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Communication
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
When should I worry that my 3-to-6-month-old might have Developmental Language Disorder?
At 3 to 6 months it is too early to identify Developmental Language Disorder, because spoken language hasn't emerged yet. What matters now is pre-language communication — cooing, babbling, smiling back, and turning to your voice — and confirming your baby hears well. DLD becomes meaningful from around age 2 and beyond. Mention any hearing or sound-response concern promptly; only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about a non-verbal presentation at 3–6 months?
At 3 to 6 months it is too early to identify a non-verbal or minimally verbal presentation, because spoken words are not yet a milestone. What matters now is early connection — social smiling, cooing, eye contact and turning to sound. Concern about limited spoken language becomes meaningful much later, well into the second year. Enjoy and gently observe, and raise any hearing or responsiveness worry with your paediatrician.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 3-to-6-month-old might have Speech and Language Delay?
At 3 to 6 months it is too early to diagnose speech and language delay — words are months away. Enjoy and encourage cooing, smiling and babbling. The one thing worth checking promptly is hearing if your baby doesn't react to sound or your voice. Formal language assessment becomes meaningful nearer 18–24 months.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Childhood Apraxia of Speech at 3?
At three, seek a speech-language check if your child is very hard to understand even for family, produces the same word differently each time, visibly struggles or gropes to make sounds, distorts vowels, or understands far more than they can say. These point to a check, not a diagnosis — only a qualified speech-language pathologist can identify Childhood Apraxia of Speech, often over more than one visit. Acting at three is an advantage, because earlier specialised practice helps most.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 3-year-old might have Developmental Language Disorder?
At three, it's worth a developmental and speech check — not a diagnosis — if your child uses very few words, isn't joining two or three words, is hard for family to understand most of the time, or struggles far more with talking and understanding than peers. First have hearing checked, as it's a common, treatable cause. Developmental Language Disorder responds well to early play-based support, so noticing now means helping sooner.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 3-year-old might have Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation?
At three, a child using very few or no spoken words is a clear reason to seek a developmental check now. Being minimally verbal describes where speech is today, not a fixed verdict — and three is an ideal age to begin support. Watch for limited words, little gesture or response to name, or any loss of skills. Only a clinician can assess the cause.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 3-year-old might have Speech and Language Delay?
At three, look closely if your child uses very few words, isn't joining words, is hard for family to understand, or struggles to follow simple directions. A persistent pattern — not one late phase — is the real flag. Worry is a reason to screen; only a clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Childhood Apraxia of Speech at four?
At four, worry less about isolated mispronunciations and more about patterns: speech that's very hard for familiar people to understand, the same word said differently each time, visible groping for sounds, and longer words breaking down. These point towards a motor-planning issue and warrant a speech-language assessment — only a clinician can confirm Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about DLD in my 4-year-old?
By four, most children speak in sentences, are understood by strangers most of the time and can follow two-step instructions. Seek a developmental check if your child uses very short or jumbled sentences, is hard to understand, struggles to find words or follow instructions, or can't tell a simple story. These are reasons to assess — not a diagnosis — and early language support works best. Always rule out hearing first.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about a 4-year-old who isn't talking
By four years, most children speak in short sentences and are understood by familiar adults. Very few words, no word combinations, reliance on gestures, or loss of words are clear reasons to seek a developmental check now rather than wait. A minimally verbal presentation is a signal for early support, not a verdict — and the right help, begun early, makes a real difference.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about speech and language delay at 4?
By four, most children speak in sentences and are understood outside the family. A persistent pattern — short or jumbled speech, hard for strangers to understand, or trouble following directions — is a fair reason to check. Worry is a reason to assess, not a diagnosis; only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Childhood Apraxia of Speech at 5?
At five, seek a speech assessment if your child is hard for strangers to understand, says the same word differently each time, visibly gropes to position their mouth, or struggles more with longer words — especially when they understand far more than they can say. These are reasons to assess, not a diagnosis; Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a motor-planning difficulty, and at five a clear professional opinion plus early therapy genuinely helps.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Should I Worry About DLD in My 5-Year-Old?
At five, consider a language assessment if your child's talking and understanding are clearly behind peers — small vocabulary, short or jumbled sentences, trouble following instructions or being understood by others — and this isn't explained by hearing loss or another condition. This is a reason to check, not a diagnosis, and early support before formal schooling makes a real difference.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about a non-verbal 5-year-old
By five, most children speak in full sentences understood by strangers. A child using very few words or none — or relying mainly on gesture and sounds — should be assessed now, not waited on. Minimally verbal describes spoken output, not intelligence, and early communication support gives the biggest advantage. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess what's underneath.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about CAS at 6–9 months
At 6 to 9 months it is not yet possible or meaningful to identify Childhood Apraxia of Speech, because word-making hasn't begun. This age is for watching pre-speech foundations — babbling, eye contact, turn-taking and responding to sound. CAS assessment becomes appropriate around 2–3 years, once a child attempts words. Any general hearing or communication concern deserves a routine developmental check; only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to Worry About DLD at 6–9 Months
At 6–9 months it is too early to diagnose Developmental Language Disorder — DLD is identified much later, usually after age 4–5. Right now babies are building the foundations: babbling, responding to voices, turn-taking and shared attention. Rather than worry about DLD, enjoy and gently observe these milestones, and seek a hearing and developmental check if babble or responses to sound are consistently absent by 9 months. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about speech at 6–9 months
At 6–9 months it is far too early to label a baby non-verbal or minimally verbal — spoken words are not expected yet. What matters at this age is pre-verbal communication: babbling, eye contact, social smiles, turning to your voice, and reacting to sound. If those building blocks are clearly absent — especially no babbling by 9 months or no response to sound — a relaxed developmental and hearing check is wise. True verbal milestones are assessed much later.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about Speech and Language Delay at 6-9 months
At 6–9 months it is too early to diagnose Speech and Language Delay — your baby is building pre-language skills like babbling and responding to sound. Watch these foundations over time and check hearing if your baby doesn't react to sound. Only a clinician forms any diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry your 6-year-old has Childhood Apraxia of Speech
By six, most children are clearly understood by unfamiliar listeners. Worry — and seek a speech-language assessment — if your child is still very hard to understand, says the same word differently each attempt, gropes visibly to start words, or speaks with choppy, uneven rhythm despite understanding language well. These signal a check, not a diagnosis; only a Pinnacle clinician can assess.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 6-year-old might have Developmental Language Disorder?
At six, the time to seek a check for Developmental Language Disorder is when language difficulties persist into the school years — trouble following instructions, telling a simple story, finding words, or being understood by others. These aren't a diagnosis but good reasons for a structured assessment, since support at this age strongly helps learning and confidence. A hearing check is a sensible first step.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 6-year-old might have a non-verbal or minimally verbal presentation?
By six, most children speak in fluent sentences, so very limited or absent speech is a clear reason to seek a developmental check now rather than wait. Limited speech does not mean limited understanding or potential — the goal of assessment is to find why speech is limited and give the child a reliable way to communicate, including AAC. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess what's underneath.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about speech and language delay at 6?
By six, most children speak clearly in full sentences, follow multi-step instructions and tell simple stories. Worry is reasonable when difficulties persist, are hard for others to understand, or affect school. A hearing check and a clinician assessment bring clarity — only a qualified clinician can confirm a delay.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Childhood Apraxia of Speech at 9–12 months?
At 9–12 months it is too early to identify Childhood Apraxia of Speech, which is diagnosed only once a child is actively attempting words — usually from around 18 months to 2–3 years. What matters now is watching the healthy building blocks: babble, gestures, response to name and shared attention. If those seem quiet, the right step is a gentle developmental and hearing check, not a CAS hunt. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to Worry About DLD at 9–12 Months
At 9 to 12 months it is too early to diagnose Developmental Language Disorder, which becomes meaningful only in the toddler and preschool years. The right stance now is to watch and engage with pre-verbal building blocks — babbling, gestures, eye contact and responding to name — not words. A gentle developmental check, with a hearing review, is wise if several of these are clearly absent; only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
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