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Speech Therapy
Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with speech therapy.
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Signs & concerns
Late Talking at Three — Should You Worry?
By age three, most children use many words (often 200+), join two-to-three words, and are understood by familiar adults much of the time. A check is wise if your child uses very few words, isn't combining words, is hard to understand, struggles to follow simple instructions, or has lost words. Late talking is common and often temporary — but three is a great age to look, rule out hearing concerns first, and start early support if needed. This is reassurance and a decision step, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerMixing Up Languages in a 2-Year-Old
Mixing languages at age two is completely normal — it's called code-mixing and shows a healthy bilingual brain sorting two systems at once, not confusion or delay. Count your child's words across both languages together rather than worrying about keeping them separate. Seek a developmental check only if there are very few words in both languages combined, little understanding of simple requests, or differences in eye contact, response to name and shared interest — reasons to look early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about mixing up languages in a 3-year-old?
Mixing up languages in a 3-year-old is normal, healthy and expected — it's called code-mixing and is common in multilingual Indian homes. It does not cause delay or confusion. Count your child's words across all languages combined, not each separately. Seek a developmental check only if total vocabulary is very low, words aren't joining up, or there are social or communication differences — not because of the mixing itself.
Read the answer AnswerMixing Up Languages at 4
Mixing up languages at four — called code-mixing — is completely normal and a healthy sign of a bilingual brain, not a cause of delay or confusion. Bilingual children count their words across all their languages combined and naturally mix less as they grow. A gentle developmental check is wise only if, across both languages together, a child uses very few words, isn't forming short sentences, or is very hard for family to understand — not because of the mixing itself.
Read the answer AnswerShould I Worry About a 5-Year-Old Mixing Languages?
Mixing up languages in a 5-year-old — called code-mixing or code-switching — is normal and healthy in bilingual and multilingual children, not a sign of delay or disorder. Count your child's words across all languages combined, not one alone. Bilingualism does not cause language delay. Seek a developmental check only if, across all languages together, your child uses very few words, isn't understood by family, or shows wider differences in understanding, social connection or play.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about not pointing to show things in a 1-year-old?
At 12 months, pointing to show things is only just emerging, so its absence alone is rarely a worry — the fuller picture of connection matters more: following your point, shared looks, babbling, gestures and responding to name. Pointing to share usually appears by 15–18 months, so if it hasn't by then, especially with other communication differences, a developmental check is wise. This is early opportunity, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about not responding to name in a 1-year-old?
By around 12 months, most babies turn or pause when their name is called at least some of the time — occasional 'not listening' when busy is normal. Seek a check if a one-year-old rarely or never responds, especially alongside little eye contact, no babbling or pointing, or no shared smiles. Begin with a hearing test, then a developmental review. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis — support at this age works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about not responding to name in a 2-year-old?
By age two, most children turn to their name most of the time, so a child who rarely responds is worth a gentle check. The first step is always a hearing test, since mild or fluctuating hearing loss can look identical. If hearing is fine and your child still rarely responds — especially alongside few words, little eye contact or no pointing — arrange a calm developmental review now. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis, because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerBaby Not Responding to Name
Most babies don't reliably respond to their own name until around 9–12 months, so in a young baby this alone is rarely a worry. A clear response is expected closer to the first birthday. Seek a gentle developmental and hearing check if there's no response to name by 12 months, or if it comes with little eye contact, no babble, no shared smiling or not following a point. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about repeating words (echolalia) in a 2-year-old?
At age 2, repeating words and phrases (echolalia) is usually a normal, healthy part of learning to talk — children echo to practise sounds and join in conversation. A developmental check is wise only if echoing is almost the only speech with few self-made words, or if it comes with little response to name, limited eye contact, no pointing, or loss of skills. This is a reason to look early, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerEcholalia in a 3-Year-Old
At 3 years, repeating words and phrases (echolalia) is usually a normal part of learning to talk — many children rehearse language by echoing before remixing it into their own words. Seek a gentle check if echoing is almost the only way your child communicates, if there are very few original words, or if it travels with little eye contact, limited pretend play, not responding to their name, or loss of skills. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis, because support works best now.
Read the answer AnswerEcholalia in a 4-Year-Old
Repeating words or phrases (echolalia) is a normal part of language learning and is often still seen in four-year-olds, especially when tired, excited or learning new words. It is worth a calm developmental and speech check when repeating is the main way your child communicates, crowds out their own original sentences, or travels alongside social, eye-contact or play differences. This is a reason to look early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerEcholalia in a 5-Year-Old: Should I Worry?
At five, echolalia — repeating words or phrases — is often a normal part of learning language, especially when a child is excited, tired or rehearsing speech. Seek a developmental check if repetition replaces your child's own spontaneous sentences, blocks back-and-forth conversation, or comes with differences in social connection, play or understanding. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis — and support at five works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about stuttering in a 2-year-old?
Most stuttering in two-year-olds is normal developmental disfluency — a common, usually temporary stage as language outpaces little mouths, and most children outgrow it. Seek a speech-language check if it lasts beyond about 6 months, worsens, brings visible struggle or distress, or your child starts avoiding talking. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis — early, playful support works best.
Read the answer AnswerStuttering in a 3-Year-Old
Stuttering at age 3 is very common and usually a typical part of fast-growing language — for most children it comes and goes and fades on its own. Seek a speech-language check if it lasts beyond about 6 months, gets worse, comes with visible effort or frustration, or there's a family history of stuttering. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis, because early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about stuttering in a 4-year-old?
Some speech bumps are normal at age four as ideas outpace words, and most early stuttering settles on its own. Seek a speech check if it has lasted more than six months, is getting worse, comes with visible struggle or tension, your child avoids talking, or stuttering runs in the family. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support at this age works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about stuttering in a 5-year-old?
Some bumps in speech are normal as language grows, but by age five it is worth a calm speech check if the stuttering has lasted more than six months, is worsening, comes with visible struggle, or is upsetting your child. This is not a diagnosis — it means a speech-language therapist's gentle look is wise now, because early support at this age works very well and many children recover.
Read the answer AnswerSpeech and language delay at age 5: what to look for
By age 5 most children speak in full sentences and are understood by strangers. Persistent trouble being understood, very limited vocabulary, or difficulty following instructions warrants assessment now — speech and language delay responds very well to therapy, especially before school.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Developmental Language Disorder in a 1-year-old boy
At 12 months DLD is not yet diagnosed — language is just beginning. Watch the building blocks instead: babbling, pointing and waving, responding to his name, and understanding simple words. If several are missing, or any skills are lost, arrange a gentle developmental and hearing check. Formal language assessment becomes meaningful from around age 2.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Developmental Language Disorder in a 1-Year-Old Girl
At 12 months, Developmental Language Disorder cannot yet be diagnosed — language is only beginning. Watch instead for healthy early communication: babbling, responding to her name, gestures like pointing and waving, and understanding simple words. Check hearing if anything seems off. Formal language assessment becomes meaningful after about 24 months.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Developmental Language Disorder in a 2-Year-Old Boy
At around two, early signs of DLD include fewer than ~50 words, not yet combining two words, leaning on gestures to communicate, and difficulty following simple instructions. Check hearing first. Many late talkers catch up — these signs are reasons to screen, not to worry, and only a clinician can form any conclusion.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Developmental Language Disorder in a 2-year-old girl
By two years, most girls say around 50 words and begin joining two together. Early signs of DLD include a very small vocabulary, not combining words, trouble understanding simple instructions, and limited gesture or pretend play — once hearing loss is ruled out. These signs warrant a friendly check, not alarm; only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Developmental Language Disorder in a 3-Year-Old Boy
In a 3-year-old, Developmental Language Disorder shows as a small vocabulary, very short or jumbled sentences, trouble following simple instructions and word-finding difficulty — with otherwise warm play and connection. Several persisting signs warrant a speech-language check now; only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Developmental Language Disorder in a 3-Year-Old Girl
At three, early signs of DLD are persistent trouble understanding or using language well below peers — small vocabulary, very short or jumbled sentences, difficulty following instructions — not explained by hearing loss. Girls are easily overlooked as they often stay sociable, so trust your instinct. A hearing check comes first, and only a clinician can confirm DLD.
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