Reach out if your child is…

Birth to 16 Months

Not smiling, cooing, or babbling by 4–6 months

Doesn’t respond to name or voice by 9 months

Not using any gestures (like pointing, waving) by 12 months

Fewer than 16 gestures by 16 months

Not saying any words by 15–16 months

Doesn’t make eye contact or show interest in people

16 Months to 3 Years

Not using at least 50 words by age 2

Not combining two words (like “more juice”) by 24 months

Hard to understand, even for familiar people

Repeats scripts or lines from shows but doesn’t speak freely

Doesn’t follow simple directions or answer basic questions

Rarely plays with others or avoids communication

Preschool to Kindergarten (Ages 3–5)

Speech is unclear to people outside the family after age 3

Has trouble asking questions or telling simple stories

Struggles to understand words like big/little, under/over, first/last

Gets frustrated when trying to talk

Uses short or unclear phrases that don’t match their age

Uses echolalia or AAC with little change over time

Grades 1–6

Is struggling to learn to read

Has trouble putting thoughts into words or writing stories

Still struggles with speech sounds like R, S, L, SH, CH after age 7

Avoids talking in class or during group work

Needs directions repeated often or forgets steps quickly

Struggles with reading, spelling, or understanding spoken language

OR

You simply want to make sure they stay on track or get ahead!