✓NDIS-registered provider✓Paediatric early-intervention focus✓In-home, in-clinic & telehealth
Understanding Speech & Language Delay
What is speech and language delay?
Speech and language delay is when a child develops talking and understanding more slowly than expected. Speech is how clearly a child says sounds and words; language is how they understand and use words to communicate. A child may have a delay in one or both.
Delays are very common and highly responsive to therapy — especially when support starts early. Some children simply need a boost; for others a delay is part of a broader picture such as autism or a hearing difficulty, which is why an assessment helps.
Signs by age
Speech & language milestones, by age
Children learn to talk at different rates, and a late talker isn’t always a concern. But if your child is behind several of these, or you struggle to understand them, a speech pathologist can help. These are common signs, not a diagnosis.
👶By 12–18 months
- No babbling or few sounds
- No first words by 12–15 months
- Not pointing or gesturing
- Not responding to their name or simple words
- Not copying sounds
🧒By 2 years
- Fewer than ~50 words
- Not putting two words together
- Speech hard for family to understand
- Not following simple instructions
- Not naming familiar objects
🧑By 3 years
- Speech unclear to people outside the family
- Not using short sentences
- Trouble answering simple questions
- Frustration when not understood
- Not joining words into ideas
🎒By 4–5 years
- Still hard to understand
- Ongoing grammar errors
- Word-finding difficulty
- Stuttering that persists
- Trouble telling a simple story
Milestones are a guide, not a deadline — but the earlier a delay is supported, the faster children usually catch up. A GP, child health nurse or speech pathologist can advise. Persistent stuttering or losing words is always worth checking.
Getting started
When and how to seek help
Start with your GP or child health nurse, and ask for a referral to a speech pathologist — you don’t need to wait. A hearing check is often a good first step too, since hearing affects speech.
Under the NDIS early childhood approach, children under 9 with communication delays can access support based on need, without a formal diagnosis.
How we help
How Daar supports speech & language delay
Speech pathology is the core support, and Daar’s therapists coach families with everyday strategies so progress continues at home.
Funding
Speech & language delay and the NDIS
Communication delays are commonly supported under the NDIS early childhood approach and Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living. For eligible participants, speech pathology is funded at no out-of-pocket cost, and no diagnosis is needed to begin.
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few quick questions and we’ll match your child with the right support — and our team will be in touch.
Find the right support →FAQ
Frequently asked questions
At what age should my child be talking?
Most children say their first words around 12 months and combine two words by age 2. Every child differs, but if your child is well behind these, a speech pathologist can help.
Will my child catch up on their own?
Some late talkers catch up, but it’s hard to predict who will. Early speech therapy gives the best chance of closing the gap quickly, so it’s better not to wait and see.
Is speech therapy covered by the NDIS?
Yes — for eligible participants, speech pathology is funded under the NDIS at no out-of-pocket cost, and children under 9 can access support without a diagnosis.
What’s the difference between speech and language delay?
Speech is how clearly a child says sounds; language is how they understand and use words. A child can have difficulty with one or both.
Could a speech delay mean autism?
Not necessarily — many children with a speech delay are not autistic. But because language delay can be part of autism, an assessment helps clarify what your child needs.
Last reviewed 16 July 2026Reviewed by Daar’s clinical teamGeneral information — not a diagnosis or medical advice
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}