What to do if your child started talking late

If your little one is taking longer than expected to find their words, take a breath — late talking is common, often very manageable, and the earlier you act the more powerful the support.

In short

If your child started talking late, the most important steps are simple: keep talking, reading and playing richly with them every day, and arrange a developmental and speech-language check so you understand whether this is a temporary lag or something that needs targeted support. Many late talkers catch up beautifully, and gentle, early input only helps. You don't need to wait and worry — a quick assessment gives clarity and a plan.

What you can do at home

• Talk through your day — narrate what you're doing ("now we're washing the cup"), name objects, and pause to give your child time to respond.
• Follow their lead — comment on whatever they're looking at or playing with, rather than quizzing them with "what's this?"
• Read together daily — point at pictures, use simple repeated words, and let them turn the pages.
• Reward all communication — gestures, pointing, sounds and single words are all real attempts; respond warmly to each one.
• Reduce background noise — turn off the TV during play and meals so words stand out and conversation can flow.
• Have their hearing checked — even mild, fluctuating hearing loss (often after frequent ear infections) can delay speech.

These everyday habits are exactly what speech therapists build on — so you are never starting from zero.

When to seek a check

Consider a speech-language and developmental check if, broadly: by 18 months your child uses very few or no words; by 2 years they have fewer than about 50 words or aren't combining two words ("more milk"); speech is very hard to understand for the age; they aren't using gestures like pointing or waving; or you notice they don't respond to their name or seem not to understand simple instructions. Any loss of words or skills they once had warrants a prompt check. Trust your instinct — if you're worried, a check brings answers, not labels.

The Pinnacle way

AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or a checklist. Our clinician-administered structured assessment builds a precise picture of your child's communication strengths and needs, and any support is delivered through tailored speech therapy. You can also explore how early intervention supports families across our 70+ centres.

Trusted sources

WHO healthy early-childhood development guidance; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) on late language emergence and speech-sound development; American Academy of Pediatrics family guidance (HealthyChildren.org) on early language milestones.

Next step — Want clarity on your child's talking? Book a speech and developmental assessment with a Pinnacle clinician.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.