As a parent, you may have heard that early intervention is best when it comes to speech therapy. But what happens if you learn that your child has a speech or language concern later on, perhaps when they reach school age or the preteen years? Did your child miss a critical window for communication development?
When it comes to speech therapy, it’s never too late to start, and it can be beneficial at each stage of childhood.
Understanding how speech and language skills develop can help you feel more confident about when to seek guidance. And with the right support, speech therapy can help your child communicate clearly and effectively at any age.
How Speech Skills Develop Throughout Childhood
Speech and language development happens in layers. Early on, your child begins learning how sounds connect to meaning, how words are used to express needs, and how communication works within relationships.
As your child grows, these early skills expand into more complex language, clearer speech, and the ability to use communication for learning, social interaction, and self-expression.
Because speech and language development is an ongoing process, some speech differences may not become noticeable right away. Challenges often emerge later, when your child is expected to use language in more complex ways, such as following directions, expressing ideas, or communicating clearly in group settings.
For example, your child may communicate comfortably with family members but have difficulty following classroom discussions, explaining ideas, or interacting with peers as they get older. In these cases, concerns often emerge when communication demands increase rather than when the challenge first began.
Is There a Best Time to Start Speech Therapy?
Because speech and language challenges can emerge at different points during your child’s development, it’s not realistic for every child to begin speech therapy at the same age.
With that said, acting sooner after you begin to suspect your child may need speech therapy is often beneficial. During the early years, your child’s brain is forming and strengthening connections that support communication at a rapid pace. For this reason, early intervention is strongly recommended and can sometimes help children make progress more efficiently, reducing the amount of support they may need later on.
At the same time, an older child has not missed their chance to make meaningful, successful progress in speech therapy. Therapy is designed to meet children where they are developmentally and respond to the skills they are being asked to use right now.
Rather than focusing on age alone, speech therapy works best when it is guided by how communication is affecting your child’s daily life, learning, and interactions in their current environment.
Speech and Language Milestones by Age
While every child develops at their own pace, speech therapists use developmental milestones as general guidelines for when certain communication skills typically emerge.
The examples below reflect common milestones therapists use to understand typical development. Based on these guidelines, your child may benefit from an evaluation with a speech therapist if they are not consistently demonstrating the following skills.
Birth through preschool years
- Babbling or using gestures, such as pointing,and using 5-10 words by around 12 months
- Using around 20-50 words by around 18 months
- Combining words into short phrases, such as “more juice,” by around 2 years
- Understanding simple language or following basic directions
Early school years
- Being easily understood by teachers or peers
- Following multi-step directions
- Expressing ideas clearly using words or sentences
- Participating in group or classroom discussions
Preteen to teen years
- Organizing thoughts clearly when speaking
- Telling stories, explaining ideas, or staying on topic
- Understanding social cues, such as taking turns in conversation, interpreting tone or sarcasm, or making appropriate eye contact
- Using language to advocate for themselves
How Speech Therapy Supports Children at Different Stages of Childhood
Just as there is no single right time to start speech therapy, therapists focus on building age-appropriate skills and making the most of the opportunities each stage provides.
Birth to Preschool
During the birth to preschool years, your child is learning how communication works through everyday interactions, play, and routines. At this stage, speech therapy supports early skills such as understanding language, using sounds and words to express needs, and engaging in back-and-forth interaction.
Starting speech therapy during this stage can be helpful because your child’s communication skills are actively developing. Support encourages early exploration of sounds and language and helps your child build a strong foundation for future communication.
Early School Years
During the early school years, your child is expected to use communication more consistently for learning and social interaction. This may include following directions, expressing ideas clearly, and participating in classroom discussions and group activities. At this stage, speech therapy supports skills such as clearer speech, expanding vocabulary, and effective use of language in structured settings.
Starting speech therapy during the early school years can be helpful because communication plays a central role in school participation. Support helps your child manage increasing language demands and engage more confidently in academic and social settings.
Preteen to Teen
During the preteen to teen years, communication becomes more complex and purposeful for your child. Your child uses language to organize thoughts, explain ideas, navigate peer relationships, and advocate for themselves. At this stage, speech therapy supports refining speech clarity, strengthening expressive language, and developing social communication skills.
Starting speech therapy during the preteen to teen years can be helpful because communication demands continue to evolve. Support helps your child refine how they use language as academic and social expectations grow.
Reach Out to Building Futures for Support
If you live in the Monroe, West Monroe or Ruston, LA, areas and have concerns about your child’s speech development, Building Futures can help. Call one of our locations or fill out our online form and one of our therapists will contact you to schedule an evaluation.
