Red Flags in Toddler Language Development

Professional screening and assessment may be indicated if a child…

By 12 months:

• Doesn’t understand the word “no”
• Doesn’t reach or point at a wanted object while vocalizing
• Doesn’t attempt to copy adult speech

By 15-18 months:

• Doesn’t have any single words by 15 months
• Can’t hold a book and turn pages
• Doesn’t have a vocabulary of at least ten single words
• Can’t answer simple questions like “Where is your mouth?”
• Doesn’t uses common expression (e.g., “all gone,” “uh-oh”)
• Can’t identify pictures in a book (e.g., “Show me the baby”)

By 24 months:

• Doesn’t have a vocabulary of 50 or more words
• Doesn’t use word combinations (“Two words together by two” is a good rule of thumb) or is just using echolalia (repeating sounds made by another person)
• Doesn’t use eye contact and doesn’t follow eye gaze (looking where an adult is looking)
• Has problems understanding speech by familiar adults
• Can’t take turns in conversations
• Doesn’t ask for adult help with words or gestures
• Doesn’t learn and use one or more new words a week (may be hard to understand)