A Guide for Concerned Parents

As a speech and language therapist, I often meet parents who are worried because their child isn’t talking as much as they expected. If you’re reading this, you might be experiencing the same concern. It’s natural to feel anxious when your child seems to be behind in their speech development. This blog post aims to provide some guidance on understanding and addressing your child’s speech and language development.

Understanding Speech and Language Development

Children develop speech and language skills in stages, and the timeline can vary widely. Here’s a general overview of what you might expect at different ages:

• 0-6 Months: Babies begin with cooing and babbling. They may start to make a variety of sounds, and you might hear them practicing their vocalizations.
• 6-12 Months: Babbling becomes more complex, and babies may start using repetitive syllables like “bababa” or “dadada.” They also start to understand simple words and commands.
• 12-18 Months: Many toddlers start to say their first words and can begin to combine two words together, such as “mama” or “more juice.”
• 18-24 Months: Vocabulary grows, and toddlers may begin to put together simple sentences. They should be able to understand simple instructions and questions.
• 2-3 Years: Vocabulary expands rapidly, and children start to use more complex sentences. They begin to articulate their thoughts and needs more clearly.

When to Be Concerned

While there is a broad range of what’s considered “normal” in speech development, there are certain red flags that may indicate the need for further evaluation:

• By 12 Months: Not using any words or sounds to communicate.
• By 18 Months: Limited vocabulary (fewer than 10-20 words) and not combining words.
• By 24 Months: Difficulty understanding simple instructions or questions, and not using simple sentences.
• By 36 Months: Limited sentence use, unclear speech, or significant difficulty in understanding.

Strategies to Encourage Speech and Language Development

If you’re concerned about your child’s speech and language development, here are some strategies to help encourage their language skills:

1. Consider how you talk to your Child: Engage them in conversation throughout the day. Describe what you’re doing, as you go about your day, and give them time to respond. Think about what you are saying, try not to ask too many questions, look at what their attention is on and comment on that. This will give them the language needed to describe their experiences without feeling pressured by having to answer questions that they may not be ready to do.
2. Use an additional visual cue alongside words – This could be objects, photos, pictures or Makaton signs. If these are used consistently, they will give your child another way of communicating while their speech is developing. Some parents can worry that use of sign will stop their child from talking but this is untrue and seeing use of e.g. sign alongside hearing the spoken word can support language development.
3. Create opportunities for your  child to ask for what they want – We know our children so well and can often guess what it is that they want so provide it for them without waiting for them to ask for it. Remember to give your child time to ask for what they want and accept that this may in a number of different ways.
4. Play and Interact: Playtime is an excellent opportunity for language development. Use toys and games to model new words. Join in with whatever your child is interested in playing with and follow your child’s lead.
5. Encourage Imitation: Imitation is an important skill for developing communication. Encourage imitation of movements, actions and sounds. For sounds, you could gather a sound bag with an object to represent different sounds such as a car for ‘brrrmm,’ a tissue for ‘attchoo,’ a snake toy for ‘ssssss..’ Take out the objects and have fun making.
6. Be Patient and Positive: It is so worrying when a child is not talking but try to celebrate your child’s efforts and progress, no matter how small. Try to keep interactions playful. Your child will start to see that communicating is fun.
7. Create a Language-Rich Environment: Surround your child with opportunities to hear and use language. Sing songs, recite nursery rhymes, and engage in everyday conversations.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you’re concerned about your child’s speech and language development, it’s important to seek professional help. A speech and language therapist can assess your child’s needs and provide targeted strategies to support their development. Early intervention can make a significant difference in a child’s speech and language outcomes.

Conclusion

Remember, every child is unique, and variations in speech and language development are common. By understanding the stages of language development and using strategies to support your child, you can help foster their communication skills. If you have concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional guidance. The earlier you address any issues, the better the outcomes for your child.

If you have any questions or need support, feel free to reach out to me or other speech and language professionals. We’re here to help you and your child on this journey!

Feel free to share this blog post with friends and family who might benefit from this information. And remember, you’re not alone—help is available, and every step you take towards supporting your child’s development is a step towards their brighter future.