Speech and language delay
Parent guide
Speech is how clearly sounds come out. Language is understanding and using words. A child can have trouble with one or both. Always check hearing.
What is speech delay?
Speech = how clearly the child says sounds. Language = understanding words and making sentences. A 2-year-old with few words, a 4-year-old others cannot understand, and a child who stammers (gets stuck on words) are different problems. They need different help.
When should I not wait?
“He is a boy, he will talk later” is not a plan. Book a hearing check and a speech visit if a toddler (child about 1–3 years) has almost no real words, does not point to share, or does not follow simple instructions like “give the ball”.
What speech therapy usually includes
A speech-language pathologist checks talking and understanding, including children who also have autism or ADHD. You should leave knowing what to practise at home, not only what happened in the room.
Questions we hear in clinic
Do two languages cause delay?
No. Count words in both languages. Two languages do not cause a speech problem.
Will YouTube teach my child to talk?
No. Talking back and forth with you teaches talking. Hours of videos alone do not.
Guides in this topic
- Speech delay vs autism: Late talking and autism can look similar. They are not always the same.
- When to start speech therapy: You do not need to wait for a failed nursery interview.
- What speech therapy is: Speech therapy is help with talking, understanding, and being understood.
- Late talker: when to worry: Word count matters. Pointing, play, and understanding matter more than family stories.
