Is Your Toddler a Late Talker? Speech Milestones and Tips for Parents

As a parent, noticing that your child isn’t speaking as much as their peers can feel worrying. Many children are “late talkers,” but the good news is that early support can make a big difference (ASHA, 2023).

Typical Vocabulary Milestones

Using data from the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (2007), here’s what many children can typically say at different ages:

Age	Milestone (90% of children)	Average (50% of children)
12 months	1 word	5+ words
18 months	10 words	50+ words
24 months	50 words & combining 2 words	300 words & combining 2 words
36 months	250 words & combining 3 words	1,000 words & combining 3 words

Tip: If your child is consistently below these milestones, it may indicate a need for evaluation by a pediatric SLP.

A late talker is a child whose expressive language development is slower than typical for their age. While every child develops at their own pace, late talkers often show patterns such as:

• At around 18 months, most children have about 50 words, but a late talker may have fewer than 10.

• By 24 months, many children begin combining two words (for example, “more juice”), whereas late talkers may still rely primarily on single words or gestures.

• Difficulty forming simple phrases or sentences.

• Heavy reliance on gestures, pointing, or other nonverbal communication to express needs and ideas.

Signs Your Child Might Need Speech Therapy

If your child shows any of the following, it’s worth considering a consultation with a pediatric SLP:

• Limited vocabulary compared to peers

• Difficulty following simple directions

• Frustration when trying to communicate

• Limited use of gestures, sounds, or words

Tip: Early intervention is key. Research shows that children who receive therapy sooner often make faster progress.

How Speech Therapy Helps Late Talkers

Speech therapy provides structured, play-based learning to help children:

• Build vocabulary

• Improve sentence formation

• Develop social communication skills

• Strengthen comprehension

In therapy, we use fun, interactive activities like songs, storytelling, and turn-taking games to encourage language development naturally.

What Parents Can Do at Home

You don’t have to wait for therapy to start supporting your child. Some strategies include:

1. Narrate daily activities: Talk through what you’re doing- “Mommy is cutting the apple.”

2. Read together daily: Ask your child to point to objects in the book.

3. Encourage gestures and signs: Simple signs or pointing can boost communication.

4. Follow your child’s lead: Expand on what your child says- if they say “car,” you can respond, “Yes! The red car is driving fast!”

   
   

Ready to Get Started?

At Barton Creek Speech Therapy, we specialize in helping late talkers develop confident communication skills in a nurturing, play-based environment. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and give your child a strong start with language.