Will my toddler’s language catch up naturally?

As parents and caregivers, it’s natural to wonder if your toddler is on track with their language development. Some children hit language milestones right on time, but others are slower to reach those milestones. So that leaves us asking: Will my toddler catch up without support?

This is the million dollar question!

Here is the difficult truth - it is challenging to distinguish between which children will catch up on their own and which children will require intervention. This is where speech language pathologists come in. We look at a many different factors to help figure out what is going on, like:

• Family history: Does someone in your family have a history or language or learning difficulties?
• Gestures: Does your child use and understand gestures like pointing, waving, or shrugging?
• Vocabulary: How many words does your child have? How does this compare to developmental norms?
• Expressive communication: How does your child get his or her needs met?
• Receptive language: How well does your child understand the language spoken to them?
• Sounds: What sounds does your child say?

If you are unsure of whether your toddler will catch up naturally, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and seek professional advice. Research shows that children with language delays have the best outcomes with early support!

It all comes down to trusting your gut…

You know your child best. If something doesn’t feel quite right, reach out to your pediatrician or a local SLP for support. Whether your toddler just has a late start to talking or needs additional support, taking action gives them the best opportunities to succeed!

You got this! 💛