What is Considered Delayed Speech? Speech and language skills begin with the first cooing of an infant. As the months pass, toddlers eventually begin to babble which soon progresses into one of the most joyous moments for a parent, their child’s first understandable words. A typical 2-year-old can say about 50 words and speak in two- and three-word sentences. By age 3, their vocabulary increases to as many as 1,000 words. A speech delay is when a toddler doesn’t meet these typical speech milestones. It is a common developmental problem that affects as many as 10% of preschool children. Because all children progress on their own timeline, it can be different for parents to tell whether their child is just a late talker (and will soon need to play "The Quiet Game"), or whether there’s a serious problem that needs professional treatment. This is why assessment and diagnosis by a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) is so important. Speech delays can be effectively treated, and research has shown that earlier interventions lead to better outcomes. Does Your Child have a Speech Delay? As mentioned, it’s hard for parents to know if their child is taking a bit longer to reach a speech or language milestone, or if there's a deeper problem that needs attention. The table below highlights common signs and symptoms by age group of speech delays. By 12 months -Your child isn't using gestures, such as pointing or waving goodbye By 18 months -Your child prefers gestures over vocalizations to communicate -Has trouble imitating sounds -Has trouble understanding simple verbal requests By 24 months -Your child can only imitate speech or actions -Doesn’t produce words or phrases spontaneously -Says only some sounds or words repeatedly and can't use oral language to communicate more than their immediate needs -Can't follow simple directions -Has an unusual tone of voice (such as raspy or nasal sounding) By 36 months -Your child doesn’t use at least 200 words -Doesn’t ask for things by name -Is hard to understand even if you live with them How Can We Achieve Help Evaluate and Treat Speech Delays? Families work with a certified slp trained to effectively evaluate and treat speech delays and disorders. Your child’s age and development will influence how your speech therapist interacts with them through video chat capabilities. All therapy is delivered online via face-to-face video conferencing.