A late talker is a toddler who has a smaller vocabulary than other children their age, without any known cause such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, genetic syndrome, or hearing loss.
From a clinical perspective, we typically define a late talker as a child between 18 to 30 months old who has fewer than 50 expressive words and isn’t yet using two-word combinations by 24 months. It’s important to note that these children generally have typical development in other areas, with no diagnosed disabilities or cognitive or motor delays.
What’s covered in this article:
Late talking affects approximately 13% of toddlers between 18 to 23 months of age and up to 17% of toddlers between 30 to 36 months. To put this in perspective, in a daycare class of 20 children, at least three of them might be late talkers. This means that many other parents share the same concerns you do—you’re not alone! The good news is that there are many research-based strategies and resources available for you to support your little one.
Are you worried that your child might be a late talker? You’re not alone. Talking, much like walking, is a major milestone that parents eagerly anticipate. It’s common to feel pressure—from both ourselves and others—to make sure our children reach this milestone quickly and effortlessly.
It’s important to remember that every child develops at their own pace, and there’s a wide range of what’s considered normal. However, understanding the early signs of late talking can help you take action sooner and get the support your child may need.
Here Are Some Signs to Tell If Your Child Might Be a Late Talker:
By age 2, your toddler should be using at least 50 words independently. Late talkers may struggle to learn new words and might show reluctance to imitate them.
By age 2, your toddler should start using simple two-word phrases like “mum up”, “bye daddy”, “big bubble” or “doggie there”. Although these phrases might not always be pronounced clearly, it’s important that they are beginning to put words together. If your child is using mainly single words or no words by this age, it can be a significant indicator of a delay in expressive language development.
Some late talkers may also struggle to understand words they hear, including concepts like location words (e.g., in, on, under, up, down, behind) and names of body parts. They might also find it difficult to understand and differentiate action words (e.g., run, jump, catch, walk).
Some late talkers may struggle to clearly articulate simple words like “up”, “mum”, “dad”, “dog”, “teddy”, “nana”, “hat”, and “baby”. They might also find it difficult to produce speech sounds that are expected for their age. For example, by 2 years old, children should typically be able to pronounce consonants like:
There are certain factors that can increase the chances of your child experiencing language delays. Understanding these risk factors can help you identify if your child might be more likely to face these challenges, such as:
Children who are slow to develop gestures like waving, clapping, or nodding are more likely to experience language delays. Early gestures help bridge the gap between understanding and using spoken words, encouraging social interaction. For example, when a child points to an object, it prompts adults to respond with words, reinforcing language learning. That’s why research shows that early gestures are such a strong predictor of language development. Make sure to observe your child’s gestures today!
Studies show that if a child isn’t babbling by the age of 2, it may indicate they will be a late talker and could face future language challenges.
Children with a history of frequent ear infections are at a higher risk for language delays. This is because ear infections can make it difficult for your child to hear clearly, which is crucial for learning to speak. Often, these infections last longer than we realise, potentially leading to extended periods of hearing difficulties.
Children born with low birth weight (less than 85% of their optimal weight) or those born prematurely often have a higher risk of language delays. This is because low birth weight indicates that a child may have experienced complications during pregnancy or birth that affected their overall growth and brain development.
If there is a history of late talking or language delays in your family, your child may be more likely to experience similar challenges. Knowing this genetic link allows you to take proactive steps in monitoring and supporting your child’s language development.
The answer is both yes and no. Research shows that about 50% of late talkers catch up to their peers by the age of 5, even without direct intervention.
However, research has also shown us that these late talkers continue to underperform and have difficulties in many areas impacting their overall academic success, such as:
For the remaining 50% of late talkers, language difficulties can persist into later childhood and may be diagnosed as a language disorder. In some cases, these challenges are linked to other conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, or genetic syndromes.
The key takeaway from research is that while we have statistics on late talking, it’s impossible to know in advance which children will “grow out of it” and which will face persistent language delays or disorders. We can only determine this after the fact.
Because of this uncertainty, the best approach is to identify the signs of late talking early. Incorporate supportive language strategies into your daily routines, and seek professional help if your child is not showing significant progress by the age of 2.5 to 3 years.
Even with all the information about milestones and risk factors, it’s natural to feel uncertain about whether to wait and see or seek help from a speech pathologist right away.
To help ease your concerns, we offer our free Language Check-In tool. This easy-to-use tool takes just 15 minutes to complete from the comfort of your home and provides immediate feedback on your child’s language development. With the Language Check-In, you’ll find out if your child is:
It can be worrisome when your child is a late talker, but believe me, you’re not alone. As a practicing speech pathologist, I’ve seen many parents face the same concerns. Whether or not you seek professional support, it’s essential to include some simple strategies into your daily routine with your toddler to help boost their language development.
The great thing is, these strategies don’t require extra time in your day. Everyday moments are golden opportunities for learning, and with just a few tweaks to your interactions, you can make a big difference in your toddler’s language skills.
One highly effective strategy is to emphasise functional words or phrases during routine activities. Whether you’re at home or on the go, make it a habit to label actions clearly. For example, as you open a door, say, “open the door,” or as you give your child a piece of fruit, say, “more apple.” From my experience, this constant exposure helps toddlers make connections between words and their meanings.
When your toddler babbles, makes a sound or gestures, mimic these back to them. You can do this during play, while preparing meals, or even during bath time. Repeating their sounds and actions shows them that communication is interactive and fun. I often find that this encourages toddlers to experiment with new sounds and gestures.
Another key approach is to focus more on modeling language rather than asking too many questions. Questions can sometimes create pressure for toddlers to respond, which can be frustrating if they’re still finding their words. Instead, I suggest narrating what you’re doing or what they’re interacting with. For instance, if your toddler is playing with blocks, rather than asking, “What are you building?” you could say, “Building high! Stack up the blocks.” This method not only enriches their vocabulary but also makes language acquisition feel natural and enjoyable.
If you’re interested in a fun post about what NOT to do for your late talker, check out this Instagram post.
In my work with families, I’ve found that the most effective way to support a late-talking toddler is to first understand their current “stage of communication.” This means knowing what your child can do right now so that you can focus on the next steps. Think of it like learning to ride a bike—you don’t start with a two-wheeler; instead, you build up to it in stages.
The communication stages I use when working with parents and their children are:
Each stage has its own set of behaviors and developmental goals. Once you know your child’s stage of communication, you’ll know exactly what to focus on at home to support their progress.
While direct intervention might not be necessary right away, it’s always helpful for parents to have some guidance on where to start. Knowing your child’s communication stage and implementing these strategies can provide a clear path forward in supporting their language development. Remember, every small step counts in helping your little one grow into a confident communicator.
Early intervention is key when it comes to supporting late-talking toddlers. The sooner you can identify and address any language delays, the better the outcomes for your child’s communication development. To help guide you through this process, we recommend using our free Online Speechie Language Check-In tool—a quick and easy way to assess your child’s language skills from home. If you have concerns or your child needs more targeted support, please don’t hesitate to contact us or book an appointment here.
Horowitz SM, Irwin JR, Briggs-Gowan MJ, Bosson Heenan JM, Medoza J, Carter AS. Language delay in a community cohort of young children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003;42(8):932-940. doi:10.1097/01.CHI.0000046889.27264.5E.
Paul R. Profiles of toddlers with slow expressive language development. Top Lang Disord. 1991;11(4):1-13. doi:10.1097/00011363-199111040-00003.
Rescorla LA. The Language Development Survey: A screening tool for delayed language in toddlers. J Speech Hear Disord. 1989;54(4):587-599. doi:10.1044/jshd.5404.587.
Rescorla LA, Alley A. Validation of the Language Development Survey (LDS): A parent report tool for identifying language delay in toddlers. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2001;44(2):434-445. doi:10.1044/1092-4388(2001/035).
Roulstone S, Loader S, Northstone K, Beveridge M, the ALSPAC team. The speech and language of children aged 25 months: Descriptive data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Early Child Dev Care. 2002;172(3):259-268. doi:10.1080/03004430212126.
Thal DJ, Marchman VA, Tomblin JB. Late-talking toddlers: Characterization and prediction of continued delay. In: Rescorla LA, Dale PS, eds. Late Talkers: Language Development, Interventions, and Outcomes. Brookes; 2013:169-201.
Zubrick SR, Taylor CL, Rice ML, Slegers DW. Late language emergence at 24 months: An epidemiological study of prevalence, predictors, and covariates. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2007;50(6):1562-1592. doi:10.1044/1092-4388(2007/106).