“Should I worry if my 3-year-old isn't talking?”
My 3-year-old daughter has speech problems. Should I worry if my 3-year-old isn't talking?
5 Answers
A little. Consult with your pediatrician
Speech and language start developing immediately after birth, and by one year, there usually is a word or two. There are many things that affect speech and language development. One of them is hearing. I would recommend telling your pediatrician about this. You should see an audiologist to have his/her hearing tested and go from there.
When I have a parent tell me that they are worried about their child not talking, I listen. You are with your child 7 days a week. In general, by age 3 your child should have at least 450 words, be putting together 2-3 word phrases, as well talking about their environment and things they are doing. You can request an evaluation be completed by your local area school or through a private speech pathologist. Most Speech Pathologists provide screenings and consultations as well.
Karen Young
Jupiter, FL
Hello. Early intervention is crucial. A Speech and Language Therapy assessment would determine what may be going on with your child.
Terlenda Lassiter
Speech-Language Pathologist
Although some youth are late talkers, early intervention is proven in literature as having great efficacious results. You should take your daughter to get an evaluation performed by a speech-language pathologist who specializes in children/pediatric population in your area. The sooner the better.
