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Communication
Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with communication.
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Signs & concerns
What does a delay in Expression mean for my child?
A delay in Expression means your toddler is using fewer words, sounds or gestures to share what they want than we'd typically expect for their age — it is not a diagnosis and doesn't tell us why yet. Many late talkers catch up beautifully, especially with language-rich, playful days. Seek a gentle developmental check if there are few words by 18 months, no two-word phrases by 24 months, no pointing or gesturing, or loss of words once used. A hearing check is often a sensible first step. Early support works best, so understanding the picture early makes helping easier.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Expressive Language Mean for My Child?
A delay in expressive language means your child finds it harder to put thoughts into words — naming, joining words, building sentences — even when they understand well. At ages 3–7 this is common and very responsive to support, and on its own it is not a diagnosis. It is simply a good reason for a developmental check now, because expressive language grows strongly with early, playful help.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Language Development mean for my child?
A language delay means your child is learning to understand or use words more slowly than the typical pace for ages 3–7 — a description of where they are now, not a diagnosis or a fixed limit. It can affect understanding, expression, or both, and often has identifiable causes such as hearing or limited exposure. With early, play-based support most children make strong gains.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Language mean for my child?
A language delay means your toddler is reaching talking and understanding milestones a little later than most children their age — it is not a diagnosis or a label. Between 12 and 36 months there is a wide healthy range, and many late talkers catch up well, especially with early support. Watch both understanding and talking, and seek a developmental check if words are slow, your child isn't combining words by two, or loses skills. Early action is opportunity, not alarm.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Non-Verbal mean for my child?
A delay in spoken words means your toddler is reaching talking milestones later than most peers — but it does not mean they cannot communicate; many connect through gestures, pointing and play. Watch for few or no words by 18–24 months, no two-word phrases by two years, little pointing or response to name, or loss of skills. This is a reason for an early, gentle developmental and hearing check, not a diagnosis — and early speech support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Receptive Language mean for my child?
A receptive language delay means your child is finding it harder to understand words, questions and instructions at the level expected for their age. It is not a diagnosis — it's a signal that a gentle developmental check is wise now. Understanding is the foundation for speaking, reading and learning, and early play-based support works well.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Speech and Language Skills Mean for My Child?
A speech and language delay at ages 3–7 means your child is building communication a little more slowly than typical — not a diagnosis. Many children catch up well with early, play-based support, so a developmental check now is wise because the early years are the most responsive window. Always include a hearing check, and trust your instinct if something feels off.
Read the answer AnswerWhat a Delay in Speech Clarity Means for Your Child
A delay in speech clarity means your child's words are harder for others to understand than expected for their age — by 3 a familiar adult should understand most speech, by 4 even strangers should. It is not a diagnosis or a sign of low intelligence; it usually reflects how sounds are being made and responds well to early, playful speech support.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Verbal Comprehension mean for my child?
A delay in Verbal Comprehension means your child is taking longer than expected to understand spoken language — words, instructions and questions — for their age. It is about understanding, not talking, and it is not a diagnosis. Always check hearing first, and arrange a developmental review if your child struggles to follow simple directions or learn new words, because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Verbal mean for my child?
A delay in Verbal means your toddler's spoken words and language are arriving more slowly than the typical range for their age — not a diagnosis. Between 12 and 36 months language varies widely, and many late talkers catch up with early support. Seek a developmental check if there are few or no words, no two-word phrases by 2, very unclear speech, or any loss of words, because early help works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Vocabulary Mean for My Child?
A vocabulary delay means your toddler uses fewer words than most children their age — a signal to look closer, not a diagnosis. Many children reach about 50 words by 18–24 months and start joining two words by age 2. Look at the whole picture: understanding, connecting, steady growth and hearing matter as much as word count. A calm developmental check is wise if words are very few, two-word phrases aren't appearing by 2, or any words are lost, because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Does a Delay in Vocalization Mean for My Child?
A delay in vocalization between 12 and 36 months means your child's early sounds and babble need a closer, calm look — not a diagnosis. Watch for little babbling by 12 months, very few words by 18–24 months, losing sounds once used, or not responding to their name. A hearing check is always a sensible first step. Early support works wonderfully at this age, so a developmental check is the wise move, not worry.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing cognitive communication pre-literacy?
If your 3-to-7-year-old isn't yet showing cognitive communication pre-literacy — listening to stories, naming things, enjoying books, hearing rhymes — it is not a diagnosis or a sign of low intelligence. It means these foundation skills may need gentle, playful support now, while the brain is most ready. Seek a developmental check if several flags appear together, because early, play-based help works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing communication?
If your 3-to-7-year-old isn't yet showing expected communication — joining words, conversing, understanding and using language to connect — it is not a diagnosis. It means a developmental check (including hearing) is wise now, because communication responds beautifully to early, play-based support.
Read the answer AnswerWhat It Means If Your Child Isn't Showing Expressive Communication Yet
Expressive communication is how a child sends messages out — words, gestures, sounds and sentences. If a 3-to-7-year-old isn't showing expected expressive language, it isn't a diagnosis; it's a reason for a calm developmental check, because early support works best. Many children understand more than they can say, and a hearing check plus a speech-language review shows exactly where to begin.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing communication – pragmatics?
Pragmatics is the social use of language — taking turns, staying on topic, reading cues and adjusting to the listener. Between 3 and 7, children build these gradually, so a child not yet showing them simply may need more practice and support, not a diagnosis. Worth a friendly developmental check if your child rarely takes conversational turns, misses social cues, or struggles to join give-and-take play — because gentle early help works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing receptive communication?
Receptive communication is how well a child understands language — following instructions, responding to their name, recognising familiar words. If a 3-to-7-year-old isn't yet showing this clearly, it isn't a diagnosis; it's a reason for a gentle developmental check and a hearing test, because understanding is the foundation for talking and learning and early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing receptive and expressive communication?
Receptive communication is how a child understands language; expressive is how they use it. If your 3-to-7-year-old isn't yet showing these as expected, it means their language may benefit from a closer look — not a diagnosis. A gentle developmental check, including a hearing review, is wise now because early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child isn't yet showing social communication language?
Between 3 and 7 years, children grow social communication at different paces — talking with people, taking turns, reading gestures and feelings. If your child isn't yet showing these skills, it isn't a diagnosis; it's a reason for a gentle developmental check now, because early, play-based support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing contextual language use?
If your 3–7-year-old isn't yet using language to fit the situation — answering what's asked, adjusting to the listener, taking conversational turns — it doesn't mean a diagnosis. This social, situational layer of language develops gradually and often responds beautifully to gentle support. A developmental check shows where your child is and what helps next.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing conversation skills?
Between 3 and 7, conversation skills — turn-taking, staying on topic, asking and answering, reading cues — develop gradually. If your child isn't yet showing them, it usually means this skill needs more time and practice, not that something is wrong. It is a reason to observe and, if several signs are well behind peers, to seek a friendly developmental check, because early support works well.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing conversational skills?
If your child isn't yet showing conversational skills — turn-taking, answering and asking questions, staying on topic — it usually means they need more support and practice, not that something is wrong. It is a good reason for a gentle developmental check, since early support works best while these skills are forming. Check hearing too, and trust your instinct if talking isn't keeping pace.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing descriptive language?
Descriptive language means using words to add detail — colour, size, feeling, place. Between 3 and 7 years this grows gradually, so a child not yet describing things may simply be early on that path. Seek a gentle screen if describing words stay very sparse, sentences remain short and bare, or it travels with other communication delays. This is a reason to observe and support early — never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing early words?
A first word near 12 months and a handful of words by 18 months is a useful guide, but the normal range is wide and many quiet toddlers catch up — especially with rich, playful talk at home. Seek a calm developmental check if your child has few or no words by 18 months, isn't understanding simple requests, isn't pointing or gesturing, or doesn't respond to their name. Understanding often comes before talking, and hearing should always be checked first. This is reason to assess early, not a diagnosis — early support works beautifully.
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