If you are concerned that your child may have a speech or language delay, there are a variety of elements to consider. Here are some red flags to look for…
~12 months
- No babbling, or babbling without the use of consonant sounds (mamama, dadada, etc)
- Does not use gestures
- Does not use varied pitch, loudness when vocalizing
- Not responding when spoken to, or when name is called
- Not showing interest in communication or interaction with others
- Does not vocalize excitement and displeasure sounds
- Does not recognize words for common objects
- Does not engage in turn taking with actions and vocalizations
~18 months
- Does not understand simple instructions
- Does not combine sounds
- Does not use words
- Uses gestures more than vocalizations
- Does not engage in imitation of motor movements, speech sound productions, words etc.
~24 months
- Does not have a vocabulary of ~100 words or more
- Does not name objects in their environment
- Is not combining words together in speech
- Does not engage in play with others for 1+minutes
- You cannot understand at least ⅔ of what they are saying
- Does not respond to simple commands
If you notice any sudden change in abilities, such as regression or elimination of verbal language, you should consult a speech language pathologist for further evaluation.
Call our office at (586) 323-2957 to set up a free screening with one of our therapists to determine if your child would benefit from a speech language evaluation and further intervention.
Written by: Caroline Farney, M.S., CF-SLP
