5 Key Signs of Speech Delays in Toddlers: A Parents' Guide
Gwen Swire • 2023-08-23
As a SoCal based Speech Language Pathologist, I often meet parents who have concerns about their toddler's speech development. Language acquisition varies among children, but there are general milestones that serve as helpful guidelines. If you're worried about potential speech delays in your toddler, here are five key signs to watch for.
1. Limited Vocabulary
By the age of 2, children should have at least 50 words spontaneously. These words may not all be clear and may consist of phrases like "all gone" and "more juice." If your child uses fewer words than this, it may indicate a delay in language development.
2. Difficulty with Pronunciation
While it's normal for toddlers to mispronounce words, they should be understandable about 50% of the time to an unfamiliar listener by the age of 2 and about 75% of the time by the age of 3. If your child's speech remains mostly unintelligible to unfamiliar listeners, it could be a sign of a speech delay.
3. Lack of Combining Words
By around age 2, toddlers usually start to combine words to form simple phrases and sentences, such as "want cookie" or "mommy go." If your child is not yet combining words and is instead mostly using single words or gestures to communicate, it could be a sign of a language delay.
4. Minimal Understanding of Prepositions
Understanding and correctly using prepositions (like on, in, under) is a common language milestone for toddlers. If your child frequently misunderstands these words or doesn't use them in their speech, it might signal a problem.
5. Limited Use of Gestures
Even before they start talking, babies and toddlers use a range of gestures to communicate, such as pointing, waving, and shaking their head. A lack of these gestures by 12 months, or a lack of combining gestures with sounds or words to get a message across by 18 months, could indicate a delay in language development.
Recognizing these signs early is crucial, as early intervention often leads to the best outcomes. If you're concerned about your child's speech and language development, it might be beneficial to schedule a speech and language evaluation. As a Speech Language Pathologist specializing in early intervention, I'm here to assist you and your child on this journey.
Remember, all children are unique and develop at their own pace. This post is intended to serve as a general guideline, and not all children who show these signs will have a speech or language delay. If you have any concerns about your child's speech development, don't hesitate to seek advice from a professional.
Stay tuned for my next post where I'll discuss the importance of early intervention in speech and language development.
