Category: Language

AAC, Language, Speech

“No Seriously, When Will My Child Talk?” – Advice for Parents of Nonverbal Children

Danielle Watkins

It’s a question that weighs heavily on the hearts of many parents: “When will my child talk?” While our previous post touched on general speech and language milestones, we know that for some families, the journey looks different. If your child is nonverbal, or you have significant concerns about their very limited verbal communication, the typical timelines can feel frustratingly irrelevant. At Talking Fish Speech Pathology in Warragul, we understand this profound worry, and we’re here to offer advice, support, and hope.

Understanding “Nonverbal”

First, it’s important to clarify what “nonverbal” can mean. It doesn’t necessarily mean a child will never speak. Instead, it refers to a child who is not yet using spoken words to communicate, or who has very few, inconsistent verbal productions. This can be due to a variety of underlying reasons, including:

  • Developmental delays: Sometimes speech development simply takes a longer path.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Many children with autism are nonverbal or minimally verbal.
  • Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS): A motor speech disorder where the brain has difficulty planning the movements needed for speech.
  • Intellectual disability: This can impact all areas of development, including speech.
  • Hearing impairment: Undiagnosed or untreated hearing loss can significantly affect speech development.
  • Selective Mutism: An anxiety disorder where a child is unable to speak in certain social situations.

Beyond Words: The Importance of Communication

When a child isn’t talking, our primary focus shifts from just spoken words to communication in all its forms. Every child communicates, even without words. They might use:

  • Gestures: Reaching, pointing, waving.
  • Facial expressions: Smiling, frowning, looking surprised.
  • Body language: Pulling you to something, turning away.
  • Vocalisations: Crying, grunting, laughing, babbling.
  • Eye gaze: Looking between you and an object.

As parents, observing and responding to these early communication attempts is crucial. It validates their efforts and lays the groundwork for more complex communication.

What Can You Do Right Now? Practical Strategies for Parents

While waiting is hard, you can actively foster communication in many ways:

  1. Seek Professional Help (Early!): This is paramount. If you have concerns, don’t wait. Contact a speech pathologist. We can conduct a thorough assessment to identify the potential underlying reasons for nonverbal communication and recommend the most appropriate intervention. Early intervention significantly improves outcomes.
  2. Focus on Connection and Interaction: Create plenty of opportunities for your child to interact with you. Get down to their level, make eye contact, and join them in their play. Follow their lead and show genuine interest in what they are doing.
  3. Model and Expand: Talk to your child constantly, describing what you are doing, seeing, and hearing. Use simple language. If they make a sound or gesture, respond to it and expand on it. (e.g., if they point to a ball, you say, “Yes, ball! Big ball!”).
  4. Use Gestures and Visuals: Pair your words with gestures. Use real objects, pictures, or even simple signs (like those from Key Word Sign or Auslan) to support understanding and give your child a way to express themselves. Visual schedules can also help with daily routines and understanding expectations.
  5. Create Communication Opportunities: Make communication necessary! Place desired toys out of reach, give them choices, or pretend you don’t understand to encourage them to communicate their wants.
  6. Patience and Celebration: The journey can be long, and progress might be slow, but every small step is a victory. Celebrate every attempt at communication, whether it’s a sound, a gesture, or an eye gaze. Your positive reinforcement is incredibly powerful.
  7. Explore Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): A speech pathologist might recommend AAC options. These are tools and systems that support or replace spoken communication. This could include picture cards and visual schedules, voice output devices (like an iPad app), or communication boards. AAC does not prevent speech from developing; in fact, it often supports and encourages spoken language by reducing frustration and building communication success.

The Speech Pathologist’s Role

At Talking Fish Speech Pathology, we are experts in supporting nonverbal children. We can:

  • Accurately assess your child’s communication skills and identify potential barriers.
  • Develop individualised therapy plans tailored to their unique needs.
  • Provide strategies for you to use at home.
  • Guide you in exploring and implementing AAC if appropriate.
  • Collaborate with other professionals involved in your child’s care.

When will your child talk? There’s no single answer, but with early intervention, consistent support, and a focus on all forms of communication, we can help them find their voice, whether through words or other powerful means.

If you have concerns about your child’s verbal communication, please reach out to a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP). We’re here to listen, support, and guide you every step of the way.

Language, Speech

When Will My Child Talk? Understanding Speech and Language Development

Danielle Watkins

One of the most exciting milestones for parents is hearing their child’s first words. It’s a moment filled with joy and anticipation, often leading to the common question we hear at Talking Fish Speech Pathology: “When will my child talk?”

While every child develops at their own pace, there are general guidelines and important milestones that can help you understand what to expect and when to consider seeking professional advice.

The Journey of Communication: From Coos to Conversations

Long before their first words, babies are already communicating. This early communication is foundational to later speech and language development.

  • Birth to 3 Months: Your baby will startle at loud sounds, respond to your voice by calming or smiling, make cooing sounds, and cry to express needs. They’ll also begin to produce different cries for different needs.
  • 4 to 6 Months: Expect more babbling, often with different sounds like “p,” “b,” and “m.” They’ll also begin to laugh, show excitement with vocal play, and respond to their name. You might notice them looking in the direction of sounds.
  • 7 to 12 Months: This is often when the magic of “babbling with intent” begins. Your baby might string together sounds like “mamama” or “bababa.” They’ll respond to simple requests (“come here”), understand “no,” and might wave bye-bye. Their first true words, often “mama” or “dada,” typically emerge around 12 months, though this can vary. They’ll also start using gestures to communicate.
  • 12 to 18 Months: At this stage, children are typically saying a few single words, understanding simple instructions, and pointing to objects they want. Their vocabulary will be growing, perhaps up to 10-20 words by 18 months, though individual differences are significant.
  • 18 to 24 Months: A rapid increase in vocabulary is common. Your toddler might be combining two words (“more juice,” “bye-bye car”) and following two-step commands. They’ll also be able to identify common objects and pictures.
  • 2 to 3 Years: Your child’s vocabulary will expand dramatically, and they’ll start forming longer sentences (3-4 words). They should be able to answer simple “who,” “what,” and “where” questions, and most of what they say should be understandable to familiar listeners.

When to Consider a Professional Opinion

While the developmental window for speech and language is wide, it’s natural to worry if your child isn’t hitting these milestones as expected. If you notice any of the following, it’s a good idea to seek advice from a speech pathologist:

  • No babbling by 9 months.
  • No first words by 15-18 months.
  • Doesn’t respond to their name or sounds by 12 months.
  • Doesn’t use gestures (like pointing or waving) by 12 months.
  • Doesn’t combine two words by 2 years.
  • Difficulty understanding simple instructions at any age.
  • Only imitates speech or actions, but doesn’t initiate words or phrases.
  • Loses previously acquired speech or language skills.
  • Consistently hard to understand, even by familiar adults, after 2-3 years old.
  • Lack of eye contact or shared attention.

What a Speech Pathologist Can Do

At Talking Fish Speech Pathology, we understand that every child is unique. If you have concerns, we will conduct a comprehensive assessment to understand your child’s communication strengths and areas where they might need support. We can then provide tailored strategies and therapy to encourage their speech and language development. Early intervention is incredibly powerful, making a significant difference in a child’s communication journey.

Trust your instincts as a parent. If something feels off, it’s always best to have it checked. We’re here to support you and your child in their wonderful journey of discovering their voice.

Language

Developmental Language Disorder

Sally Rush

Developmental Language Disorder 

Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a communication disorder classified as persistent difficulties understanding and/or using language. People with DLD do not typically have any other diagnoses to explain their language difficulties (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder). This means that DLD often goes unnoticed in the classroom and students can go years without receiving the appropriate help.

Characteristics

Diagnosis

  • Ongoing difficulties with the use and understanding of language (vocabulary, grammar, idea generation, following instructions etc.) that does not resolve after 5 years of age.
  • Social communication challenges impacted by difficulties understanding spoken language and self-expression.
  • Word finding difficulties and difficulty learning new words.
  • Difficulty following instructions. 
  • Difficulties comprehending spoken or written language. This impacts reading comprehension and people with DLD often receive a diagnosis of Dyslexia. 
  • Disengaging with academic content due to a reduced ability to participate and access curriculums. 
  • Difficulties with written language and expression. This may impact the ability to generate diary entries, creative stories or essays. 
  • DLD diagnosis is completed by a team of healthcare professionals. Specifically, psychologists, educational specialists, and Speech Pathologists. 
  • Assessments may involve: Cognitive assessment, educational assessment, standardised language assessment. 

Supports

  • Children with DLD will require support and modifications to access their school curriculum. This may include extended assessment times, 1:1 examinations with a support person, visual representations of words in the form of a mind-map, or having word lists sent home in advance to allow pre-teaching of concepts.
  • Children with DLD have many strengths. It is crucial that children with DLD are taught and encouraged to complete their work in a method that works for them. For example, rather than a diary entry, children may be encouraged to verbally recite their entry and have the teacher write it for them, or write their story in a visual mind-map format to allow them to clearly express their thoughts.
  • Speech pathologists can support individuals with DLD to increase their ability to communicate and understand various aspects of language. Therapy may be targeted to specific interests or goals that the individual might have around their language abilities (comprehension, vocabulary etc.).

Resources

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