{"h1":"Early Signs of Speech & Language Delay at 6-to-9 Months","faq":[{"a":"No — true words usually come around the first birthday. At 6-to-9 months we look for babbling, responding to sound and voice, eye contact and turn-taking with coos and sounds, not actual words.","q":"Should a 6-month-old be saying words?"},{"a":"Not necessarily; babies vary. But if your baby rarely babbles, doesn't respond to your voice or everyday sounds, or has stopped making sounds they used to, a friendly developmental and hearing check is wise, as babies learn to talk by listening.","q":"My baby is quiet — is that a speech delay?"},{"a":"Because babies build speech by listening, hearing concerns often show up first as reduced babble or no response to sound. A simple hearing screen rules this out early so support can start promptly.","q":"Why is a hearing check the first step?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-6-to-9-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Speech and Language Delay in a 6-to-9-Month-Old","entity":{"key":"speech-delay","kind":"condition","name":"Speech and Language Delay","slug":"speech-language-delay"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent / Family","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Infant-6-9","value":"infant-6-9"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Communication","value":"communication"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Early Signs","value":"early_signs"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Speech-Therapy","value":"speech-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"},{"kind":"condition","label":"Speech and Language Delay","value":"speech-delay"},{"kind":"icd11","label":"6A01 · Developmental speech or language disorders","value":"6A01"},{"kind":"language","label":"English","value":"en"},{"kind":"sdg","label":"SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities","value":"10"},{"kind":"sdg","label":"SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being","value":"3"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"ASHA / PHC / Frontline","value":"asha_phc"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Doctor / Pediatrician","value":"doctor"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-signs-of-communication-delay-in-a-6-to-9-month-old","title":"Signs of communication delay in a 6-to-9-month-old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-3-to-6-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Speech and Language Delay in a 3-to-6-Month-Old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-6-to-9-month-old-might-have-speech-and-language-delay","title":"When to worry about Speech and Language Delay at 6-9 months"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-3-to-6-month-old-might-have-speech-and-language-delay","title":"When should I worry that my 3-to-6-month-old might have Speech and Language Delay?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Speech & Language Delay (12–18 Months)"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-9-to-12-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Speech and Language Delay in a 9-to-12-Month-Old"}],"summary":"At 6-to-9 months speech hasn't started yet, so watch the building blocks: babbling, responding to sound and voice, eye contact and back-and-forth sound play. Gentle signs to note are no babbling, not reacting to sounds, little eye contact, or loss of earlier sounds — a hearing check comes first, and only a clinician can assess.","answer_md":"*Every baby finds their voice in their own time — but the months between 6 and 9 quietly lay the foundations for first words, and there are gentle signs worth noticing.*\n\n## In short\nAt 6-to-9 months, true \"speech\" hasn't begun yet — so we watch the building blocks: babbling, listening, eye contact and turn-taking with sound. Most babies this age coo, laugh and start babbling with consonants. If your baby isn't babbling, doesn't respond to sounds or your voice, or rarely makes eye contact, it's worth a friendly developmental check — not a cause for alarm.\n\n## What to watch at 6-to-9 months\nThese are the early communication building blocks for this age band:\n\n- **No babbling** — by around 6–7 months most babies string sounds like *ba-ba, da-da, ma-ma* (without meaning yet); little or no babble is worth noting.\n- **Doesn't react to sound or voice** — not turning towards your voice, a rattle or everyday sounds may point to a hearing concern, which often shows first.\n- **Little eye contact or social smiling** — not looking at faces or sharing smiles during play.\n- **No back-and-forth \"chat\"** — not cooing or sound-making in response when you talk or play peek-a-boo.\n- **Very quiet overall**, or has stopped making sounds they used to make (any loss of skill always deserves a prompt check).\n\nA hearing screen is the first sensible step, because babies learn to talk by listening.\n\n## The science\nLong before first words, babies practise the rhythm, sounds and turn-taking of conversation. Babbling, responding to sound and shared eye contact are the earliest measurable steps toward language, mapped under WHO ICD-11 6A01 (developmental speech or language disorders). At this age the goal is gentle observation and early support — never a label.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA 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 — never from a checklist at home. If you'd like reassurance, our team can guide an early [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) review and explain typical [speech and language delay](/speech-language-delay) milestones for your baby's age.\n\n## Trusted sources\nAligned with WHO ICD-11 (6A01), the CDC \"Learn the Signs. Act Early.\" milestones, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and RBSK developmental screening guidance.\n\n**Next step —** if any sign sounds familiar, book a free early developmental check on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181 — early listening support sets the stage for first words.\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-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-6-to-9-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-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-6-to-9-month-old","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-6-to-9-month-old-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Speech Delay Signs at 6-to-9 Months","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Narrate your day in a sing-song voice and pause for your baby to 'answer' with coos or babble — this turn-taking is the foundation of conversation. Face-to-face peek-a-boo builds eye contact and listening.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:22:00.074758+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-speech-and-language-delay-affect-a-child-s-daily-life","title":"How Speech and Language Delay Affects Daily Life","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-speech-and-language-delay-considered-a-disability","title":"Is Speech and Language Delay considered a disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-speech-and-language-delay-genetic-or-hereditary","title":"Is Speech and Language Delay Genetic or Hereditary?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-common-myths-about-speech-and-language-delay","title":"What are common myths about Speech and Language Delay?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-speech-and-language-delay","title":"What are the types or levels of Speech and Language Delay?","reason":"Same 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Delay: What to Do Next","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-speech-and-language-delay-has-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-what-should-we-do-next","title":"AbilityScore 500–600 for Speech and Language Delay — next steps","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":62}],"what_to_watch":"Watch for no babbling by 7 months, no reaction to your voice or everyday sounds, little eye contact or social smiling, or loss of sounds your baby used to make. Any loss of skill or hearing concern deserves a prompt check rather than waiting.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/browse11","code":"6A01","label":"WHO ICD-11 6A01 · Developmental speech or language disorders"},{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early."},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"American Academy of Pediatrics — HealthyChildren.org"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:22:00.074758+00:00","meta_description":"Gentle early signs of speech and language delay in a 6-to-9-month-old — babbling, responding to sound, eye contact. Reassuring guidance and when to check.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}