I was worried about a toddler speech delay when my daughter was 3 years old. Although she talked often, we couldn't understand what she was saying. We would ask her to point to what she wanted or use hand gestures to communicate with us. At her well-child checkup, the doctor agreed that she should get evaluated for speech.
At 12 to 15 months old, they'll be babbling quite a few consonants, start to imitate speech, use a few words appropriately, and should also be able to follow simple commands. At 18 months, most toddlers can say 20 different words and by the time they're two, they should be combining two words to make a simple sentence and follow two-step directions.
A tot's language skills really blossom between the ages of two and three. He will use considerably more words and start combining two or more words to communicate. He should also understand more complex directions and be able to identify colors.
If you 're worried about a toddler speech delay, talk to your pediatrician. All public school districts in the United States offer free speech therapy to children 3 years old or older. If your child is younger than three, call early intervention in your area. Early intervention has different names in each state, but your pediatrician will be able to give you the contact information.
We lived in a school district that not only offered free speech therapy, but allowed my daughter to attend preschool for free. She received 20 minutes of speech therapy a week, and was exposed to typical developing children. Being around other children also helped her improve her speech skills.
Two years of speech made a big difference for my daughter. A year after she started, we were able to understand her at home. After two years of speech, extended family and friends could understand her. Now, she can make her needs known and talk to her friends and family.
Does your toddler have a speech delay? What were the warning signs? Share below in the comments section!