Why is my 1 and a half year old not talking?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 25, 2026
Some parents worry that a toddler who is not speaking may have autism. Children with autism and related conditions may have delayed speech or other problems with communication, but poor social interactions and limited or restricted interests or patterns of behavior are also hallmarks of the disorder.
When should you worry if your child is not talking?
If your child is over two years old, you should have your pediatrician evaluate them and refer them for speech therapy and a hearing exam if they can only imitate speech or actions but don't produce words or phrases by themselves, they say only certain words and only those words repeatedly, they cannot follow simple ...
Is it normal for 18 month old not talking?
Try not to worry if your toddler isn't talking much at 18 months. The age at which children learn to talk can vary widely. If it takes your child a little longer than usual, it shouldn't affect how he develops later on. Ideally, by 18 months, your child should know between six and 20 words, and understand many more.
Is it normal for a 1.5 year old to not talk?
Most children have learned to say at least one word by the time they're 12 months old, and it's unusual for a child to not be speaking at all by 18 months. But although it's not typical, your child's situation is not necessarily cause for great concern, either.
How do I get my 1.5 year old to talk?
You can spur your child's communication skills when you:
- Ask your child to help you. For example, ask him to put his cup on the table or to bring you his shoe.
- Teach your child simple songs and nursery rhymes. Read to your child. ...
- Encourage your child to talk to friends and family. ...
- Engage your child in pretend play.
Does watching TV cause speech delay?
This study by Chonchaiya and Pruksananonda found that children who began watching tv before 12 months and who watched more than 2 hours of TV per day were six times more likely to have language delays!
Does speech delay mean autism?
Summary. Children with autism often have speech delays, but speech delays alone do not mean your child has autism. Autistic speech delays usually occur along with other communication issues, such as not using gestures, not responding to their name, and not showing interest in connecting with people.
At what age do Late Talkers talk?
A “Late Talker” is a toddler (between 18-30 months) who has good understanding of language, typically developing play skills, motor skills, thinking skills, and social skills, but has a limited spoken vocabulary for his or her age.
What causes speech delay?
A delay in speech development may be a symptom of many disorders, including mental retardation, hearing loss, an expressive language disorder, psychosocial deprivation, autism, elective mutism, receptive aphasia and cerebral palsy. Speech delay may be secondary to maturation delay or bilingualism.
What causes a child not to speak?
Causes of a speech delay
There are several things that can cause speech delays, such as hearing loss, physical problems in the roof of the mouth, learning disabilities, or certain diagnosable conditions like autism spectrum disorder or cerebral palsy.
How can I help my toddler speak?
Here are some ways you can encourage your toddler's speech:
- Talk directly to your toddler, even if just to narrate what you're doing.
- Use gestures and point to objects as you say the corresponding words. ...
- Read to your toddler. ...
- Sing simple songs that are easy to repeat.
- Give your full attention when talking to them.
At what age do babies start talking gibberish?
Significant Language Milestones
Babbling and baby jargon – This is the use of repeated syllables over and over like “bababa,” but without specific meaning. It usually occurs between 6 and 9 months. Babbling turns into baby jargon, or “nonsense speech.”
Why does my 2 year old babbles but doesn't talk?
A language delay is a type of communication disorder. Your child may have a language delay if they don't meet the language developmental milestones for their age. Their language abilities may be developing at a slower rate than most children's. They may have trouble expressing themselves or understanding others.
What are signs of speech delay?
Common symptoms of a language delay include:
- not babbling by the age of 15 months.
- not talking by the age of 2 years.
- an inability to speak in short sentences by the age of 3 years.
- difficulty following directions.
- poor pronunciation or articulation.
- difficulty putting words together in a sentence.
What causes late talking in toddlers?
Many kids with speech delays have oral–motor problems. These happen when there's a problem in the areas of the brain responsible for speech. This makes it hard to coordinate the lips, tongue, and jaw to make speech sounds. These kids also might have other oral-motor problems, such as feeding problems.
How can I encourage my baby to talk?
Sing to your baby – this helps them tune in to the rhythm of language. Repeat the sounds your baby makes back to them – this teaches your baby lessons about listening and taking turns in a conversation. Talk in a sing-song voice – this helps to keep your baby's attention.
How can I encourage my 1 year old to talk?
7 TIPS: How to teach YOUR 1 year old to talk
- Reduce the pressure to communicate. ...
- Follow your child's interests. ...
- Reduce screen time. ...
- Sing Songs. ...
- Talk throughout the day. ...
- Use simple language. ...
- Join in their play. ...
- Let's get your toddler talking…
How can I do speech therapy at home?
10 Ways to To Improve Your Children's Speech
- Speak to them as much as possible. ...
- Use short and simple words. ...
- Tell stories at bedtime. ...
- Read children's books. ...
- Keep them away from TV and mobiles. ...
- Point to an object/word and repeat. ...
- Never criticise. ...
- Sign language.
How many words should a 1 year old say?
By the time your baby is a year old, he or she is probably saying between one to three words. They will be simple, and not complete words, but you will know what they mean. They may say “ma-ma,” or “da-da,” or try a name for a sibling, pet, or toy.
What are the 3 main symptoms of autism?
The symptoms to look out for in children for suspected autism are:
- Delayed milestones.
- A socially awkward child.
- The child who has trouble with verbal and nonverbal communication.
How do they test a toddler for autism?
Diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be difficult because there is no medical test, like a blood test, to diagnose the disorder. Doctors look at the child's developmental history and behavior to make a diagnosis. ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months of age or younger.
What happens if a toddler watches too much TV?
Good evidence suggests that screen viewing before age 18 months has lasting negative effects on children's language development, reading skills, and short term memory. It also contributes to problems with sleep and attention.
How do you teach a late talker to talk?
5 Simple Ways to Help Your Late Talker Speak
- Self Talk. Self talk is a simple activity you can do in any location without any materials. ...
- Parallel Talk. Similar to self talk, parallel talk involves narrating things that are seen, heard, and done. ...
- Choices. ...
- Toy Placement. ...
- Time Delay.
Does TV help toddlers talk?
Watching television or videos – even programs billed as educational – does not help children under age 2 learn language. Babies and toddlers learn new words and develop language skills by listening and interacting with caring adults – real talk from real people, not TV or videos.
Is it normal for a 21 month old to not talk?
About 15%-25% of young children have some kind of communication disorder. Boys tend to develop language skills a little later than girls, but in general, kids may be labeled "late-talking children" if they speak less than 10 words by the age of 18 to 20 months, or fewer than 50 words by 21 to 30 months of age.