# Where to Start for Help with Speech and Language Delay

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/where-should-i-start-to-get-help-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

To get help for a child with speech and language delay, start with a developmental check that includes a speech-language assessment — via your paediatrician, a speech-language pathologist, or RBSK screening — and ask for a hearing check too. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

*When words are slow to come, knowing exactly where to begin can turn worry into a clear, hopeful first step.*

## In short
Start with **a developmental check that includes a speech-language assessment** — this is the single most useful first step. Begin with your paediatrician or a speech-language pathologist, who can tell apart a child who simply needs a little more time from one who will benefit from targeted support. In India you can also use **RBSK** free developmental screening, and you can book directly with a child-development centre. The earlier you start, the more your child's communication tends to flourish.

## Where to begin, step by step
- **Talk to your paediatrician first** — share what you're noticing (few words, not joining words, hard for others to understand, or little gesturing and eye contact). Ask for a hearing check too, since hearing affects speech.
- **Get a speech-language assessment** — a speech-language pathologist (SLP) looks at how your child understands language, uses words and sounds, and communicates overall, then explains what's happening in plain terms.
- **Use available screening** — India's RBSK programme offers developmental screening; CDC milestone checklists help you describe your concerns clearly to the team.
- **Trust your instinct** — you don't need a referral to seek a check. If something feels behind, an early review is always reasonable and never premature.
- **Bring everyday examples** — a short note of what your child says, points to, or understands gives the team a real-life picture.

A delay in talking does not define your child's intelligence or future — it tells us where some gentle, well-aimed support could help most.

## What helps after assessment
If support is recommended, **speech therapy** is the core path — playful, child-led sessions that build understanding, sounds, words and back-and-forth communication, with parent coaching so practice continues at home. Many children make wonderful progress, especially when help begins early.

## 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 online form. Start by understanding your child's communication profile through our [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) programme, see how a [clinician-led assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) works, or explore more about supporting your child at [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/).

## Trusted sources
WHO ICD-11 (developmental speech or language disorders); CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." milestone guidance; Indian Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org); RBSK developmental screening.

**Next step —** Ready to take that first clear step? [Book a developmental assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate).

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

## Sources
- WHO ICD-11 · Developmental speech or language disorders: https://icd.who.int/browse11
- CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early.: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- American Academy of Pediatrics — HealthyChildren.org: https://www.healthychildren.org

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Conditions: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/conditions
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Adaptive: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/adaptive
- Support: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/support
- Plan: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/plan
- Speech Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/speech-therapy
- Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment

## Related question paths

### Understand the subject
- How Speech and Language Delay Affects Daily Life: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-speech-and-language-delay-affect-a-child-s-daily-life
- Is Speech and Language Delay considered a disability?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-speech-and-language-delay-considered-a-disability
- Is Speech and Language Delay Genetic or Hereditary?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-speech-and-language-delay-genetic-or-hereditary
- What are common myths about Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-common-myths-about-speech-and-language-delay
- What are the types or levels of Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-speech-and-language-delay
- What causes speech and language delay in children?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-causes-speech-and-language-delay-in-children
- What is Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-speech-and-language-delay
- What Often Occurs Alongside Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-speech-and-language-delay
- Early intervention outcomes for speech and language delay under 7: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-current-research-show-about-early-intervention-outcomes-for-speech-and-language-delay-in-children-under-7
- Speech and Language Delay (ICD-11 6A01) Defined: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-speech-and-language-delay-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood
- ICD-11 Classification for Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-speech-and-language-delay
- What is the SNOMED CT concept for Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-snomed-ct-concept-for-speech-and-language-delay

### Recognise signs & concerns
- Can Speech and Language Delay Be Cured?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-speech-and-language-delay-be-cured
- Can speech and language delay be prevented?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-speech-and-language-delay-be-prevented
- Do boys show Speech and Language Delay differently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-boys-show-speech-and-language-delay-differently
- Do girls show speech and language delay differently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-girls-show-speech-and-language-delay-differently
- Early Signs of Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay
- Early Signs of Speech and Language Delay in a 1-Year-Old Boy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-1-year-old-boy
- Early Signs of Speech & Language Delay in a 1-Year-Old Girl: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-1-year-old-girl
- Early Signs of Speech & Language Delay (12–18 Months): https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-12-to-18-month-old
- Early Signs of Speech and Language Delay at 18–24 Months: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-18-to-24-month-old
- Early Signs of Speech and Language Delay in a 2-Year-Old: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-2-year-old
- Early Signs of Speech & Language Delay in a 2-Year-Old Boy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-2-year-old-boy
- Early Signs of Speech and Language Delay in a 2-Year-Old Girl: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-speech-and-language-delay-in-a-2-year-old-girl

### Explore causes & influences
- Are boys more likely to have speech and language delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-boys-more-likely-to-have-speech-and-language-delay
- Are girls more likely to have a speech and language delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-girls-more-likely-to-have-speech-and-language-delay
- What causes speech and language delay in young children?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-causes-speech-and-language-delay-in-young-children
- How Early Speech-Language Intervention Advances UNCRPD and the SDGs: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-early-intervention-for-speech-and-language-delay-advance-un-child-rights-uncrpd-and-the-sdgs
- Contributing Factors for Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-speech-and-language-delay-in-early-childhood
- Cost-effectiveness of early therapy for speech and language delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-cost-effectiveness-of-early-therapy-for-speech-and-language-delay-in-young-children
- Prevalence and Public-Health Burden of Speech and Language Delay in India: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-prevalence-and-public-health-burden-of-speech-and-language-delay-among-young-children-in-india

### Understand assessment
- How Speech and Language Delay Is Assessed in a Young Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-speech-and-language-delay-assessed-in-a-young-child
- How AbilityScore Tracks Progress in Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-abilityscore-track-progress-in-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- What does an AbilityScore of 0–100 mean for a child with Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- What does an AbilityScore of 100–200 mean for a child with Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- What does an AbilityScore of 200–300 mean for a child with Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- What an AbilityScore of 300–400 means for speech and language delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- What does an AbilityScore of 400–500 mean for a child with Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- What an AbilityScore® of 500–600 Means for Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- What does an AbilityScore of 600–700 mean for a child with Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- What an AbilityScore of 700–800 Means for Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-700-800-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- AbilityScore 800–900 for Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-800-900-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- What an AbilityScore of 900–1000 Means for Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-900-1000-mean-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay

### Explore therapy & support
- Speech and Language Delay — Your First Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-was-just-diagnosed-with-speech-and-language-delay-what-should-i-do-first
- Where to Start Getting Help for Developmental Language Disorder: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/where-should-i-start-to-get-help-for-a-child-with-developmental-language-disorder
- How Is Speech and Language Delay Diagnosed in a Child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-speech-and-language-delay-diagnosed-in-a-child
- How can a social worker help a family access services for speech and language delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-social-worker-help-a-family-access-services-and-support-for-speech-and-language-delay
- Are there successful adults who grew up with Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-there-successful-adults-who-grew-up-with-speech-and-language-delay
- Does Speech and Language Delay Get Better or Worse?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/does-speech-and-language-delay-get-better-or-worse-as-a-child-grows
- How can a non-verbal child with Speech and Language Delay communicate?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-non-verbal-child-with-speech-and-language-delay-communicate
- How to Support Adaptive Development in Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-we-support-adaptive-development-in-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- How common is Speech and Language Delay in children?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-common-is-speech-and-language-delay-in-children
- How do I choose the right therapy for a child with Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-do-i-choose-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- How do I explain Speech and Language Delay to my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-do-i-explain-speech-and-language-delay-to-my-child
- How do I support the siblings of a child with speech and language delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-do-i-support-the-siblings-of-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay