Why isn’t my child talking yet? Understanding why speech and language delays happen.
Understanding the causes of speech and language delays in children
In the last post, we discussed “what” to do if you think your child may have a speech or language delay. Today, let’s take at look at “why” speech and language delays may happen. As parents, we eagerly wait for our child’s first words, but what happens when those words don’t come as expected? Speech and language delays are more common than many people realize and understanding the “why” behind them can be a first step toward getting your child the support they need.
Speech and language milestones: a quick overview
Speech refers to the actual sounds we make—articulation, voice, and fluency. Language is how we use those sounds and words to express ideas and understand others. Milestones vary slightly from child to child, but here are some general guidelines. You can also refer to previous posts, found here, here, or here for more details.
By 12 months: Babies typically say their first words like “mama or “dada” and understand simple instructions
By 18 months: They should use around 10-20 words and follow simple commands
By 2 years: Children often combine 2 words (“more juice”) and have a vocabulary of about 50 words
By 3 years: Most toddlers can form simple sentences and are understood by familiar listeners most of the time.
If your child is behind on these milestones, it might be time to take a closer look.
How common are speech and language delays?
Speech and language delays are among the most common developmental issues in early childhood. According to the National Institution Deafness and Other Communication Sciences Disorders:
Around 8-9% of young children have a speech or language delay.
Of those children:
About 5% have a speech delay (difficulty with sounds and words).
Around 3-4 % have a language delay (difficulty understanding or using words and sentences).
Early identification and intervention can make a big difference in long term outcomes.
6 common causes of speech and language delays
Hearing loss
Children need to hear speech clearly to learn how to produce it. Even mild or fluctuating hearing loss (like from chronic ear infections) can affect how children process language and sounds. This is generally my first recommendation to parents when they come for an evaluation. If they haven’t had their child’s hearing assessed, I strongly encourage it!
Learning Disabilities Like ADHD and Autism
Conditions like ADHD can make it harder for children to focus, listen, and process verbal information. Children with autism may struggle with social communication, gestures, and understanding language, even if they have a good vocabulary.
Neurological Issues
Children with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other neurological differences may have difficulty controlling the muscles needed for speech or processing language in the brain.
Environmental Factors
Language grows through interaction. Limited exposure to rich conversations, books, or play-based learning can contribute to delays. Excessive screen time, for example, can replace valuable back and forth interaction.
General Developmental Delays
Some children experience delays across multiple developmental areas including motor skills, cognition, and social-emotional development-which can impact speech and language.
Oral Motor Difficulties
Conditions like childhood apraxia of speech (difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech) or dysarthria (weak muscles) can cause speech to be difficult or unclear, even if the child knows what they want to say.
when should you seek help?
It’s never too early to ask questions. You should consider an evaluation by a speech therapist if:
Your child isn’t using gestures (like pointing or waving) by 12 months
Your child isn’t saying any words by 18 months
Your child isn’t combining words by 2 years
You or others find it difficult to understand your child by age 3
You notice regression-losing skills they previously had
Trust your instincts. You know your child best!
How can you support language development at home?
While professional help is important, parents play a powerful role in supporting communication every day. Here are some simple strategies that make a big impact:
Play Together
Play is the foundation of learning. Get down on your child’s level and follow their lead. Pretend play, building with blocks, and playing with dolls or action figures all create opportunities for language growth.
Encourage Imitation
Model simple words, sounds, and gestures and pause to give your child a chance to copy you. Celebrate their efforts, even if it’s not perfect. Be animated during play and imitate them, too!
Use signs and gestures
Using baby signs and natural gestures alongside spoken words helps support understanding and can reduce frustration. And no—it won’t delay talking. It actually helps!
Read Every Day
Books expose children to new words, ideas, and sentence structures. Choose books with repetition, rhyme, or interactive elements. Don’t worry about reading every word—talk about the pictures, ask questions, and make it fun!
Wrapping It Up
Speech and language delays have many causes and sometimes it’s a combination of factors. The good news? With the right support, children can make great progress. If you’re concerned, don’t wait-early support is a game changer!
Whether you’re just noticing something “off” or you’ve been concerned for a while, you’re not alone—and help is available. At Northern Star Therapy, we’re here to guide and support families through every step of the journey.
