As a speech language pathologist, the biggest question I get asked by parents all the time is, “Why isn’t my child talking?” I’m Wendy Petrus, a speech therapist at Building Futures Pediatric Therapy, and today I will talk about why your child may not be talking yet.
Reasons Why Your Child Isn’t Talking Yet
There could be a number of reasons why your child isn’t talking.
- They may have a speech delay
- They may just be a late talker
- They may be moving more slowly through speech milestones
- They may have older siblings who talk for them or don’t give them opportunities to talk
You really have to look at your family dynamics and what’s happening in your household to understand what may be impacting your child’s speech.
At What Age Should a Child Start Talking?
Typically around 12 months, children are saying about five words beyond “mama” and “dada.”
From there, their vocabulary continues to grow. They keep adding new words and phrases, and this development happens very quickly.
By age 2, your child should begin putting words together, such as “more juice” or “go swing.” This is when they start pairing ideas together.
Why Early Intervention Is Key
If you are concerned about your child’s speech development, it’s important to reach out and ask questions.
Early intervention is key in helping your child make progress and develop language more quickly. The earlier we see your child and begin working with them, the easier it is to help them build their vocabulary and communication skills.
Reach Out to Building Futures for Help
If you think your child may need a little help with their speech or language, we’re here to support you. Call one of our locations or reach out online to schedule an evaluation.
