Speech delay in children: When to worry and what to do

Dr.Sameer Punia, 3 mins read

When we see another kid at the park, maybe a few months younger than yours, and they are already chatting away. Meanwhile, your little one is still grunting. Then suddenly you start thinking something is wrong with your kid.

It is super common for parents to feel concerned when their child isn’t talking on time. But the truth is, there’s a pretty big range of what’s normal. Let’s discover what we actually need to know.

What Is a Speech Delay?

Basically, if a child is not hitting the typical milestones for speech and language, it might be considered a delay. But not every late talker has a serious issue. Some just take a little longer and catch up fine. Still it is better to be aware than wait too long and miss a window where early help would have made a big difference.

What is Normal for Talking?

Here’s a general idea of what many kids do at different ages. 

• By 1 year: Lots of babbling (like ba-ba or da-da), maybe waving bye, and turning when you say their name.
  By 18 months: Around 5–10 words, maybe “mama” or “ball.” They should understand basic things like “give me the toy.”
  By age 2: Around 50 words, and they will start putting two words together like “want juice” or “go park.”
  By age 3, they start framing sentences. You might not understand everything they say, but strangers should catch about half to three-quarters.
  By 4: Full, simple sentences. Most people should understand nearly everything they say.

When Should You Actually Worry?

Here are a few red flags that are worth checking in on:

• No babbling or pointing by 12 months
  
• No single words by 16 months
  
• Not using two-word phrases by age 2
  
• Trouble understanding basic instructions
  
• Speech is super hard to understand even at age 3
  
• If they lose words they used to say
  
• Not making eye contact or seeming disconnected from people
  

What Can Cause a Speech Delay?

• Hearing issues: Even a small hearing problem can throw off speech development.
  
• Autism or developmental delays: Kids with broader delays might also have speech struggles.
  
• Too much screen time / not enough interaction: If they are not hearing real people talk often, they may not pick it up easily.
  

What Can You Do About It?

1. Get their hearing checked – This is step one. Even subtle hearing issues can cause delays.
   
2. Talk to your pediatrician – They’ll guide you if your child should see a speech therapist or another specialist.
   
3. Start speech therapy early – If needed, the earlier, the better. Waiting doesn't help.
   
4. Talk, talk, talk – Name stuff around the house, ask them questions (even if they don’t answer), and keep chatting.
   
5. Read and sing with them – It sounds simple, but it helps more than you think.
   
6. Cut down on screen time – Passive watching doesn’t help speech. Real back-and-forth talking does.
   
7. Be patient – Praise every little effort. Progress takes time.

Takeaway!

If you are worried, don’t feel embarrassed. Ask questions. Reach out to our experts at Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka Sector-3 for expert advice and