If your child is not talking yet, you may find yourself wondering:

“Should I wait a little longer?”

“Maybe they will start talking on their own.”

“Could this still be normal?”

These are very common questions. Children develop communication skills at different rates, but a noticeable delay in communication is something worth discussing with a qualified professional rather than simply waiting indefinitely.

Speech is only one part of communication. A child may communicate by pointing, gesturing, making sounds, using facial expressions, bringing an adult to something they want, using signs, pictures, or an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system.

The important question is not simply “How many words does my child say?”

A more useful question is:

“How is my child currently communicating, and how effectively can they communicate their needs, interests and ideas?”

What Does “Not Talking Yet” Mean?

Parents sometimes use “not talking” to describe several different situations.

A child may:

• Not use spoken words yet
• Use only a few words
• Use words but not combine them
• Repeat words or phrases without using them flexibly
• Understand more language than they can express
• Have difficulty understanding what others say
• Communicate mostly through gestures
• Become frustrated because others do not understand them
• Have speech that is difficult for others to understand
• Use pictures, signs or AAC instead of, or alongside, spoken language
   

These situations can have different underlying causes and require different types of support.

Speech and Language Are Not the Same Thing

Speech refers to how we produce sounds and words.

Language is broader. It includes understanding and expressing meaning through words and other forms of communication. A child can have difficulty with speech, language, or both.

For example, a child may understand simple instructions but have difficulty producing words.

Another child may speak clearly but have difficulty understanding questions or using language socially.

This is why a proper communication assessment is more useful than simply counting words.
 

What Are Some Signs That a Child May Need Support?
 

Consider speaking with a pediatrician or speech-language professional if your child:

• Is not developing communication skills as expected
• Has stopped using skills they previously had
• Rarely uses gestures such as pointing or showing
• Does not appear to understand familiar words or instructions
• Has difficulty communicating basic needs
• Becomes frequently frustrated when trying to communicate
• Uses very limited spoken language
• Has difficulty combining words as expected for their developmental stage
• Has speech that is difficult to understand
• Rarely initiates communication with others
• Has difficulty participating in everyday interactions
   

These signs do not automatically mean that a child has a disorder or a particular diagnosis.

They simply indicate that further understanding may be helpful.

Does My Child Need a Diagnosis Before Starting Speech Therapy?

Not necessarily.

A child can have a communication difficulty that deserves support even when there is no formal diagnosis.

Developmental assessment can help identify the child's current strengths and areas where support may be useful. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that children with developmental delays can be referred for intervention without waiting for an autism diagnosis.

This is important because therapy should respond to the child's current needs, not only to a diagnostic label.

What Happens During a Speech and Language Assessment?

A speech and language assessment may look at areas such as:

Understanding

Can the child understand:

• Names of familiar people
• Everyday words
• Simple instructions
• Questions
• Concepts such as big/small or in/on
• More complex language appropriate to their developmental level

Expressing

How does the child communicate:

• Wants and needs
• Choices
• Comments
• Requests
• Feelings
• Ideas
• Information

Social Communication

Does the child:

• Initiate interaction?
• Respond to others?
• Take turns?
• Share attention?
• Use gestures?
• Communicate for different purposes?

Speech

If the child uses spoken language, an assessment may also consider:

• Speech sound production
• Clarity
• Fluency
• Voice
• Oral-motor factors where relevant

What If My Child Is Not Speaking at All?

A child does not have to wait for speech to begin before being supported.

AAC can include gestures, signs, pictures, communication boards, or speech-generating technology. AAC can supplement spoken communication or provide an alternative when speech is not currently sufficient.

Importantly, AAC does not mean giving up on speech.

ASHA states that AAC does not hinder speech development and may support communication and spoken language development.

The goal is to give the child an effective way to communicate now while continuing to support the communication skills that may develop over time.

What Can Parents Do at Home?

You do not need to turn your home into a therapy clinic.

Everyday routines provide natural opportunities for communication.

Try:

• Offering two choices instead of asking an open-ended question
• Pausing to give your child time to respond
• Following your child's interests during play
• Responding to gestures and sounds as meaningful communication
• Naming objects and actions during everyday routines
• Repeating useful words naturally
• Encouraging your child to communicate rather than guessing every need immediately
• Accepting gestures, signs, pictures and AAC as communication
• Celebrating attempts to communicate, not just perfectly pronounced words

ASHA also recommends responding to children's communication attempts rather than constantly interrupting to correct their speech.

When Should I Seek Help?

You do not need to wait until a child reaches a particular age if you are genuinely concerned about their communication.

Developmental monitoring and screening can help identify potential delays and connect children and families with appropriate support.

A professional assessment can help answer a much more useful question than “Is my child normal?”

It can help you understand:

What can my child currently do?
What skills are emerging?
Where are the communication difficulties?
What support might help?
How will we measure progress?

How Hope Kids Can Help

At Hope Kids Special Education School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, speech and language support can be considered as part of an individualized developmental program.

Depending on the child's needs, support may address communication, language, social communication, speech, AAC, functional communication and participation in everyday activities.

The focus is not simply on getting a child to say more words. It is on helping the child become a more effective communicator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I wait until my child is older before seeking help?

If you are concerned, it is reasonable to seek professional advice rather than relying only on a wait-and-see approach.

Can a child understand language but not speak?

Yes. Understanding and expressing language are different skills, and children can have different strengths across these areas.

Can a child communicate without speaking?

Yes. Communication can include gestures, facial expressions, signs, pictures, AAC and other methods.

Will AAC stop my child from learning to talk?

Current professional guidance does not support this concern. AAC does not hinder speech development and may support communication and spoken language.

Does not talking mean my child has autism?

No. Limited speech can occur for many different reasons. An assessment is needed to understand the child's individual developmental profile.

Can speech therapy help a child who is already talking?

Yes. Speech and language therapy can address many areas beyond first words, including speech clarity, language development, social communication and functional communication.