5 Signs Your Child Might Need a Speech and Language Therapist

As a parent, it can be hard to know whether your child's development is on track — or whether it's time to seek some extra support. Speech and language development varies enormously from child to child, and what's typical for one child may be different for another. But there are some clear signs that it's worth getting a professional opinion.

At Eat Chat Play, we're often contacted by parents who've had a niggling worry for months but weren't sure whether to act on it. Our advice is always the same: if something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and get in touch. Early support is nearly always more effective than waiting.

Here are five signs your child might benefit from a speech and language therapy assessment.

1. Your child isn't hitting speech and language milestones

One of the clearest signs that a child may need support is if they're not meeting the expected speech and language milestones for their age. While every child develops at their own pace, these are some general guidelines to be aware of:

• By 12 months: babbling, using gestures like waving, responding to their name

• By 18 months: saying at least 10 words

• By 2 years: combining two words together (e.g. "more milk", "daddy gone")

• By 3 years: using sentences, being understood by familiar adults most of the time

• By 4 years: being understood by strangers most of the time, using longer sentences

If your child is significantly behind any of these milestones, it's worth seeking an assessment sooner rather than later. You don't need to wait until they start school.

2. You're struggling to understand what your child is saying

It's normal for young children's speech to be unclear — especially to strangers. But by around age 3, familiar adults like parents and grandparents should be able to understand most of what a child says. By age 4, most people — including those who don't know the child — should be able to follow their speech fairly easily.

If you find yourself frequently asking your child to repeat themselves, or if other people regularly can't understand them, it's worth having their speech sounds assessed. Difficulties with speech sounds are very common and highly treatable, especially when picked up early.

3. Your child seems to understand less than other children their age

Speech and language therapy isn't just about talking — it's equally about understanding. A child who struggles to follow instructions, answer questions, or understand what's being said to them may have a language comprehension difficulty that's easy to miss because they're not necessarily disruptive or obviously struggling.

Signs to look out for include: needing instructions repeated several times, responding to the wrong thing, difficulty following two-part instructions (e.g. "get your shoes and put them by the door"), or appearing to zone out during conversations or stories.

4. Your child is becoming frustrated or withdrawn

When children can't communicate effectively, it often leads to frustration — and this can show up in different ways. Some children have frequent meltdowns or tantrums that seem disproportionate to the situation. Others become quieter and more withdrawn, avoiding social situations where communication is expected.

If your child seems increasingly frustrated when they can't make themselves understood, or if they're starting to avoid talking altogether, a speech and language assessment can help identify what's going on and put the right support in place.

5. Other people have raised concerns

Sometimes it takes someone outside the family — a nursery keyworker, a health visitor, or a teacher — to notice that a child's communication is different from their peers. If a professional has mentioned that your child seems quieter than expected, is harder to understand than other children their age, or appears to be struggling to follow the group, it's worth taking that feedback seriously and seeking an assessment.

You know your child best, but an outside perspective can sometimes flag things that are easy to miss when you're with a child every day.

What should I do if I'm concerned?

The most important thing is not to wait and hope things improve on their own. While some children do catch up without support, many benefit enormously from early intervention — and there's no harm in getting an assessment to put your mind at rest either way.

In Berkshire, NHS waiting lists for children's speech and language therapy can be very long. Private therapy with Eat Chat Play means you can access an assessment quickly, at a time that suits your family, with sessions tailored entirely to your child.

We work with children aged 0–10 across Berkshire, including Windsor, Ascot, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Reading, Slough, Egham and surrounding areas.

If you'd like to have an informal chat about your concerns before booking, we're always happy to help. Get in touch here.

Chelsea Ridge is a paediatric speech and language therapist and feeding specialist, and the founder of Eat Chat Play. She is registered with the HCPC, RCSLT and ASLTIP.