Does my child have a language delay?

It can be really hard as a mom to see other kids meeting milestones before our own child does. This is especially true when it comes to talking. It's incredibly fun watching little ones learn to express themselves verbally. So when it doesn't happen for your kid as soon as it "should" it can be discouraging. Let's talk about expressive language and how you can recognize the signs of a delay:

Expressive language is defined as the output of language: the use of words, gestures, or other communication modalities to convey meaning

Expressive language milestones from 0-3 years:

0-3 months	coos and smiles
4-6 months	babbles, makes vowel and consonant sounds
7-12 months	strings sounds together, uses gestures
*12 MONTHS*	First words appear
13-18 months	imitates words, strings sounds together resembling speech (jargon)
*18 MONTHS*	Expressive vocabulary is around 50 words
19-24 months	labels familiar objects, uses around 100 different words
*24 MONTHS*	simple two word combinations appear
24-36 months	rapid vocabulary growth, asks questions and uses sentences

A REMINDER ABOUT DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

We use milestones for a reason: they provide us with a research-backed, standardized look at when significant developmental moments are expected to occur. It allows us to determine when and what interventions may be necessary. That being said, milestones shouldn't be used as a "competition" between children.

Recognize the signs of a language delay

Use the list of milestones to gauge where your child's language development skills fall. Meeting a milestone within a month or two of the recommended time usually isn't cause for concern, but if you are seeing consistent delays at each of the milestones, that's a good indicator that there may be a bigger issue. Here are some examples of delayed language development:

• at 7 months your baby doesn't babble

• your 12-month old isn't using gestures

• your toddler is nearing 18 months and only says a couple words

• your child uses single words as they reach 3 years of age

If you're reading through this and thinking that it applies to your child, you may be wondering what your next steps are.

Many states offer free or significantly reduced early intervention (0-3 years) evaluation services. Check out this list to see what early intervention services are offered in your state.

Another option is to look up SLPs in your area and see if you can set up an appointment for an evaluation. The good news is that if there is no underlying disorder, there is a pretty good prognosis that with intervention, your child will be able to make great progress.

If you choose not to get your child evaluated, the most important thing you can do is help them build language throughout the day. Be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow me on Instagram for easy tips how to do this!