not as alarm, but because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerFrom two-word phrases to short sentences
Moving from two-word phrases to short sentences usually happens gradually between roughly two and three years, but each child has their own pace. The most powerful home strategy is expansion — gently adding one or two words back to whatever your child says, all day through play and routines. Consider a developmental check if your child has been stuck at two words for several months, has a small vocabulary, rarely imitates words, or you feel worried — early support is gentle and works best.
Read the answer AnswerShould a frontline worker refer a child showing late talking?
Yes — a frontline worker should refer a child showing late talking rather than wait indefinitely. Refer if there is no babbling or gesture by 12 months, very few words by 18 months, fewer than ~50 words or no two-word phrases by 24 months, or any loss of words, poor name response or weak social connection at any age. Referral is not a diagnosis; it opens the door to early, effective support, and when in doubt, refer.
Read the answer AnswerMixing Up Languages: When to Refer
Mixing two or more languages in one sentence is a normal, expected feature of healthy bilingual development — not a delay or disorder. A frontline worker should reassure and not refer when a child mixes languages but communicates well overall. Refer for a developmental check only when mixing sits with genuine red flags: very few words in any language combined, not understanding the home language, or no clear communication by the expected age. Always count all of a child's languages together.
Read the answer AnswerShould a frontline worker refer a child not pointing to show things?
If a child is not pointing to show or share things by around 16–18 months, a frontline worker should refer for a developmental check — yes. Sharing-pointing (protodeclarative pointing) is a key early social-communication milestone, and persistent absence is a reliable early flag. Strengthen the picture by checking for other shared-attention behaviours, language, response to name and hearing. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis.
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