Late Talkers & Speech Delays
Why is my child not talking?
There are several factors which may cause children to have a delay in their speech. These may include:
- Hearing loss
- Structural abnormalities (mouth region - e.g. cleft palate)
- Delayed development
- Children born prematurely
- Family history of speech difficulties
- Genetic conditions (e.g. Down Syndrome)
- Neurodevelopment disorders (e.g. Autism)
When should my child start talking?
By 12 months of age, 90% of children have 1 word. 50% of children have 5 single words +
By 18 months of age, 90% of children have 10 single words. 50% of children have 50 single words +
By 24 months of age, 90% of children have 50 single words. 50% of children have 300 words + and are combining 2 words together, e.g., "more milk", "go Mum"
By their 3rd birthday, 90% of children have 250 words. 50% of children have 1000 words + and are combining 3 words together, e.g., "Where's red ball"
How can I help my child start talking?
- Name and point to things you can see. For example, "Look at the dog!"
- Enjoy exploring books with your child. You can read, or just talk about the pictures, discover what is under the lift the flaps together, press the noise buttons and feel the textures. If you make books exciting, a reluctant child will be more likely to want to look at them with you.
- Recite nursery rhymes and sing songs. Try to attend Library Rhyme Time groups
- Describe what you are doing to your child during everyday activities
- If you are concerned get a Speech Pathology assessment and some tips to help you on your way. Why wait and see, when you can get support straight away and then organise a review for 3-6 months down the track?