Every child develops at their own pace, but some signs mean it's time to talk to a speech-language pathologist. Here's what to look for, and what to do next if you live in Columbia, Ellicott City or anywhere in Howard County.
If you've ever compared your toddler to a cousin or a classmate and wondered, "Shouldn't she be saying more by now?" you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions we hear at Charm City Speech. The good news: you don't have to guess. Speech and language milestones give a clear picture of what most children are doing at each age.
Speech and language milestones by age
These are based on the CDC's developmental milestones, which list what most children (75% or more) can do by each age:
12 months: Waves bye-bye, calls a parent "mama" or "dada" or another special name, understands "no."
15 months: Tries to say one or two words besides "mama" or "dada," looks at a familiar object when you name it.
18 months: Tries to say three or more words, follows one-step directions without gestures ("Give it to me").
2 years: Says at least two words together ("more milk"), points to things in a book when asked.
30 months: Says about 50 words, uses words like "I," "me" or "we."
3 years: Has back-and-forth conversations, asks "who," "what," "where" or "why" questions.
4 years: Says sentences with four or more words, talks about at least one thing that happened during the day.
5 years: Tells a story with at least two events, answers simple questions about a book.
Signs it's time for a speech evaluation
Talk to a speech-language pathologist if your child:
Isn't babbling or using gestures (pointing, waving) by 12 months
Has fewer than 3 words at 18 months, or isn't combining two words by age 2
Is hard for family to understand at age 3
Gets frustrated, cries or melts down because they can't tell you what they want
Has lost words or skills they used to have
Doesn't respond to their name or seem to understand simple directions
"Should we just wait and see?"
Many parents are told their child will "catch up." Some late talkers do. But research consistently shows that early intervention leads to better outcomes, and there's no downside to an evaluation. If your child is on track, you get peace of mind. If they need support, you've started at the best possible time.
What happens at a speech evaluation at Charm City Speech
Our evaluations are play-based, so most toddlers don't even realize they're being tested. A licensed, ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist will:
Talk with you about your child's history, daily routines and your concerns
Play with your child to see how they understand and use language, sounds and gestures
Use standardized testing when appropriate
Walk you through results and give you a clear plan, including simple strategies to use at home
Speech therapy in Columbia, MD, without the waitlist
Charm City Speech is a private pay pediatric speech therapy practice at 8865 Stanford Blvd in Columbia, MD. We see families from Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Clarksville, Laurel and across Maryland, in person or by telehealth. Because we're private pay, there's no referral needed and no insurance limit on visits. Most families start within one to two weeks.
Concerned about your child's speech? Call us at (443) 718-0563 or email info@charmcityspeech.com to schedule a free phone consultation. We'll help you figure out whether an evaluation makes sense, no pressure.
