What Parents Want to Know About Speech Delays

As a parent, you want your child to reach every milestone. When it comes to talking,

you might wonder if your child is on track. If you're worried about speech delays, you're

not alone. At Speech World Inc., we work with families every day who have questions

about their child's speech development.

What Is a Speech Delay?

A speech delay means your child isn't talking as much as other kids their age. Every

child grows at their own pace, but there are general milestones. If your child is

significantly behind these markers, they might have a speech delay.

Speech Milestones

By 12 months: First words like "mama" or "dada"

By 18 months: 5-20 words and following simple directions

By 2 years: 50+ words and two-word phrases like "more milk"

By 3 years: Short sentences, understood by strangers most of the time

By 4 years: Simple stories and complete sentences

Remember, these are guidelines. Some children naturally talk earlier or later.

Common Causes

Speech delays can happen due to hearing problems, mouth or tongue issues, family

history, lack of practice, developmental conditions like autism, or being born

prematurely.

Warning Signs

Contact your doctor or speech therapist if your child doesn't babble by 12 months, can't

say words by 18 months, only says a few words by age 2, can't combine words by age

2, loses previously learned words, is hard to understand after age 3, doesn't follow

simple directions, or seems frustrated when communicating.

How Parents Can Help

Talk constantly: Describe daily activities. "Now we're washing dishes. The water is

warm."

Read together daily: Use picture books and point to objects as you name them.

Listen and wait: Give your child time to respond to questions.

Repeat and expand: If your child says "car", respond with "Yes, that's a red car!"

Sing songs: Rhythm and repetition support language learning.

Limit screen time: Face-to-face interaction is better for development.

Be patient: Don't pressure or constantly correct. Praise communication efforts.

When to Seek Help

If you're concerned, don't wait. Early intervention makes a significant difference. Contact

your pediatrician first for hearing and development checks. Consider consulting a

speech-language pathologist who specializes in communication problems. Many areas

offer free evaluations for young children.

Speech Therapy Benefits

Speech therapy uses games, toys, and fun activities to help children communicate.

Treatment may include mouth muscle exercises, sound practice, talking games, and

parent coaching. Most children see significant improvements with proper support.

You're Not Alone

At Speech World Inc., we've helped countless families navigate speech delays. Our

experienced speech-language pathologists create personalized treatment plans using

engaging activities that make therapy feel like play while building communication skills.

The most important thing is to keep talking, reading, and playing with your child. Your

love and attention are the best tools for helping them learn to communicate. If you have

questions about your child's speech development, Speech World Inc. is here to

support your family every step of the way.