Key takeaways
- A “late talker” is a toddler (usually 18 to 30 months) who uses fewer words than expected but is developing well in other areas.
- By 2 years, most children use around 50 words and are starting to join two words together, like “more milk”.
- Many late talkers catch up by school age, but around 20 to 30% continue to have language difficulties, and it’s hard to tell which group a child is in by waiting.
- Understanding, gestures, play and a family history of language difficulties all help a speech pathologist judge whether support is needed now.
If your two-year-old has only a handful of words while their cousin is chatting in sentences, it’s natural to wonder if something is wrong. You might hear “boys talk later” or “just give it time” from well-meaning family. Sometimes that’s true. Sometimes it isn’t.
This guide explains the difference between a late talker and a speech or language delay, the signs speech pathologists look for, and what you can do at home this week. We see many families from Northmead, Parramatta and across Western Sydney with exactly this question.
What is a late talker?
A late talker is a toddler, usually between 18 and 30 months, who is slow to start using words but is otherwise developing as expected. They typically:
- understand much more than they can say
- use gestures like pointing, waving and showing to communicate
- play with toys in age-appropriate ways and enjoy interacting with people
- have typical hearing, motor and social development
As a rough guide, children use about 50 words and begin combining two words (“Mum up”, “more drink”) by 24 months. A toddler well below this, with otherwise typical development, is often described as a late talker. In the Raine Study of over 1,300 West Australian children, around 1 in 10 two-year-olds were late talkers.
What is a speech or language delay?
“Delay” is a broader term. It means a child’s communication is developing in the usual order, but more slowly than expected for their age. It can involve:
- Speech: how sounds are made (for example, a 4-year-old who is very hard for strangers to understand)
- Expressive language: using words and sentences to share ideas
- Receptive language: understanding words, questions and instructions
A late talker has an expressive language delay that appears on its own. When difficulties also show up in understanding, gestures, play or social interaction, or continue past age 3 to 4, a speech pathologist will look more closely at the whole picture. Some of these children are later diagnosed with a developmental language disorder (DLD), autism or another condition, but many are not.
Late talker vs. speech or language delay at a glance
| More typical of a late talker | Worth a closer look | |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding | Follows simple instructions, points to pictures you name | Often seems not to understand or ignores language |
| Gestures | Points, waves, shows you things | Few gestures or pointing by 18 months |
| Play | Pretend play emerging (feeding a teddy) | Limited or repetitive play |
| Sounds | Babbles with a range of consonants | Very few consonant sounds |
| Social connection | Seeks you out, shares attention | Limited eye contact or shared attention |
| Family history | None known | Parent or sibling had speech or language difficulties |
| Progress | New words arriving month to month | Few new words over 3 months, or lost words |
This table is a guide, not a diagnosis. Many children sit in both columns.
Should I wait and see?
Many late talkers do catch up. Research summarised by The Hanen Centre suggests that 20 to 30% of late-talking toddlers continue to have significant language difficulties. Right now, no single sign tells us for certain which children will catch up on their own.
That’s why speech pathologists generally recommend an assessment rather than waiting. An early assessment can either reassure you or help your child get support while their brain is rapidly building language. If therapy is recommended for a young child, it usually focuses on coaching you to use language-building strategies in everyday routines.
How to support talking at home
These strategies are useful for every toddler, whether or not they’re a late talker:
- Get face to face. Sit or kneel at your child’s level during play so they can see your mouth and expressions.
- Follow their lead. Talk about what they’re already looking at or playing with.
- Add one word. If your child says “car”, you say “red car” or “car go”.
- Pause and wait. Count to five silently after a question or comment to give them a turn.
- Use routines. Bath time, meals and nappy changes repeat the same words every day, which makes them ideal for learning.
- Sing and read together. Songs and picture books with repetition invite children to fill in the gaps.
- Limit pressure. Swap “Say ball!” for modelling the word naturally: “Ball! You’ve got the ball.”
Our earlier post on teaching imitation through song has more song-based ideas, and using sound words like “woof” and “beep” is another easy way in.
When to seek support
Book a speech pathology assessment if your child:
- is not using single words by 18 months
- has fewer than 50 words or no two-word combinations by 24 months
- doesn’t seem to understand simple instructions
- isn’t pointing or using gestures by 18 months
- has lost words or skills they used to have (see a GP promptly too)
- is hard for family to understand at age 3
- is frustrated by not being understood
You don’t need a referral to see a speech pathologist. If you have concerns about hearing, ask your GP about a hearing test as well.
Our speech pathologists see toddlers and young children at our Northmead clinic, a short drive from Parramatta, Westmead, Baulkham Hills and the Hills District. An initial assessment looks at how your child understands, communicates, plays and interacts, and you’ll leave with clear next steps, whether that’s therapy, home strategies or simply reassurance. Learn more about our speech delay and late talker support or contact us to book.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should a child be talking?
Most children say their first words around 12 months and use about 50 words with some two-word phrases by 24 months. There is a wide normal range. If your child isn’t using single words by 18 months, or isn’t combining words by 2, it’s worth booking a speech pathology assessment.
Do boys talk later than girls?
Boys are slightly more likely to be late talkers, but being a boy doesn’t explain a significant delay on its own. A boy who isn’t meeting milestones should be assessed the same way as a girl.
Is a late talker autistic?
Most late talkers are not autistic. Late talking on its own isn’t a sign of autism. A speech pathologist looks at the whole picture, including gestures, play, shared attention and social interaction, and can suggest further assessment if needed.
Do I need a referral for speech therapy?
No. You can book directly with a speech pathologist. A GP referral is only needed if you want to claim a Medicare rebate under a GP chronic condition management plan.
Can speech therapy help a late talker?
Early speech therapy, especially parent coaching, can help many children build words and early sentences. Every child progresses differently, and your speech pathologist will set goals with you and review progress regularly.
References
- Raising Children Network. Language delay in children.
- The Hanen Centre. Late Talkers: What We Know, and What We Don’t.
- Telethon Kids Institute (2011). Most late talking toddlers turn out OK (Raine Study findings).