Is Your Toddler A Late Talker? Signs to Look Out For

Every parent dreams of hearing their child’s first words. Whether it’s “Mama” or “Dada,” or something else, that moment marks an incredible milestone in your toddler’s development. But what if your toddler didn’t talk yet? What if other children their age are already speaking, but your child stays quiet? Is your child just a late talker or is there a problem? Should you be worried?

See, some children are slower to talk than other kids. And that is perfectly normal. It can be scary when your child is not talking and you may fear what the doctors may say is wrong. While late talking can be something that passes, it may also be a sign of a more serious problem, like a language delay or developmental disorder. Before you panic, read this article to the end. We have put together signs to look out for, when to seek help, and how to support your child to develop well rounded communication skills.

But first, what is late talking?

What is a Late Talker?

Late talkers, or late language learners (LLE), as professionals call them, are children whose language development is not showing at the time it generally shows up. In other words, they are developmentally delayed. This delay can be in producing or understanding speech sounds, forming sentences or phrases, and difficulty with expressing thoughts or ideas.

Because they struggle to communicate, late talkers may also struggle with social interaction, especially with their peers. Some of them may even have difficulty understanding the meaning of certain words or sentences. If you want to help a late talker, you have to first identify the underlying cause of the delay. And that may involve anything among physical, cognitive, or neurological issues. These can lead to either a speech sound disorder, a learning disability, or some other issues.

If your child is not talking by about age three, or if you have concerns about your child’s speech, contact a neurologist for an evaluation. Then you may need a speech therapist to help you.

Now, how can you tell if your child is just a late talker or if they are in need of special attention?

How To Tell If Your Child Is A Late Talker

More often than not, late talking is just a temporary phase and not a sign of a problem. However, we have seen many cases where late talkers have been wrongly labeled as having autism. True, almost all children with autism are late talkers—but not all late talkers have autism.

First of all, we must emphasize that there are many things that can make your child talk later than consensus. For many late talkers, the first word usually shows up around 12 months. However, even when there is no issue, all children are not expected to start talking at the same age. It is common to have them say their first words after their second birthday.

And as we have said, late talking in itself may merely be a phase. Thing is, if you follow a group of 2 and 3-year-olds with language delays, as many as 60 percent will be speaking just fine a year or two later. So, please don’t panic. The important thing to do is to seek the advice of a professional. They will test and assess your child to see that there is nothing wrong with them, and they are on track with their language development.

 

Identifying Late Talkers

To an untrained eye, language delay, developmental delay, and autistic traits can look similar. You may even misdiagnose your child if you try to tell by yourself. Identifying late talking from these other issues need careful monitoring and understanding of your child’s development. Then, you need to be aware of the norms and expectations for language development for each age. How can you do that?

First, you must understand the typical stages and milestones of language development.

Generally, by the time a child is 18 months old, they should be using at least ten words and understand basic language concepts.This means they should be able to understand commands, instructions, or requests, yes-no, and so on. By the time they are three, they should be actively expressing themselves and engaging in conversations. If your child is not demonstrating these milestones, please consult a professional.

What to expect

Here is what you can expect:

18 months – At this age, babies can typically say a few words like “mama” and “dada,” “take” and “give.” They should understand simple commands like “come here,” and use a variety of words like nouns (“toy,” “food”), verbs (“come,” “take”), prepositions (“up,” “down”), adjectives (“hot,” “big”), and social words (“hey,” “bye”).

24 months – At this stage, toddlers should be able to use around 50 spontaneous words and be able to combine two words to form meaningful phrases such as “mama gone,” “close door,” or “my hands.”

Many children start talking by 8-10 months, and that is good. But if your child has not started talking by 12 months of age, still don’t panic. They may just be a late talker. At least until they are 18 months old.

Does your toddler ignore you when you call their name? Children who don’t turn around or acknowledge their name by 12-18 months may be showing signs of a speech or hearing concern. Pay attention to whether your child responds consistently or seems unaware when you try to get their attention.

Watch how your child behaves during everyday conversations and activities. Toddlers typically thrive in environments with lots of talking, singing, and interaction. If your child struggles to participate or engage even when surrounded by conversation and verbal stimulation, this may indicate a developmental language concern worth discussing with your pediatrician.

The signs and symptoms of Language and Learning Disorders (LLE) can vary widely as research is based mainly on parent reports to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate the presence of LLE include:

Symptoms of LLE

– Delayed or nonexistent babbling before the age of two

– Fewer than 50 words by age two

– Difficulties in connecting two words

– Phonological differences compared to peers

– Shorter and less grammatically correct words

– Reduced communicative gestures

– Poor understanding of words and delayed comprehension.

It’s important to watch your child’s overall development, not just their speaking. If your child is also struggling with other actions, like big movements (gross motor skills) or small, tricky tasks (fine motor skills), this could be connected to their language development.

The surest way to know if your child is a late talker is to talk to a professional. A speech therapist can give you a proper evaluation and recommend the best next steps.

 

What Causes Late Talking in Children?

A toddler between 18 and 30 months old who isn’t speaking as much or at all as expected but is otherwise developing normally may be called a late talker. About 17.5% of young children who are slower to develop speaking skills might have a speech or language delay by age three. So by age 3, if your child is not talking, there is a problem.

Late talkers are behind on typical speaking milestones. However, they are still usually strong in other communication areas. Some of them have what we call receptive language (they understand what they hear), and can use body actions to communicate (like pointing or waving), and are gradually learning new words.

A late talker might be experiencing one or both of these issues:

Speech delay is when a child has trouble clearly articulating words and expressing themselves. It may mean that they are talking as though they were younger. like when a 3 year old is saying things and sounding like a typical 1 year old. This makes it hard for others to understand what the child is trying to say.

Language delay is when a child struggles to use words to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Even if they can say a few words, they might have a very small total vocabulary or be unable to connect more than two words together.

A Toddler’s Late-Blooming Speech Might Be Attributed to the:

Birth Stats: Babies born underweight or before 37 weeks are at an increased risk of becoming late talkers as toddlers.

Twinning: Twins are more likely to be late talkers than single births.

Family History: Late talkers tend to run in the family. It is hereditary. If a family member is a later talker, that may cause a toddler to talk late.

Other Interests: Toddlers who develop early in other areas (like climbing and jumping) can take longer to master language because they are so busy concentrating on those skills. They may often be

• good at puzzles
• little “escape artists” figuring how to get out of cribs or other places
• always trying to put things together

Lack of Necessity: Children whose parents (or older siblings) are quick to anticipate their needs might take longer to speak up — because there is less need to.

History of Hearing Loss or Ear Infections: Past infections or difficulty hearing can slow speech development.

However, the above does not cover all the causes of late talking in children. Half of late talkers may have other issues hindering them. Among the possibilities are the following:

Factors Contributing to Late Talking

Let us list some more risk factors for why your child is not speaking yet. This list is not for everything, but some. You will need a speech therapist to look at and assess your child to determine which is the issue.

An expressive language disorder

This is a condition where a child has difficulty producing language properly. There are many ELDs. A child with an ELD may have challenges with pronunciation, word choice, and grammar. Children with an expressive language disorder may be unable to produce words or sentences until they are much older. Some may need help to learn how to produce certain sounds or words. This is where a speech therapist comes in. Children with an ELD may also only have a limited understanding of what has been said, leading to delays in communication skills.

An intellectual disability: Autism

Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a child communicates and interacts with others. Children with autism often experience the world differently, which can impact their ability to develop language skills at typical rates. It’s called a “spectrum” because it shows up differently in every person; one person with autism may have very different symptoms and needs than another.

Late talking is only one of the signs of Autism. However, autism is not usually the case. Not all children with autism are late talkers. Some children with autism are late talkers and some who talk on time. This is because every child is different, and the spectrum of autism is vast and diverse.

Hearing Issues and Neurological Conditions

Sometimes late talking stems from physical or medical causes. Children who can’t hear clearly may struggle to learn and imitate words, since hearing is essential for language development. Neurological conditions such as epilepsy or other brain-related disorders can also interfere with how a child processes and produces speech.
If your toddler has frequent ear infections, doesn’t respond to sounds, or has been diagnosed with a neurological condition, these factors could be contributing to delayed speech.

Speech Sound Disorders

Some toddlers understand language perfectly but struggle with the physical act of speaking. These children know what they want to say but can’t form the sounds correctly. When toddlers repeatedly fail to make themselves understood, they often become frustrated and may avoid talking altogether.
This creates a cycle: difficulty pronouncing words leads to communication breakdowns, which leads to frustration, which discourages the child from attempting to speak. Over time, this can result in significant speech delays even though the child’s understanding of language may be age-appropriate.

 

What Are The Outcomes Of Late Talking In Children?

According to an ASHA study on Late Language Emergence, between 50 and 70% of late talkers can reach a normal language development level by late preschool and school age. However, the same study also states that late talkers are more likely to struggle with language and literacy in the future.

Some of the outcomes listed by the study include:

• At age 5, children identified as late talkers had lower scores on complex language skills, such as narrating a simple story.
• By age seven, those same children had reduced performance when it came to general language ability and grammar.
• When they are 8 and 9, they displayed poorer performance in reading and spelling.
• By age 13, the children identified as late talkers (who outgrew it without special help) had lower scores on aggregate measures of vocabulary, grammar, verbal memory, and reading comprehension.
• At age 17, those who had been late talkers showed poorer scores on vocabulary/grammar and verbal memory factors.

Other studies further support these findings. For example, researchers agree that late talkers who eventually “grow out of it” have been found to have weaknesses in some language and literacy skills, including vocabulary, grammar, phonology, reading, creating stories, writing, reading, and listening comprehension, which can persist until adolescence.

Additionally, skills that rely on language, such as social, behavioral, and executive function skills (planning, organizing, paying attention, and controlling impulsive behavior), are weaker in these individuals.

Furthermore, a study on children aged three to five showed that late talkers do not process speech as easily as their peers, indicating an immature or underdeveloped speech or language processing ability, affecting language and literacy development.

 

When To Seek Help For A Late Talker?

As there are so many parenting advice and information available online, you will find different opinions when it comes to late talking. Sadly, many parents choose to go with the common ‘wait and see’ approach. Experts often agree that this is not beneficial for the child. Early recognition and intervention are essential to prevent any language disabilities, as well as to ensure the child’s social and academic readiness.

If your child is exhibiting any of the risk factors mentioned in this article, it is important to seek the help of a speech-language pathologist to prevent any language disorders, such as Developmental Language Disorder, or as the research calls it, Language Impairment. Early intervention is key to supporting your child’s development and ensuring their academic success.

 

Help Children Speak Up

To ensure that your late talking child has the best chance of thriving, it is essential to seek help from medical professionals. First, have their hearing evaluated by a pediatrician or an audiologist. This will let you know if your child is able to hear at the appropriate volumes and pitches, and if they can detect differences in sounds. Then you may consult a neurologist to see if there are any neurological issues.

After this, you should consult a speech therapist. You can get Caston Vienna Tutors, speech therapists in Port Harcourt. During the initial consultation session, the SLP will discuss your concerns, assess your child’s ability to understand, speak, and use gestures, and identify the type of communication disorder they may have (if any), as well as the best way to treat it.

By finding the right professionals and creating a custom program to suit your needs, you will be providing your child with the support they need to thrive.