Late Talkers

We get frequent language development referrals for children aged anywhere from 1½ to 4 years old where a worried parent tells us that their child isn’t talking much. They often compare their child to a friend’s of the same age, or to a sibling who progressed at a different rate. While for some children late talking is just their pace, for others it is essential that they get a helping hand to kick-start their communication. Our first step is to assess the child’s language abilities (both what they are saying and what they are understanding); we nearly always do this through play activities, where we can test a child’s language levels without them being conscious of it. From there, we work closely with the family to promote language development in the clinic and in everyday activities at home, teaching parents how to change their own communication so that the child can more easily learn from them. Whether it is getting first words started, or encouraging a child to move on to making sentences, we have years of experience with late talkers!