# What does a delay in Non-Verbal mean for my child?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-a-delay-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

A delay in spoken words means your toddler is reaching talking milestones later than most peers — but it does not mean they cannot communicate; many connect through gestures, pointing and play. Watch for few or no words by 18–24 months, no two-word phrases by two years, little pointing or response to name, or loss of skills. This is a reason for an early, gentle developmental and hearing check, not a diagnosis — and early speech support works beautifully at this age.

*If your toddler is not yet talking, taking a closer, loving look now is one of the kindest things you can do — and there is so much you can do to help.*

## In short
A delay in spoken words means your child is reaching the talking milestones later than most children their age — for example, fewer than expected words by 18–24 months, or not joining two words by around two years. A toddler being non-verbal does **not** mean they cannot or will not communicate; many connect beautifully through gestures, eye contact, pointing and play, and respond wonderfully to early support. It is a reason for a gentle developmental check, not a diagnosis — and at this age, early speech support works remarkably well.

## What to watch at 12–36 months
Communication is about far more than words. Encouraging signs that a clinician's eye is wise now include:

- **Few or no words** — fewer than a handful of words by 18 months, or fewer than around 50 words and no two-word phrases by 24 months.
- **Little non-verbal communication** — not pointing to show you things, not waving, not using gestures to ask or share.
- **Limited response** — not turning to their name, or not following a simple instruction like "give me the ball".
- **Little back-and-forth** — few shared smiles, limited eye contact, or not bringing toys to show you.
- **Loss of a skill** — words or babble that were there and then faded.

Look at the whole picture — a child who points, gestures, understands you and stays socially connected is communicating well even before words arrive. The aim is opportunity, not alarm.

## The science
Understanding (receptive language) usually grows before talking (expressive language). Early years are a window of rich brain growth, so support started early tends to bring the strongest gains. A speech-language assessment also checks hearing, since even mild hearing loss can quietly delay words.

## The Pinnacle way
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 — never from an online list. Our team builds a warm picture of how your [non-verbal toddler](/non-verbal-toddler) communicates today, then shapes playful [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) around their strengths.

## Trusted sources
ASHA (asha.org) guidance on toddler communication milestones and late talkers; CDC "Learn the Signs, Act Early" developmental milestones; American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) on early language and hearing checks.

**Next step —** Trust what you've noticed. [Book a developmental assessment](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) for a calm, clear review of how your child communicates.

## Sources
- ASHA — toddler speech and language development: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/
- CDC — Learn the Signs, Act Early milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- AAP HealthyChildren — toddler language and development: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/default.aspx

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Abilities: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/abilities
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Toddler: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/age/toddler
- Communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/communication
- Concern: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/concern
- Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen
- Speech Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/speech-therapy
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity

## Related question paths

### Understand the subject
- What is Non-Verbal in child development?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-non-verbal-in-child-development
- What Non-Verbal Communication Represents and When Delay Is Significant: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-non-verbal-represent-developmentally-and-when-is-a-delay-in-it-clinically-significant
- Which ICF functioning domain does Non-Verbal map to in early childhood?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/which-icf-functioning-domain-does-non-verbal-map-to-in-early-childhood

### Recognise signs & concerns
- What Does a Delay in Communication Mean for My Child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-a-delay-in-communication-mean-for-my-child
- What does it mean if my child is not yet showing verbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-verbal-communication
- What does a delay in Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-a-delay-in-verbal-mean-for-my-child
- Is it normal that my toddler is not yet showing communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-communication

### Understand assessment
- How is a Non-Verbal Toddler Assessed?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-non-verbal-assessed
- How is Non-Verbal scored on the AbilityScore?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-non-verbal-scored-on-the-abilityscore
- What does the amber zone for non-verbal skills mean?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean
- My child is in the green zone for Non-Verbal — what does that mean?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean
- Red zone for non-verbal — what it means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean
- What does an AbilityScore of 0–100 in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 100–200 in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 200–300 in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 300–400 in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 400–500 in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 500–600 in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child
- What an AbilityScore of 600–700 in Non-Verbal Means for Your Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child

### Explore therapy & support
- Amber Zone for Non-Verbal — What To Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next
- Green Zone for Non-Verbal — What Should We Do Next?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next
- Red Zone for Non-Verbal — What To Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 0–100: Your Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-0-100-what-are-the-next-steps
- My child's Non-Verbal AbilityScore is 100–200 — what are the next steps?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-100-200-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 200–300 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-200-300-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 300–400 — next steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-300-400-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 400–500 — Next Steps for Your Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-400-500-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 500–600 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-500-600-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 600–700 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-600-700-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 700–800 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-700-800-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 800–900 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-800-900-what-are-the-next-steps

### At home & in everyday life
- How can I support my child's communication if they are non-verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-my-child-s-non-verbal
- How can therapy improve my child's communication if they are non-verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-therapy-improve-my-child-s-non-verbal
- What simple daily activities help build a child's non-verbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-simple-daily-activities-help-build-a-child-s-non-verbal