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Speech Therapy
Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with speech therapy.
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Signs & concerns
When do children develop non-verbal communication?
Non-verbal communication starts in the first months and builds steadily: eye contact and social smiles early on, pointing, waving and gaze-following by 9–12 months, and rich gesture-plus-expression by 18–24 months. By ages 3–7 children read emotions and use body language to support speech. Ranges are wide; persistent absence of pointing or shared looks across settings is worth a friendly developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Do Children Usually Identify Objects?
Children usually begin identifying familiar named objects between 12 and 18 months, point to several objects and body parts by age 2, identify objects by function by 3–4 years, and sort them into categories by 5 years. This receptive-language skill grows before speech, with a few months' variation being normal.
Read the answer AnswerWhen do children develop pronunciation skills?
Clear pronunciation develops gradually from about 3 to 7 years: roughly half-understandable to family by 3, mostly clear to strangers by 4, and nearly all sounds mastered by 6–7. Late sounds like r, s, th and l settle last, which is normal.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Do Children Usually Start Asking Questions?
Children usually start asking simple questions between 18 months and 3 years, with "what" and "where" around 2, the "why?" stage by 3–4 years, and "how/when" questions by 4–5. Ranges are wide; check in if no simple questions by age 3.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Do Children Usually Understand Questions?
Most children begin understanding simple "where" and "what" questions between 18 months and 2 years, grasp "who" by age 3, and handle "why", "how" and "when" by 4–5 years. Understanding usually comes before the ability to answer fully, with a healthy range around each age.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Do Children Usually Start Forming Sentences?
Children usually begin joining words into sentences between 18 and 36 months — two-word phrases by 18–24 months, simple three-word sentences by 2½–3 years, and longer, grammatically richer sentences by 4–5 years. These are gentle guides; a friendly check is wise if there are no two-word phrases by 24 months or no simple sentences by age 3.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Do Children Usually Sentence Repetition?
Children usually begin repeating short 2–4 word sentences between 2 and 3 years, manage 6–8 word sentences by 4–5 years, and handle longer complex sentences by 5–6 years. Ranges are wide — watch for steady progress, and seek a speech check if a child past 4–5 struggles to repeat short sentences.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Do Children Develop Social Communication?
Social communication builds steadily: shared smiles and gaze by 2–3 months, pointing to share by ~12 months, and simple conversations, turn-taking and pretend play by ages 3–5. Pace varies — the overall pattern matters more than any single date.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Do Children Usually Develop Sound Production?
Most children develop clear sound production between 3 and 7 years. By 3 a familiar listener understands about three-quarters of speech; by 4 strangers understand most of it; and by 7 nearly all sounds, including tricky r, s, l and th, are mastered.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Do Children Usually Learn Spatial Concepts?
Children usually start understanding spatial concepts like 'in', 'on' and 'under' between 2 and 3 years, add 'behind', 'in front' and 'between' by 3–4 years, and master 'left/right' and ordering words around 5–6 years — learnt through everyday play, not drills.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Does a Child's Speech Become Clear?
Speech intelligibility grows predictably: a stranger typically understands about 50% of a 2-year-old, 75% of a 3-year-old, and nearly all of a 4-to-5-year-old's speech, even while a few late sounds settle.
Read the answer AnswerWhen do children usually develop speech, language and communication?
Between ages 3 and 7, children move from short sentences to full conversations, storytelling and clear speech. There is a wide healthy range, so these are signposts not deadlines. If understanding or talking seems persistently behind, a structured developmental check brings clarity.
Read the answer AnswerWhen do children develop temporal concepts?
Children usually begin understanding temporal concepts — words like before, after, now, yesterday and tomorrow — between 3 and 5 years, through daily routines first, with fuller sequencing and calendar mastery by 6–7 years. Occasional mix-ups are normal in this window.
Read the answer AnswerWhen do children usually build vocabulary?
Most children say a first word near 12 months, reach about 50 words by 18–24 months, then have a word spurt to 200–1,000+ words and short sentences by age 3, growing into thousands of words by 4–5. Ranges are wide and normal.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should a frontline health worker refer a child with possible Hearing Impairment to a specialist?
Refer immediately on failed newborn screening, parental concern, missed listening milestones, recurrent ear discharge, or high-risk history. Never wait-and-watch for hearing — prompt audiology/ENT referral protects spoken language. Diagnosis is made only by a qualified clinician.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should a frontline health worker refer a child with possible Speech and Language Delay?
Refer when language milestones are clearly behind for age, when a parent is worried, or at any red flag — especially loss of words already learned. Always check hearing first. When in doubt, refer: early assessment is low-risk and high-benefit. Only a clinician confirms a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about late talking?
Children learn to talk on a wide range of timelines, so a slow start is not always a worry. Seek a developmental and hearing check if there is no babbling or gesture by 12 months, no single words by 16 months, fewer than 50 words or no two-word phrases by 24 months, or any loss of words or social connection at any age. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support works best when started young.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to Worry About Mixing Up Languages
Mixing languages in one sentence (code-mixing) is a normal, healthy part of growing up multilingual and does not cause delay or confusion. Worry less about the mixing and more about the overall picture: seek a developmental check if your child has very few words across all languages combined, isn't joining words by age 2, doesn't understand simple instructions, or has lost words once used. A bilingual child's vocabulary should be counted across all languages together. This is a reason to assess early — not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about my child's communication development?
Some variation in how children learn to talk is completely normal. Seek a developmental check if your child isn't babbling by 12 months, has no clear words by 16–18 months, isn't joining two words by 2 years, is very hard to understand by 3, or loses speech or social skills. Always check hearing first. This isn't a diagnosis — it means early, playful support is wise now, because it works best the earlier it begins.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about not pointing to show things?
Most children begin pointing to share things between 12 and 18 months, and it's usually established by 18 months. Seek a developmental check if your child is around 16–18 months and still not pointing to share interest, especially alongside few words, little eye contact, not responding to their name, or not following your point. This is a reason to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about not responding to name in my child?
Occasional missed name-calls are normal, especially when a child is absorbed, tired or in noise. Most children respond to their name fairly consistently by 9–12 months, with a clear regular response by 12–15 months. Seek a developmental check if your child rarely or never turns to their name by 12 months, or this comes with little eye contact, few sounds or words, or no pointing. A hearing test is the sensible first step, and early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about echolalia in my child?
Echolalia — repeating words or phrases — is a normal and useful stage of language learning, especially around 2 to 3 years, and often helps children practise talking. Seek a developmental check if, by around age 3, repeating is your child's main way of communicating with little flexible language of their own, or if it travels with delays in talking, social connection or play. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis, because support at this age works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about stuttering in my child?
Most stuttering between ages 2 and 5 is normal developmental disfluency that comes and goes and often clears on its own. Seek a speech check if it lasts beyond 6 months, starts after age 3½, runs in the family, comes with visible struggle or tension, or your child starts to fear or avoid talking. This is a reason to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early, gentle support works best and most children recover.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about hearing impairment at 12-18 months?
By 12–18 months, check with your doctor if your child doesn't turn to sounds, isn't babbling or saying any words, or doesn't respond to their name — especially if responsiveness has faded. This needs a hearing check, not panic. Only a clinician can confirm; early checks help enormously.
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