5 Signs Your Child Might Need Speech Therapy

Every parent has moments of uncertainty about their child's development. Speech follows a general timeline, but every child develops at their own pace — which makes it genuinely hard to tell typical variation from a real delay. These five signs can help.

Sign #1: They're behind on key milestones

By 12 months, children typically say 1–2 words and respond to their names; by 18 months, 10–20 words and simple directions; by age 2, 50+ words and two-word combinations; by age 3, 200+ words and sentences strangers can mostly understand. Significant delays warrant evaluation rather than “wait and see.”

Sign #2: They're hard to understand — even for you

By age 2 you should understand most of what your child says; by age 3, strangers should understand at least 75%. If you're constantly translating, an evaluation is worthwhile. Unclear speech can stem from sound-specific difficulties, oral-motor coordination, or a phonological disorder — all of which respond well to support.

Sign #3: They've stopped making progress — or lost skills

Losing words or skills a child previously had always warrants immediate attention. So does plateauing for several months without adding or combining new words. Steady, even gradual, growth is the reassuring pattern.

Sign #4: They mostly point, pull, or use you to communicate

Gestures are a normal milestone, but heavy reliance on pointing, pulling your hand, or grunting — with few words alongside — deserves assessment. Speech therapy helps children move from mostly-nonverbal communication into words.

Sign #5: Frustration is getting in the way

When communication difficulty causes frequent meltdowns or give-up behaviors, intervention matters. Communication challenges ripple into play, friendships, learning, behavior, and self-confidence — and therapy gives children functional ways to connect with their world. An evaluation doesn't obligate you to therapy; it just gives you the information to decide.