Are you wondering when to worry about a speech delay? Curious at what age should you be concerned if your child is not talking? The short answer is, as soon as you suspect a delay. 

However, I say this with a caveat– I always encourage parents to practice “concern” versus “worry” or, worse, “panic.” This is because intervention is always an option.  

When to Worry About a Speech Delay 

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, one of the most common questions I hear from parents is when they should start to worry if their child isn’t talking yet. My answer is as soon as you suspect a delay or as soon as the child isn’t meeting their speech milestones. 

This isn’t to cause panic, but rather to highlight the fact that early intervention is almost always in the child’s best interest. 

Late talkers are often able to catch up to their peers, some even on their own, without any intervention. 

However, those who do need intervention and work with an SLP can catch up much more quickly. The gap between their development and their peers’ is closed much faster than without treatment. 

There are also some negative effects of not intervening, such as unfavorable behaviors (like hitting or biting), underdeveloped social skills, and difficulty with reading later on. 

[You can read more about the effects of late talking in this post.]

So, for these reasons, I always encourage parents to start the conversation with their pediatrician as soon as they suspect a delay. It can’t hurt, and this is always a better option than waiting.  

The First Step To Take 

The first step in treating your child’s speech delay is to schedule them for a Late Talker Evaluation. This will help you and your Speech-Language Pathologist understand exactly what’s going on, and to develop a plan for treatment. Every child is different, so it’s important to work with an SLP who can create a custom plan based on your child’s specific needs.

As a Speech-Language Pathologist for over 20 years, I would love to help you and your child on their journey. I offer an online Late Talker Evaluation that is simple and only takes about 30-40 minutes to complete. You’ll receive a full written report with conclusions to help you going forward. 

Check Out The Late Talker Evaluation

Have some questions first? Reach out to me! I’m happy to help you understand if this is the right option for your child.

I’m Guy Garcia. I have a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. I’ve treated over 1000 children with speech-language disorders.