Is silence always golden? Not speaking by 2 years old (2024)

Late talkers

Einstein famously didn’t start talking until he was 3 years old. Other famous late talkers include mathematical genius Ramanujan, a nobel prize winner (Gary Becker), a US talk show host (G. Gordon Liddy) and even Mussolini. Although research papers have used slightly different criteria (in terms of amount of language and the age of the children), it is estimated that 15% of children could be described as ‘late talkers’ (Reilly et al 2014, Levickis and McKean 2014).

So should we be concerned about children who are ‘late talkers’? Do they need extra help? Will they catch up?

What counts as a ‘late’ talker?

If your child hasn’t said their first words at age two, it can be a worrying time for a parent. Late talkers have been defined as children aged 2-3 with only a few (or no) single words. Some researchers and therapists also include children under the age of three who do not join words together to make simple two word sentences (e.g. ‘push car’, ‘bye-bye Mummy’).

Will my child catch up?

But how can a parent know when to be concerned? What’s the difference between being a late talker (who will catch up fine once they start) and a child who might need more help?

Some key points to look out for: What can I do to help?

  • Does your child understand what you say to them? Research has indicated that late talkers who have a good understanding of spoken language are more likely to catch up with their talking (Ellis and Thal 2008). Take a look at the language e-mail course for more information about the developmental stages of understanding language.
  • Is your child attempting to communicate in other ways, such as pointing, gesture, or taking you to the item they want?
  • Is your child enjoying pretend play and spending time with other children? Children who are developing their social skills are less likely to have ongoing spoken language difficulties.

As a parent, you can do lots to help your child learn to talk – the language e-mail course is a great place to start. It contains a lot of helpful tips and activities for you and your child. The help that you provide from an early age will give your child a really positive start. For example, research has shown that the more parents extend their children’s sentences the greater the improvement in the child’s language between age two and three (Levickis and McKean 2014).

However, early identification is also important so that we know whether a child could benefit from more help to develop their communication skills. If you are concerned that your child is not learning to talk at the same rate as other children, a Speech and Language therapy assessment will help to identify whether your child needs further support.

Ellis EM, Thal DJ. (2008) Early language delay and risk for language impairment.Perspect Lang Learn Ed., 15(3): 93-100.

Rosetti, L.M. (1996). Communication intervention: Birth to three. San Diego: Singular Publishing.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862655/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24334229

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=http%3A%2F%2Fborntalking.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2FSheena-Reilly-Norwich-presentation-11th-May.pptx

much shorter research summary on the same thing

http://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/ccch/CPR-Vol23-No3.pdf

https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-2006-948228

There is evidence to suggest that focused stimulation and modelling of single words can lead to improvements in the language of children with late language emergence (Cable and Domsch 2011 – a systematic review). Also to look at Reilly et al and Levickis and McKean 2014.

Written by Alys Mathers, Speech and Language Therapist

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Is silence always golden? Not speaking by 2 years old (2024)

FAQs

Is it normal for a 2 year old not to speak? ›

So if your toddler is 2 or 3 years old and isn't yet talking, it's vital to go ahead and speak with their pediatrician, or with a speech-language pathologist. They will likely recommend a speech evaluation in order to assess your child's current abilities. Early intervention is so important in these situations.

Why is my 2 year old not talking but not autistic? ›

There are several reasons why a 2-year-old is babbling but not talking. Sometimes, it may be because they are shy or introverted. It can also be related to hearing loss or other developmental delays. In most cases, however, the cause is unknown.

Is it normal for a child to be non-verbal at 2? ›

Although it's not typical, your 2-year-old's situation is not necessarily cause for great concern, either. Some more cautious and reserved 2-year-olds tend to wait until they understand a great deal of what they hear before they actually speak.

What is the normal speech for a 2 year old? ›

At around two years of age your child will probably have built up a core vocabulary of about one to two hundred words, and learned to join two words together. It is important to remember that children at this stage often do not pronounce words clearly, and that this is perfectly normal.

Is it normal for a 2 year old to speak gibberish? ›

Yes! It is expected that a 2 year old will continue to babble as they are learning to talk. 2 year olds should also say about 100 words on their own and be speaking in jargon (or gibberish) sometimes.

At what age do late talkers talk? ›

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), late talkers are toddlers (18 to 30 months old) who have a limited vocabulary for their age, but do not have any other developmental delays. Some late talkers may talk by three to five years of age. These toddlers are called late bloomers.

What are signs for delayed speech in 2 year old? ›

by 2 years: can only imitate speech or actions and doesn't produce words or phrases spontaneously. by 2 years: says only some sounds or words repeatedly and can't use oral language to communicate more than their immediate needs. by 2 years: can't follow simple directions.

How to encourage a 2 year old to talk? ›

Role play, counting games and helping out around the house are great ways to use their imagination and build on the words they already know. Try to repeat words and add instructions to words they've grasped to encourage their play.

Can a child be non verbal and not autistic? ›

A: Yes, a child can be nonverbal without being autistic. There are various reasons for nonverbal communication, and it is not exclusive to autism; other developmental or medical factors may contribute to a child's lack of speech.

What age does nonverbal autism start? ›

Around 80-90% of parents say they noticed signs before their child turned 2. Some of the symptoms that may indicate Non-Verbal Autism include: Not responding to their name by the age of 1. Not babbling towards parents or caregivers by the age of 1.

Should I be worried if my 2 year old doesn't speak? ›

If your 2 year old isn't talking yet, I recommend talking to your pediatrician about finding a speech therapist near you who can support your toddler's speech development. At what age do late talkers talk?

How high should a 2 year old count? ›

Your 2-year-old now

By age 2, a child can count to two ("one, two"), and by 3, he can count to three, but if he can make it all the way up to 10, he's probably reciting from rote memory. Kids this age don't yet actually understand, and can't identify, the quantities they're naming.

What sounds should a 2 year old have? ›

By 2 years, the child says these sounds in words – 'p','b','m','n','t','d' Examples at this stage include car = “tar” and biscuit = “biddit”. The ends of words are often missed out, e.g. tap = “ta”. By 2.5 – 3.5 years, the child starts to use more sounds – 'k','g','f','s','y','h'.

Why is my 2 year old non-verbal? ›

If your child is age 15 months or older and has not said their first word, or seems to be struggling to communicate, this could be a sign of a language delay. A speech or language delay can cause concern for many parents and lead to feelings of frustration and stress.

Can a 2 year old talk but not understand? ›

Two-year-olds vary widely both in how much they talk and how easy their speech is to understand. In general, you should be able to understand about half of what your child says. Articulation will come naturally as her language skills mature.

When should I worry about my 2 year old's speech? ›

Talk to your child's health care provider if you can understand only a few or none of your 2-year-old's words. A delay using words or talking can be an early sign of other issues. Your toddler's provider can refer you to health professionals who test children for these issues.

Can too much TV cause speech delay? ›

The research showed that greater amounts of screen time were associated with a higher likelihood of developmental delays in communication. Take a look at the numbers: With up to 2 hours of daily screen time at age 1, children were 61% more likely to have communication delays at age 2.

Can a late talker be smart? ›

Einstein Syndrome Defined

Einstein, a certified genius, was also a late talker (according to some biographers). He didn't speak full sentences until he was 5 years old. Einstein's speech delay clearly wasn't an impediment to his intellectual prowess and awe-inspiring accomplishments.

Can a child have speech delay and not be autistic? ›

Speech delays are very common among children with autism, but they are also common in children without autism. While significant speech delays are always a cause for concern, they are not inherently an autism trait and may be due to other issues, such as hearing loss.

Is it normal for a 2 year old to stop talking? ›

Is it normal for toddlers to stop saying words? Yes, short lived periods of language regression is a typical part of toddler speech and language development.

Is a 2 year old not talking ADHD? ›

Specifically, studies show that children with ADHD are more likely to struggle with expressive language skills. That means your toddler might take longer to say their first words or have difficulty expressing themselves verbally, especially when compared to other kids their age.

What is the difference between speech delay and autism? ›

Speech delay is a problem where a child has difficulty developing speech and language skills. In contrast, autism spectrum disorder is a neurological disorder that affects social skills, learning, communication, and behavior.

Is it normal for a 2 year old not to share? ›

Children this age are focused on their own feelings and thoughts, and they're thinking, “I want those trains, and I want them now!” This behavior may embarrass and frustrate parents, but an unwillingness to share is perfectly normal at this age!

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