{"h1":"Signs Your Toddler May Need Support With Communication","faq":[{"a":"Understanding well is a lovely sign. Still, if there are few words by around 16–18 months or limited gestures and sharing, a gentle screen and a hearing check are wise — many toddlers simply need a little early support to bloom.","q":"My toddler understands me but doesn't talk much — should I worry?"},{"a":"Many children say a few clear words by around 16 months and combine two words by 24 months, though there is wide normal variation. It is the overall pattern across several months that matters most.","q":"At what age should my child be saying words?"},{"a":"Yes — hearing difficulties are common and very treatable, and they directly affect speech. A hearing check is always a sensible first step before anything else.","q":"Could a hearing problem be the cause?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-non-verbal","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with non verbal?","entity":{"key":"non-verbal","kind":"skill","name":"non verbal","slug":"non-verbal"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent / Family","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Toddler","value":"toddler"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Communication","value":"communication"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Early Signs","value":"early_signs"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"},{"kind":"ability","label":"Non-Verbal","value":"non-verbal"},{"kind":"assessment","label":"Ages & Stages Questionnaires, 3rd ed.","value":"asq3"},{"kind":"language","label":"English","value":"en"},{"kind":"sdg","label":"SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being","value":"3"},{"kind":"skill","label":"non verbal","value":"non-verbal"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"ASHA / PHC / Frontline","value":"asha_phc"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Doctor / Pediatrician","value":"doctor"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Therapist / Clinician","value":"therapist"}],"parent":{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-verbal-communication","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with verbal communication?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-social-communication","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with social communication?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-early-words","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with early words?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-communication","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with communication?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-language-development","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with language development?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-nonverbal-communication","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with nonverbal communication?"}],"summary":"Between 12 and 36 months, signs a toddler may need communication support include few or no words by 16–18 months, limited pointing, gestures or eye contact to share interest, little babbling, not responding to their name, and rarely copying sounds or actions. Toddlers vary widely, so these are signs to observe and check early — not to diagnose at home. A hearing check comes first, and gentle play-based support never has to wait for a label.","answer_md":"*Some little ones understand far more than they can yet say — so how do you tell a patient pace from a pattern worth a closer, kinder look?*\n\n## In short\nBetween 12 and 36 months, signs that your toddler may need support with communication can include few or no words by around 16–18 months, limited pointing, gesturing or eye contact to share interest, little back-and-forth babble, not responding to their name, and rarely copying sounds or simple actions. These are signs to *observe and act on early* — not to diagnose at home. Toddlers grow at very different rates, so a gentle check is the kind, sensible next step.\n\n## Signs to watch (12–36 months)\nEvery child has their own rhythm. What matters is the overall pattern across a few months — not a single missed milestone.\n\n**Connecting and gestures**\n- Little use of pointing, waving, reaching or showing you things by 15–18 months\n- Limited eye contact when sharing a moment, like spotting a dog or plane\n- Not turning consistently when you call their name\n\n**Words and sounds**\n- No clear words by around 16 months, or no two-word phrases by 24 months\n- Little babbling or copying of sounds, words or simple actions\n- Loss of words or gestures they once used (always worth a prompt check)\n\n**Understanding and play**\n- Difficulty following simple, familiar requests (\"give me the ball\")\n- Limited pretend play or interest in playing alongside others\n\nA hearing check comes first, because hearing difficulties are common and very treatable — and they directly affect speech.\n\n## When to seek a check\nIf several of these appear together, persist over weeks, or you notice any loss of skills, bring it to your paediatrician or a developmental screen early. Early support is play-based and gentle — it never has to wait for a label.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAt [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/), we begin with what your child *can* do and build communication through warm, play-led [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate), coaching you as their everyday partner. Learn more about supporting a [non-verbal](/non-verbal) toddler and how monitoring works. 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. 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 CDC milestone guidance, American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren.org developmental monitoring, and ASHA guidance on early communication.\n\n**Next step —** if your toddler shows signs you'd like understood, book a developmental screen with our clinical team on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181, and let's understand your little one 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-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-non-verbal","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-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-non-verbal","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"}],"meta_title":"Non-Verbal Toddler: Early Signs to Watch","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Narrate your day in short, playful words — name what your toddler looks at, pause expectantly, and reward any sound, point or gesture with delighted attention.","published_at":"2026-06-10T11:22:00.08181+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-communication","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with communication?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-nonverbal-communication","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with nonverbal communication?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-verbal-communication","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with verbal communication?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-language-development","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with language development?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-social-communication","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with social communication?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-early-words","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with early words?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-should-a-child-non-verbal","title":"At What Age Should a Child Be Non-Verbal?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"could-difficulty-with-non-verbal-be-a-sign-of-a-developmental-delay","title":"Could difficulty with non-verbal skills be a sign of developmental delay?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal","title":"Is it normal that my toddler is not yet showing non-verbal communication?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing nonverbal communication?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-do-children-usually-non-verbal","title":"When Do Children Usually Start Talking?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-what-should-i-do-if-a-child-in-my-care-is-not-yet-showing-non-verbal","title":"What to do if a child in your care is not yet talking","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":16},{"key":"assess","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean","title":"What does the amber zone for non-verbal skills mean?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean","title":"My child is in the green zone for Non-Verbal — what does that mean?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean","title":"Red zone for non-verbal — what it means","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-a-clinician-assess-and-track-a-child-s-progress-in-learning-to-non-verbal","title":"How a clinician assesses and tracks non-verbal communication progress","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand assessment","total":4},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-a-teacher-support-a-child-working-on-non-verbal","title":"How can a teacher support a child working on non verbal?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-therapy-helps-a-child-learn-to-non-verbal","title":"What therapy helps a child learn to communicate when non-verbal?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Amber Zone for Non-Verbal — What To Do Next","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Green Zone for Non-Verbal — What Should We Do Next?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Red Zone for Non-Verbal — What To Do Next","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-therapist-what-techniques-help-a-child-develop-the-ability-to-non-verbal","title":"Techniques to help a non-verbal child communicate","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-a-teacher-support-a-student-who-is-still-learning-to-non-verbal","title":"How can a teacher support a non-verbal student?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal","title":"Prioritising amber-zone non-verbal communication","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal","title":"How should a therapist prioritise a child who is in the green zone for Non-Verbal?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal","title":"How should a therapist prioritise a child in the red zone for non-verbal?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":10},{"key":"home","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-help-my-child-with-learn-to-non-verbal-at-home","title":"How can I help my non-verbal toddler communicate at home?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-one-everyday-therapy-activity-to-help-my-child-with-non-verbal","title":"An Everyday Therapy activity for a non-verbal toddler","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-how-can-i-gently-help-a-child-practise-learning-to-non-verbal-during-everyday-routines","title":"Helping a Non-Verbal Child Communicate Every Day","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"At home & in everyday life","total":3}],"what_to_watch":"Few or no words by 16–18 months, little pointing or gesturing, limited eye contact to share interest, not responding to their name, little babbling or copying of sounds, difficulty following simple requests, or any loss of words or gestures.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/browse11","code":"d3","label":"ICF d3"},{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC — Developmental Milestones"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/default.aspx","label":"HealthyChildren.org (AAP) — Toddler Development"},{"url":"https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/","label":"ASHA — Speech & Language Development"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T11:22:00.08181+00:00","meta_description":"Worried your toddler isn't talking yet? Gentle early signs that a 1–3 year old may need communication support, what to watch, and when to seek a check.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}