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You should consider contacting a speech-language pathologist if you notice your child is experiencing delays or difficulties in their language development, especially when compared to developmental milestones. Here are some signs that might indicate it’s time to seek help:

• Infancy (by 12 months): If your child isn’t babbling, pointing, or making gestures (like waving).

• Toddler age (by 2 years): If they are not using single words or combining words into simple phrases, or if their speech is difficult to understand.

• Preschool age (by 3-4 years): If they are struggling to form sentences, follow simple instructions, or interact appropriately with peers.

Common signs include not babbling by 12 months, not using words by 18 months, difficulty following simple instructions, or being difficult to understand by age 3.

This question addresses underlying causes such as hearing loss, developmental disorders like autism, or oral-motor problems.

Suggestions include reading to the child regularly, speaking clearly, narrating daily activities, and engaging in conversations even if the child isn’t yet responding fully.

Stuttering is common in early language development, but parents typically ask when it becomes an issue. Concerns arise if stuttering lasts more than six months, begins after age 3 ½, or is accompanied by tension or frustration.

Many parents wonder if a delay will resolve on its own. While some children catch up, others may need intervention to avoid long-term difficulties.

Parents frequently ask about the process and duration of therapy, which varies depending on the child’s specific needs and progress.

Parents raising bilingual children often ask if language mixing, or “code-switching,” is a cause for concern. It’s actually normal for children learning two or more languages to mix words or phrases from both languages in early development. As they gain proficiency in each language, this mixing typically decreases.