How to know if the child needs to go to the speech therapist 2026

Children generally begin babbling around six months of age, although they do not tend to say their first words until they are ten to 15 months old. In fact, as most specialists in this regard agree, the vast majority usually begin to speak when they reach the first year of life.

Then, little by little and as the months go by, they begin to capture an increasingly increasing number of words. And they even begin to combine them using simple sentences. Something that usually happens around 18 months of age.

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On many occasions, we tend to think that language is just speech, and this is a big mistake. That is, language does not consist solely of the sounds we make with the help of our voice. And this means that, in reality, understanding the language used by those around us truly becomes a very complex task.

For example, we need to be aware of the words we use, have an approximate concept of what they mean in different contexts, and finally understand the meaning that a sentence would have based on the order of the words. This is what is known as receptive language skills.

For this reason, it is essential for parents to know that, from the earliest stages of language development, children truly understand more than they are actually capable of communicating. Not in vain, it is precisely through the understanding that children have of the language that they end up developing their own linguistic skills (based on what parents, siblings, caregivers and other close relatives say).

However, some conditions that tend to affect speech, such as stuttering, are usually quite noticeable. On the contrary, the problems that children present when they are not developing language, at least in the usual way they should, can sometimes remain hidden. Thus, some instructions, apparently complex or complicated, could be easily understood due to the general context.

How do baby and child language and speech develop?

Throughout the child's growth, a series of developmental milestones occur that also have a special relationship with both speech and language. Therefore, from the beginning, it is always very useful to find out what they are, before asking ourselves if our child might need the help of a speech therapist. Furthermore, it is essential to keep in mind that developmental milestones, by age, should only be taken as mere approximate examples, so each child will have their own development and these milestones do not always have to occur at the same times:

At 18 months of age, it is common for the baby to know how to say “no” correctly, use a vocabulary of at least ten words, be able to identify some common things such as a dog, a cat or a doll, and also follow certain simple instructions (such as, for example, when we ask him to come closer to us or to take off a shoe).

By around 2 years of age, it is common to use consonants in speech, join two words together, identify body parts when asked, be able to identify pictures in children, have a vocabulary of at least 50 words, say rhymes, and even sing simple nursery rhymes.

At 3 years of age he is able to pronounce consonant sounds, carries on a conversation, uses some grammar, says words with consonant endings clearly, usually asks quite a few questions, and can make a longer sentence.

Some signs that your child may need to see a speech therapist

As many specialists state, between the ages of 2 and 4 years is considered the point at which it should be quite clear to parents whether or not the child may have problems or difficulties speaking.

In these cases, it is possible that one of the main signs is if, upon reaching that age, they still have a very limited vocabulary, and the child is not completely capable of stringing together several words.

Having a low level of interaction is also usually another sign to take into account, although it can present itself in different ways. For example, your little one may not be able to answer questions, not point to pictures when asked, or even use the wrong words frequently.

It may also be common to have some problems or difficulties in understanding what the child wants to convey to us, especially if he is already at an age where it should not be so difficult for him to express it.

In any case, when in doubt, it is always advisable to consult directly with the pediatrician or children's speech therapist, who will offer us personalized guidance, taking into account the circumstances of the child himself.