If your toddler isn't saying as many words as other children their age, you're probably wondering whether it's something to worry about — or whether they'll just "catch up" in their own time. It's one of the most common questions we hear from parents, and it's an important one. The "wait and see" approach rarely sits well with parents who already sense something is off — and there's good reason for that instinct.
The good news is that there's a lot of research to help guide us. Let's walk through what "late talker" actually means, what the typical milestones look like, and when it's worth seeking some support.
What Does "Late Talker" Mean?
The term late talker is used by speech pathologists to describe children between about 18 and 30 months of age who are using fewer words than we'd expect for their age, but whose understanding of language and other areas of development are tracking along well.
Specifically, a late talker is usually a child who:
- Has fewer than 50 words by 24 months, or
- Isn't combining two words together by age 2 (e.g., "more milk," "daddy go")
- Has age-appropriate understanding of language (they follow instructions, point to objects when named)
- Doesn't have other developmental concerns such as hearing difficulties or autism
It's worth noting that late talking is surprisingly common. Research suggests that around 10 to 20 per cent of two-year-olds fall into this category. So if your child is a late talker, they're certainly not alone. In my experience supporting families of late talkers over many years, parents almost always sense something before the numbers do — and that gut feeling is worth taking seriously.
What Are the Typical Milestones?
Every child develops at their own pace, but speech pathologists may use general milestones as a guide. Here's a rough idea of what we'd typically expect:
- 12 months: First words appearing (e.g., "mum," "dad," "ta"), lots of babbling with different sounds
- 18 months: Around 20 words, starting to use words more than gestures to communicate
- 24 months: Vocabulary growing fast, well past the 50-word mark for most children, and starting to put two words together
- 30 months: Combining words regularly, vocabulary growing rapidly — often learning new words daily
These are rough guides to what's common, not a pass or fail. The figures speech pathologists use to pick out a late talker are a different thing: they're the lower bound (fewer than 50 words, or no two-word combinations, at 24 months), not the average. Plenty of children sit at the quieter end of typical and are perfectly fine. When a child is below that lower bound, though, it's something we want to keep an eye on.
Things That Might Be Worth Discussing with a Speech Pathologist
While some late talkers do catch up on their own, there are certain signs that suggest your child would benefit from an earlier assessment:- Limited babbling — if your child wasn't babbling much by 12 months (e.g., "bababa," "mamama"), that's worth noting
- Not pointing or using gestures — pointing, waving, and showing you things are important pre-language skills
- Difficulty understanding simple instructions — if your child struggles to follow basic requests like "get your shoes" by 18 months
- Limited interest in communicating — not trying to get your attention, share experiences, or interact
- Loss of words — if your child was using words and then stopped
- Family history of speech or language difficulties
- Frequent ear infections — which can affect hearing and, in turn, language development
In our experience, parents who trust their gut and reach out early tend to feel more confident about what comes next, whatever the assessment shows. If you're noticing any of these alongside late talking, it's a good idea to have a chat with a speech pathologist sooner rather than later.
The "Wait and See" Debate
You may have been told by well-meaning friends, family, or even health professionals to "just wait and see" — that your child will grow out of it. And it's true that some late talkers do catch up by age 3 or 4 without any intervention. Research from the large-scale Australian Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS) found that many late talkers had resolved their language difficulties by school age (Reilly et al., 2018).
But here's the thing: we can't reliably predict which children will catch up and which won't. Some late talkers go on to have ongoing language difficulties that affect their literacy, learning, and social skills well into the school years. ELVS found that language at 2 was only a weak predictor of outcomes at 7, which is exactly why we can't tell in advance who will catch up (McKean et al., 2017).
The broad view across our profession is that it's better to look early than to wait. An early assessment can tell you whether there's anything to work on, and if there is, support can start sooner rather than after a year or two of worry. That doesn't mean a child who starts later can't be helped; children benefit from support at any age. It's that the right response varies from child to child, and you can't know which one fits yours without taking a look.
The Hanen Centre, a leading organisation in early language intervention research, emphasises that even when a child might catch up on their own, early support from parents — guided by a speech pathologist — can make a meaningful difference to the pace and quality of language development (Hanen Centre, n.d.).
So What Should You Do?
If your child is between 18 and 30 months and you're concerned about how many words they're using, the most useful next steps are usually:
- Trust your instincts. Parents are usually the first to notice when something doesn't feel quite right. Your concerns are valid.
- Get a hearing check. Hearing is the foundation for speech and language. Your GP can refer you for an audiological assessment.
- Talk to a speech pathologist. An assessment at this age is gentle, play-based, and involves a lot of watching your child interact and communicate. It's not about labelling — it's about understanding where your child is at and what kind of support would actually help.
The earlier we understand your child's communication, the earlier we can help — and the more confident you'll feel as a parent. If you'd like to chat about your little one's speech and language development, get in touch with our team. Any actual clinical work — assessment, diagnosis, or therapy — happens in a consultation about your child, not from an article. Speaking Speech Pathology offers mobile speech pathology in your home across Brisbane's south side and Logan, and we'd love to help you work out the best next step.
Ready for practical strategies? Read our companion article: How to Help a Late Talker: Evidence-Based Strategies for Brisbane Parents
Alexandra Bouwmeester is a Senior Speech Pathologist (MSPA, CPSP), certified in Hanen's It Takes Two to Talk, with over 14 years' experience and a mum of two young boys living in Loganholme. She understands the worry that comes with wondering whether your child's speech is on track — and the relief that comes with getting clear answers.
References
- Reilly, S., Cook, F., Bavin, E. L., Bretherton, L., Cahir, P., Eadie, P., ... & Wake, M. (2018). Cohort profile: The Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS). International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(1), 11–20.
- McKean, C., Reilly, S., Bavin, E. L., Bretherton, L., Cini, E., Conway, L., ... & Mensah, F. (2017). Language outcomes at 7 years: Early predictors and co-occurring difficulties. Pediatrics, 139(3), e20161684.
- The Hanen Centre. (n.d.). It Takes Two to Talk: The Hanen Program for Parents. www.hanen.org
