Speech and language development can vary widely among children, but certain signs may indicate that your child could benefit from support from a speech therapist. Whether it’s trouble with sounds, understanding words, or expressing themselves clearly, recognising these signs early can be key in helping your child reach their full communication potential. Here are some common indicators that could suggest your child may need speech therapy, along with tips on what to look out for.
1. Delayed Speech Milestones
Children typically reach speech and language milestones around specific ages, but there is a broad range of normal. If your child is significantly behind in meeting these milestones, it may indicate a need for additional support. For example:
- By 12 months, babies usually respond to their name, make simple sounds like “mama” or “dada,” and understand simple instructions like “no.”
- By 18 months, most toddlers say a few words, point to things they want, and start to imitate sounds.
- By 2 years, children generally have a vocabulary of about 50 words and are beginning to put two words together, like “want milk.”
What to look for:
If your child isn’t reaching these milestones—or seems to be “stuck” and not progressing with language skills—talk to your GP, paediatrician or speech therapist.
2. Difficulty Understanding or Following Directions
Comprehending what others say is essential for social and academic development. If your child struggles to understand age-appropriate instructions or has difficulty following multi-step directions, it could signal a receptive language delay.
Example Scenarios:
- A toddler who doesn’t respond to “come here” or “put it down.”
- A preschooler who can’t follow simple two-step directions like “get your shoes and bring them to me.”
What to look for:
Difficulty following directions may indicate issues with processing or understanding language. Watch for signs that they’re lost or frustrated when given instructions, and note if they respond better with visuals, gestures or hands-on demonstrations.
3. Unclear Speech or Difficulty Pronouncing Sounds
It’s common for young children to have adorable mispronunciations, like saying “wabbit” for “rabbit.” But if speech is consistently hard to understand, or your child has difficulty with certain sounds well beyond the typical age, it may point to articulation challenges.
Speech sound development also follows a predictable pattern, with certain sounds emerging at specific ages. Understanding these milestones can help you spot potential speech delays.
What to look for:
By Age 1-2:
- Typical Sounds: Simple sounds like /p/, /b/, /m/, /h/, and /w/ are usually acquired early.
- Milestones: Babies start babbling and making sound combinations that are easier to produce with basic lip and mouth movements.
By Age 3:
- Sounds Acquired: Sounds like /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, and /f/ are often mastered by age 3.
- Intelligibility: Familiar listeners should understand about 75% of what a child says, though simplification (like saying “pane” for “plane”) is still common.
By Age 4:
- Sounds Acquired: More complex sounds such as /s/, /z/, and /l/ begin to emerge.
- Intelligibility: Most of what the child says should be understood by others, with only occasional sound errors.
By Age 5-6:
- Advanced Sounds: Children begin to master sounds like /sh/, /ch/, /j/, and /r/.
- Intelligibility: By age 5, nearly all of a child’s speech should be clear, even to unfamiliar listeners.
By Age 7:
- Complex Sounds: Sounds like /th/ and /zh/ (as in “measure”) are often the last to develop.
- Intelligibility: Speech should be nearly error-free, with occasional slip-ups expected.
Common Simplification Patterns
Young children often simplify words to make them easier to say, a natural part of speech development. These patterns usually resolve by certain ages:
- Final Consonant Deletion: Leaving off the last sound in words (e.g., “ca” for “cat”) – expected to resolve by age 3.
- Fronting: Replacing sounds produced at the back of the mouth with front sounds (e.g., saying “tat” for “cat”) – expected to resolve by age 3.5.
- Cluster Reduction: Omitting one sound in a blend (e.g., “pane” for “plane”) – expected to resolve by age 4.
- Gliding of /r/ and /l/: Replacing “r” and “l” with “w” (e.g., “wabbit” for “rabbit”) – usually resolves by age 6.
If these patterns continue beyond the typical age range, it may indicate a delay in speech sound development that a speech therapist can address.
Recognising speech sound delays early and seeking support can make a positive difference in your child’s communication skills and overall confidence.
4. Limited Vocabulary or Difficulty Expressing Themselves
Children gradually build vocabulary and learn how to form sentences. If they struggle to find the right words, use only a few words to communicate, or don’t attempt more complex sentences as they grow, it could indicate an expressive language delay.
What to look for:
- By 2-3 years, kids typically begin forming two- to three-word sentences, like “big truck” or “I want cookie.”
- By 4 years, they should be speaking in more complex sentences with details, like “I want to go to the park after breakfast.”
Pay attention if your child tends to point, use gestures, or get frustrated when trying to communicate. Expressive delays can sometimes manifest as tantrums or withdrawal when they can’t get their message across.
5. Lack of Social Interaction or Difficulty with Social Cues
Social communication is a foundational skill. Children learn to take turns, look at people when talking, and interpret gestures and facial expressions. If your child struggles with these aspects, they may benefit from speech therapy to help with pragmatic (social) language skills.
What to look for:
- Avoids eye contact, doesn’t respond to greetings, or struggles with turn-taking in conversation.
- Has difficulty using language appropriately in different settings or fails to pick up on social cues, like knowing when someone is joking versus being serious.
Children with social language challenges often have trouble making and keeping friends and may benefit from guidance in understanding social norms.
6. Stuttering or Repetitive Speech Patterns
Occasional stuttering can be normal in young children, especially when they’re excited or trying to get their words out quickly. However, if your child frequently gets “stuck” on words, repeats sounds (like “b-b-b-ball”), or seems frustrated by their inability to speak smoothly, it may indicate a fluency disorder.
What to look for:
Notice if the stuttering persists, seems to increase over time, or starts to impact your child’s willingness to speak. A speech therapist can help resolve a stutter or provide strategies to communicate with the adoption of smooth speech techniques. more confidently.
7. Struggles with Reading and Writing Skills
Reading and writing are closely linked to language development, and children with speech and language delays may show signs of struggle with literacy. For example, they might have difficulty rhyming, identifying letter sounds, or putting sounds together to form words (a skill known as phonemic awareness).
What to look for:
- Trouble with early reading skills, like recognizing letters and sounds.
- Difficulty pronouncing words correctly while reading or recalling the correct names for objects.
If your child has challenges in these areas, a speech therapist can work on skills like phonological awareness, which is essential for literacy development.
Red Flags for Speech Sound Delays
If you notice any of the following, it’s worth consulting a speech therapist:
- Limited Sound Range: Your child consistently uses only a few sounds, especially by age 2.
- Persistent Simplification Patterns: If your child still uses fronting or final consonant deletion beyond the expected age.
- Hard-to-Understand Speech: By age 3, if even family members struggle to understand them.
- Distress About Speaking: If your child shows frustration or shyness about talking due to difficulty being understood.
Practical Tips for Parents
If you’re concerned about your child’s speech sound development, a speech therapist can assess their skills and create a tailored plan. Therapy might include:
- Articulation Practice: Helping children produce specific sounds accurately.
- Phonological Awareness: Teaching sound awareness to improve reading and writing skills.
- Play-Based Therapy: Engaging children in fun activities that encourage correct sound use naturally.
- Parent Coaching: Equipping you with strategies to support your child’s speech at home.
Bottom Line
Children develop speech and language skills at different rates, but certain signs can indicate a need for extra support. If your child struggles with understanding directions, speaking clearly, expressing themselves, or interacting socially, these may be indicators to consider speech therapy. Additionally, if your child has difficulty mastering certain sounds beyond the typical age range, or if familiar listeners struggle to understand them, a speech therapist can help.
Early intervention is key. Speech therapy can build your child’s confidence, improve their communication skills, and support their development in ways that will benefit them socially and academically. Trust your instincts, observe your child’s communication closely, and don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional if you notice any concerns.