If you’re reading this, something probably made you stop. Maybe your two-year-old’s friend is already talking in sentences and yours isn’t. Maybe a teacher mentioned it at pickup. Or maybe it’s a feeling you can’t quite explain.
Parents tell us all the time that they waited because they didn’t want to overreact. Here’s the thing: asking the question isn’t overreacting. Getting an answer early costs you very little, and it can save a child months of frustration.
First, what behind really means.
Kids learn to talk on different timelines, and a late start doesn’t always mean a problem. Some children are quiet for a while and then talk in full sentences. Others have a real delay that gets better with a little help. The tricky part is that from the outside, those two kids can look the same at 24 months.
That’s why we look at the whole picture, not one missing word. If your child is a late talker, an evaluation helps sort out which kind of late it is.
Rough guidelines.
These are general ranges, not a test. Every child is different.
By about 12 months: babbling, waving, pointing, and reacting when you say their name.
By about 18 months: a few real words besides “mama” and “dada,” and following simple directions like “give me the ball.”
By about 2 years: a growing list of words and starting to put two words together, like “more milk” or “daddy go.”
By about 3 years: short sentences, and people outside the family can understand a good amount of what your child says.
By about 4 years: telling you about their day in a way that makes sense, and most people understand them.
Signs it’s worth a call.
Don’t wait for a specific age if you see these:
Your child doesn’t seem to understand what you say, not only that they aren’t talking.
They get very frustrated or melt down because they can’t make you understand.
They had words and lost them.
They rarely point, wave, or look at you when you talk.
By 3, even close family can’t follow most of what they say.
Older kids who stutter for more than a few months, avoid talking at school, or have trouble telling a story in order.
Eating is stressful: gagging, a very short list of accepted foods, or refusing whole textures.
“Let’s just wait and see…”
Pediatricians sometimes say this, and it’s often fine advice. But if you still feel uneasy, trust that. Waiting is the one choice that can’t be undone, and a screening costs nothing. At our practice, the first step is a free 15-minute call. You describe what you’re seeing, we tell you honestly whether an evaluation makes sense, and sometimes the answer is “this sounds typical, check back in a few months.” We’d rather tell you that than book sessions you don’t need.
Therapy that comes to you in Woodland Hills
We know the 101 and Ventura Boulevard at 4 PM are no fun. That’s why many families in Woodland Hills choose in-home sessions, or we see kids at their preschool or school, or over Zoom. Our clinic is in Calabasas, about 10 to 15 minutes away, for families who prefer an office. We’re in-network with Kaiser Permanente (Kaiser members begin with a referral from their Kaiser provider), and we’re a vendor with North Los Angeles County Regional Center. No diagnosis is needed to start with us.
If you’re in Woodland Hills and want to talk it through, you can read more about speech therapy in Woodland Hills or call us at 818-466-9334 to set up a free 15-minute consultation. Even if it turns out your child is right on track, you’ll leave knowing for sure.