Speech delay means a child is slower than expected to start talking or to build their vocabulary. A “late talker” may understand a lot but use very few words. Sometimes children catch up on their own — but it’s impossible to know which children will without support, which is why an early check matters.
Speech is the foundation of learning, friendships and confidence. The good news: speech delay responds very well to early speech and language therapy.
Signs of speech delay by age
- No babbling by around 12 months
- No single words by around 16–18 months
- Fewer than 50 words or no two-word phrases by age 2
- Speech that’s very hard to understand at age 3
- Not following simple instructions for their age
- Frustration, pointing or crying instead of using words
- Losing words or skills they previously had
How we help late talkers
- A speech and language assessment to find the cause
- Play-based therapy that motivates your child to communicate
- Building understanding, vocabulary and sentence skills step by step
- Checking for related factors such as hearing or oral-motor skills
- Coaching parents with simple, powerful home strategies
If your child is behind on talking, there’s rarely harm in an assessment — and often great benefit. Many families wish they’d asked sooner.
Imagine a two-and-a-half-year-old who understands everything you say but uses only a handful of words, pointing and pulling you to what she wants. A short assessment rules out hearing as a cause and confirms an expressive delay. With playful, one-to-one speech sessions — and simple techniques her parents use at home every day — her words steadily grow into two-word phrases over a few months. Late talkers vary widely, but this is the kind of progress good early support can bring.
An illustrative, general example — not a real child. Every child is unique; the only way to know what yours needs is a proper assessment.What the research says
Our approach is grounded in published evidence, not opinion. A few findings from reputable, independent sources:
A Cochrane systematic review of 25 studies found that speech and language therapy is effective for children with expressive vocabulary and speech-sound (phonological) difficulties.
— Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — Law, Garrett & Nye (2003), CD004110. View sourceThat same review found no significant difference between therapy delivered by a clinician and therapy delivered by trained parents — which is exactly why we coach you to support your child at home as part of every plan.
— Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — Law, Garrett & Nye (2003), CD004110. View source
Other areas we support
Speech Delay: questions parents ask
Should I “wait and see” if my child talks late?
Waiting can cost valuable early time. While some late talkers catch up, you can’t reliably tell who will. An assessment removes the guesswork and means support starts early if it’s needed.
Could a hearing problem cause speech delay?
Yes — even mild or temporary hearing loss can delay speech. As part of assessment we consider hearing and may suggest a hearing check.
Does being bilingual cause speech delay?
No. Growing up with two languages (such as Urdu and English) does not cause speech delay. Bilingual children may mix languages at first, which is completely normal.
Worried about your child? Let’s talk.
A short, friendly conversation is the best first step. Call, text or WhatsApp us — we’ll listen and guide you, with no pressure.
MPS Road, Block A Model Town, Multan (near Bloomfield Hall School, Street No. 2) · Mon–Sat, 10 AM – 7 PM