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Speech Therapy
Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with speech therapy.
1,744 published answers · English · Page 23
Signs & concerns
When should I worry about speech delay at 12–18 months?
At 12–18 months, range is wide and one quiet talker is rarely cause for alarm. Worry becomes meaningful with a pattern: no babble or gestures by 12 months, no words by 15–18 months, no understanding of simple requests, or loss of skills once gained. A check — starting with hearing — is the hopeful next step; only a clinician can tell delay from a phase.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about hearing in my 18–24-month-old?
By 18–24 months a child should turn to your voice, respond to their name and use a few growing words. If your toddler misses everyday sounds, follows only gestures, or has very few words, ask for a hearing check — a fresh test is always reasonable, even after a newborn screen. Only a clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about speech and language delay at 18–24 months?
Between 18 and 24 months there's a wide normal range, but very few words, no pointing or gestures, not understanding simple instructions, or losing words are worth a gentle check. A single quiet phase often resolves; a persistent pattern is the real flag. A screen brings clarity — only a clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Hearing Impairment?
By age two, worry is reasonable if your child doesn't respond to their name or soft sounds, watches faces intently to understand, or has very few clear words. A painless hearing test can confirm or rule it out quickly — and earlier is better. Only a clinician can diagnose.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Speech and Language Delay?
At two, most children use about 50 words and start joining two together. Below this — or with loss of words, little gesturing or no response to name — a developmental check is wise. Worry is a good reason to look, not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about hearing impairment at 3–6 months
At 3–6 months, hearing is watched gently, not feared. Expect startle to loud sounds, calming to your voice, turning towards sound, and early cooing. A consistent absence — or NICU, prematurity, jaundice or family history — warrants a hearing check. Only a clinician can confirm.
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 that my 3-year-old might have Hearing Impairment?
By age three, a child should respond to their name, follow simple directions and speak in short sentences. A persistent pattern of not responding, mishearing or limited speech — especially after frequent ear infections — is worth a prompt hearing check. Worry is a reason to assess, not a diagnosis.
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 hearing impairment in my 4-year-old?
By four, a child should hear soft speech, follow instructions across a room and speak clearly. Worry — and check — if they often say 'what?', need the TV very loud, don't respond when called, or mishear words. Hearing can change after birth and infections, so a test is the kind, hopeful step. Only a clinician can confirm it.
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 that my 5-year-old might have hearing impairment?
By five, a child should hear soft speech across a room and speak clearly. A persistent pattern of mishearing, asking for repetition, loud TV or unclear speech — across home and school — warrants a simple hearing check. Worry is a reason to test, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about hearing impairment at 6–9 months?
By 6–9 months most babies turn to sounds, babble and react to familiar voices. A consistent pattern of missing these is worth a prompt hearing check — not panic. Worry is a reason to assess; only a clinician can confirm hearing impairment.
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 should I worry my 6-year-old has hearing impairment?
By six, persistent mishearing, asking for repetition, loud TV, not responding when called, or falling behind in classroom listening are signs worth a hearing check. Many causes are treatable, and early assessment helps. Only a clinician can confirm hearing impairment.
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 speech delay at 9–12 months?
At 9 to 12 months it is too early to diagnose Speech and Language Delay — communication now is babble, gestures and shared attention, not words. Watch for absent babble, no gestures by 12 months, no response to sound, or loss of a skill, and have hearing checked. Worry is a reason to screen, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my newborn might have Hearing Impairment?
For a newborn, hearing isn't judged by home signs — it's checked by a painless screening test (OAE/AABR) in the first days of life. Follow the 1–3–6 pathway: screen by 1 month, confirm by 3 months, support by 6 months. Only a clinician can confirm hearing impairment.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my newborn might have Speech and Language Delay?
A newborn cannot have a speech and language delay — words aren't expected for months. In the first three months, watch instead for reaction to sound, soothing to your voice and early cooing. The key priority at this age is hearing. Delay becomes meaningful much later, around ages 2–4, and only a clinician can assess it.
Read the answer AnswerWill my child be able to talk?
Most children who are slow to talk do go on to speak well, especially with early support. Talking grows from hearing, understanding, the urge to connect, and daily chances to play and chatter. Seek a developmental and hearing check if there are no words by 16–18 months, no two-word phrases by 24 months, no pointing or response to name, or lost words. This is a reason to assess early, never a diagnosis — early help is when the difference is greatest.
Read the answerCauses & influences
Are Boys More Likely to Have Developmental Language Disorder?
Boys are diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder somewhat more often than girls (roughly 1.3–2:1), but DLD is common in both sexes and affects around 1 in 14 children. Sex is a small risk factor, never a diagnosis — and girls may be under-identified, so being a boy is no reason to wait on a developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerAre boys more likely to have selective mutism?
Selective mutism affects both boys and girls, with only a small and inconsistent sex difference — some studies suggest slightly more girls. A child's sex is not a reliable predictor. What matters is whether the silence is consistent, lasts beyond a month, and occurs while the child speaks freely elsewhere. Early support helps regardless of gender.
Read the answer AnswerAre boys more likely to have speech and language delay?
Boys are somewhat more likely than girls to show early speech and language delay — roughly a 2:1 ratio in many studies — but the difference is modest. Being a boy never explains away a delay or justifies waiting past milestone windows; a persistent delay deserves a check regardless of sex.
Read the answer AnswerAre girls more likely to have Developmental Language Disorder?
Girls are not more likely to have Developmental Language Disorder — slightly more boys are identified, with a modest ratio of around 1.3–2 to 1. But girls are often under-identified because their difficulties can be quieter, so a girl's language concern deserves the same attention as a boy's. DLD affects around 1 in 14 children of either sex.
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