Understanding a child’s communication development is important. While children progress at their own pace, recognizing typical communication versus a potential delay can be challenging. This article outlines age-related speech development milestones, discusses common reasons for a child being nonverbal, and provides guidance on seeking professional assessment and support.
Defining Nonverbal Communication in Early Childhood
Nonverbal communication refers to expressing oneself without spoken words. Before children develop verbal speech, they rely on pre-linguistic skills to express themselves and interact with their environment. These early communication milestones include cooing and babbling, which usually begin around 2 to 6 months of age, involving vowel-like sounds and then consonant-vowel combinations.
As infants grow, they develop gestures such as pointing to desired objects or waving goodbye. Eye contact also serves as a fundamental form of early nonverbal communication, indicating engagement and shared attention. Understanding simple commands, even without verbal responses, demonstrates receptive language skills. These nonverbal cues are foundational, paving the way for spoken language development.
Age-Related Concerns for Speech Development
Parents often wonder when a lack of verbal communication becomes a concern. While individual development varies, age benchmarks indicate when to seek professional advice. Babies begin cooing around 2 months and babbling with consonant-vowel combinations between 4 and 6 months. If a baby is not babbling by 8 to 9 months, or not making any sounds at all by 4 to 7 months, it is a concern.
First words usually emerge between 10 to 14 months, with most children having one to three words by 12 to 15 months. By 15 to 16 months, a child should be using single words, and by 18 months, they should have a vocabulary of 10 words.
Concerns may arise if a child is not saying any recognizable words by 15 months or has fewer than 25 words by age two. Around two years, children typically start combining two words into phrases. By three years, they can often form three- to five-word sentences and have a vocabulary of around 1,000 words. A child who is not combining two-word phrases by two years or has difficulty with simple sentences by three years may warrant an evaluation.
Common Reasons for Nonverbal Communication
A child being nonverbal or having significant speech delays can stem from various underlying factors. Developmental differences are a common category, including global developmental delays. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is another significant factor, characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and both verbal and nonverbal communication. Approximately 25% to 30% of children with ASD are minimally verbal or do not speak at all.
Hearing impairments can profoundly affect speech development, as hearing sounds and words is crucial for learning to replicate them. Specific Language Impairment (SLI), also known as developmental language disorder, is a communication disorder that interferes with language skill development in children without apparent reasons like hearing loss or other conditions. SLI has a strong genetic link, with 50% to 70% of affected children having a family member with the disorder. Neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, brain injuries, or childhood apraxia of speech, a motor speech disorder affecting the brain’s ability to plan speech movements, can also impact the muscles and coordination for speech production.
Navigating Professional Assessment and Support
If concerns arise regarding a child’s speech development, seeking professional assessment is important. Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes. The first point of contact is the child’s pediatrician, who can assess development and provide referrals to specialists.
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a primary specialist who evaluates and treats communication issues. An SLP assessment often involves gathering medical and developmental history, observing the child’s play and interactions, and using formal and informal tests to evaluate language skills. A hearing evaluation by an audiologist is recommended to rule out any hearing problems contributing to speech delays. A pediatric neurologist or developmental specialist may be consulted if an underlying neurological condition is suspected.
Support and therapy options are tailored to the child’s needs. Speech therapy involves individualized, play-based sessions focused on improving articulation, language comprehension, and expression. Occupational therapy (OT) can also complement speech therapy by addressing foundational skills such as oral motor control, sensory processing, and social engagement. Parental involvement is important for successful intervention, with home practice reinforcing therapeutic strategies.