{"h1":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder at 18–24 Months","faq":[{"a":"Many children have around 50 or more words by their second birthday and begin joining two words together, like \"more milk\". There's wide normal variation, but very few words at 24 months is a reason for a gentle speech and hearing check — not a diagnosis.","q":"How many words should a 2-year-old say?"},{"a":"Many late talkers catch up, especially if they understand well and use lots of gestures. Concern grows when both understanding and talking are behind, gestures are limited, or the gap widens over months. A speech-language check helps tell the difference — early support never has to wait for a label.","q":"Is my child just a late talker or could it be DLD?"},{"a":"Yes. A hearing screen always comes first, because common, treatable issues like glue ear can affect how a toddler hears and learns speech. It's a quick, painless step before any further assessment.","q":"Should we check hearing first?"},{"a":"No. Growing up with two or more languages does not cause DLD or language delay. Bilingual children may mix languages or seem to favour one, which is normal. True DLD shows up across all the languages a child is learning.","q":"Does being bilingual cause language delay?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder at 18–24 Months","entity":{"key":"dld","kind":"condition","name":"Developmental Language Disorder","slug":"developmental-language-disorder"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Toddler-18-24","value":"toddler-18-24"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Communication","value":"communication"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Early Signs","value":"early_signs"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Special-Education","value":"special-education"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-young-children","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-9-to-12-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder at 9–12 Months"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-2-year-old","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder in a 2-Year-Old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder at 12–18 Months"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-18-to-24-month-old-might-have-developmental-language-disorder","title":"When to worry about DLD at 18–24 months"}],"summary":"Between 18 and 24 months, possible early signs of Developmental Language Disorder include a very small spoken vocabulary (often under 50 words by age two), not yet joining two words, difficulty following simple instructions, and limited pointing or imitation — while connection stays warm. These are signs to observe and discuss, not to diagnose at home, and a hearing and speech check is the sensible first step.","answer_md":"*Some toddlers take their own sweet time to talk — so how do you tell a late bloomer from a pattern worth a gentle second look?*\n\n## In short\nBetween 18 and 24 months, possible early signs of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) include a very small spoken vocabulary (often fewer than 50 words by age two), little or no joining of two words together, difficulty following simple everyday instructions, and limited pointing, gesturing or imitating sounds — while play and connection may be otherwise warm. At this age these are signs to *observe and discuss*, not to diagnose at home, because there is wide normal variation and many late talkers catch up. If language is clearly behind, a speech-language check is the kind, sensible next step.\n\n## Early signs to watch (18–24 months)\n**Understanding (receptive language)**\n- Struggles to follow simple one-step requests like \"give me the ball\" without gestures or repetition\n- Doesn't seem to recognise the names of familiar people, body parts or everyday objects\n- Limited response to her own name or simple questions\n\n**Talking (expressive language)**\n- A noticeably small spoken vocabulary — often fewer than around 50 words by 24 months\n- Not yet combining two words (\"more milk\", \"daddy go\") as the second birthday approaches\n- Very few different consonant sounds; words are hard for familiar adults to understand\n- Relies on pointing or pulling you along rather than trying words\n\n**Communication and play**\n- Little babbling, jargon or imitation of words and sounds\n- Reduced use of gestures such as waving, pointing to show, or nodding\n- Slow growth — vocabulary stays flat over several months rather than steadily building\n\nWhat shifts this from ordinary late-blooming towards something to assess is a **gap that persists or widens**, **both understanding and talking** being affected, and **limited gestures** — since strong pointing and good comprehension are reassuring even when words are slow.\n\n## When to seek a check\nMany healthy toddlers are simply on the later side of normal, especially in bilingual homes or after illness or ear infections. Consider a developmental and hearing check if, near the second birthday, your child has very few words, isn't starting to combine words, doesn't seem to understand simple requests, or uses few gestures. A hearing screen always comes first, because glue ear and other hearing differences are common and very treatable. DLD is usually identified a little later, but early support never has to wait for a label.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAt [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/), we start by understanding what your child *can* do and what helps communication flow — then build from there. Gentle, play-based [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) grows vocabulary, understanding and the joy of connecting, with parents coached as everyday communication partners. A clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care; nothing here is a diagnosis. You can learn more about [Developmental Language Disorder](/developmental-language-disorder) and how support works. Across 70+ centres in 4 states and 4.95 lakh+ families served, our aim is steady, strengths-first progress.\n\n## Trusted sources\nAligned with WHO ICD-11 (6A01.2 Developmental language disorder), American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren.org guidance on early language milestones, and ASHA resources on toddler communication development.\n\n**Next step —** if this sounds like your little one, book a developmental and speech screen with our clinical team on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181, and let's understand your child together.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-18-to-24-month-old-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Early Signs of DLD at 18–24 Months","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Narrate your day in short, clear words and pause to give her a turn: hold up two choices (\"banana or apple?\") and wait. Repeating and gently expanding what she says (\"ball!\" → \"big ball!\") builds language faster than correcting.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:54:00.24648+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-developmental-language-disorder-affect-a-child-s-daily-life","title":"How does Developmental Language Disorder affect a child's daily life?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-developmental-language-disorder-considered-a-disability","title":"Is Developmental Language Disorder considered a disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-developmental-language-disorder-genetic-or-hereditary","title":"Is Developmental Language Disorder Genetic or Hereditary?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-common-myths-about-developmental-language-disorder","title":"What are common myths about Developmental Language Disorder?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-developmental-language-disorder","title":"What are the types or levels of Developmental Language Disorder?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-developmental-language-disorder-in-children","title":"What causes Developmental Language Disorder in children?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-developmental-language-disorder","title":"What is Developmental Language Disorder?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-developmental-language-disorder-and-what-does-it-look-like-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Developmental Language Disorder, and what does it look like in early childhood?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-developmental-language-disorder","title":"What other conditions often occur alongside DLD?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-current-research-show-about-early-intervention-outcomes-for-developmental-language-disorder-in-children-under-7","title":"Early Intervention Outcomes for Developmental Language Disorder Under 7","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-developmental-language-disorder-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"Developmental Language Disorder: ICD-11 Definition & Early Features","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-developmental-language-disorder","title":"ICD-11 Classification for Developmental Language Disorder","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand the subject","total":14},{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder at 12–18 Months","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-18-to-24-month-old-might-have-developmental-language-disorder","title":"When to worry about DLD at 18–24 months","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-young-children","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-2-year-old","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder in a 2-Year-Old","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-language-disorder-in-a-9-to-12-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Developmental Language Disorder at 9–12 Months","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-developmental-language-disorder-be-cured","title":"Can DLD be cured? 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life","total":1}],"what_to_watch":"Watch when, near the second birthday, your toddler has very few words, isn't starting to combine two words, struggles to follow simple requests, or uses few gestures — especially if vocabulary stays flat over months. Arrange a hearing screen and speech check first.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/","code":"6A01.2","label":"WHO ICD-11: Developmental language disorder"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/","label":"HealthyChildren.org: early language milestones"},{"url":"https://www.asha.org/","label":"ASHA: toddler communication development"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:54:00.24648+00:00","meta_description":"Early signs of Developmental Language Disorder in 18–24-month-olds: small vocabulary, no two-word phrases, limited understanding and gestures. When to seek","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}