My Toddler Isn't Talking Yet: When to Seek Help (Dallas SLP Guide)
Updated: Aug 31
Your 2-year-old understands what you say. They can point to what they want, follow simple directions, and play with their favorite toys—but they’re just not saying very many words yet.
Maybe someone has told you, “Just wait. They’ll talk when they’re ready.” Or you’ve heard, “Boys just talk later.”
But a part of you keeps wondering:
Is this still within the range of typical development? Or should we be doing something more?
This is one of the most common questions I hear from parents. And the answer isn’t always simply “wait” or “start therapy.”
Some late talkers do catch up on their own! But others benefit from additional support. And if you're left wondering, one way to get clear is to receive a consultation or an evaluation—it’s to better understand how your child communicates right now, where their strengths are, and whether there are skills we want to support more intentionally.
Here’s what I would want parents to know about early speech and language development.
What Should My Toddler Be Saying?
There is a wide range of development during the toddler years, which is one reason comparing your child to another child at the playground—or even to an older sibling—doesn’t always give you the full picture.
In general, during the second year of life, we expect children to begin:
Using more words consistently
Learning new words over time
Using gestures such as pointing, waving, and showing
Understanding familiar words and simple directions
Imitating sounds, actions, and words
Using communication to request, protest, comment, and get someone’s attention
Beginning to combine words around age 2 and beyond
By around age 2, many children are using approximately 50 or more words and beginning to combine words such as:
“More milk.”“Mommy up.”“Daddy go.”
But word count is only one piece of the puzzle.
A child with 30 words who is constantly learning new words, pointing, imitating, understanding language, and engaging with others may look very different from another child with the same 30 words who is having difficulty in several of those areas.
That’s why one of the questions I would ask parents during our complimentary consultation call is not just “How many words does your child have?” but “What does their overall communication look like?”
Signs That Tell Me We Should Take a Closer Look
One missed milestone doesn’t automatically mean that a child has a language disorder.
What matters more is the pattern of development over time.
I recommend talking with your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist if you’re noticing things like:
Around 12 months
Very little babbling
Limited use of gestures such as pointing, waving, or showing
Not consistently responding to their name
Limited interest in interacting or sharing attention with others
Around 18–24 months
Very few spoken words or little growth in vocabulary
Fewer than approximately 50 words around age 2
Not beginning to put two words together
Difficulty understanding familiar words or simple directions
Mostly communicating by crying, pulling an adult, or becoming frustrated rather than using gestures, sounds, or words
Losing communication skills they previously used
Around 2½–3 years
Limited growth in vocabulary
Rarely combining words
Difficulty creating short phrases or sentences
Speech that is very difficult for familiar adults to understand
A limited variety of speech sounds
At any age
It can also be helpful to seek an evaluation when there are concerns about:
Hearing
Understanding language
Social communication
Speech sound development
Stuttering or fluency
Loss of previously acquired skills
A family history of speech, language, or learning difficulties
And sometimes there isn’t one obvious “red flag.”
Sometimes a parent simply notices that communication feels harder for their child than it seems like it should. And when you feel that nudge, it's worth exploring!
What Can I Expect From a Speech Evaluation?
At ZOE Speech & Language, evaluations are play-based and designed to look at the whole child—not just how many words they can say during a test.
Depending on your child’s needs, I may look at:
Understanding of language
Spoken language and vocabulary
Gestures and other ways of communicating
Speech sounds
Play skills
Social communication
Interaction with caregivers
Language exposure and bilingual development
Afterward, we talk through what was observed:
What is developing well (i.e. their strengths)? What skills may need more support?
Does your child need therapy right now? What can you start doing at home?
If therapy is recommended, we decide together whether your child would benefit most from direct parent coaching, direct play-based therapy, or a combination of both.
Should I Wait or Schedule an Evaluation?
Every child develops at their own unique pace. You shouldn't have to worry if your child doesn't look exactly like his or her peers.
You shouldn't have to delay care for months because someone told you to “wait and see.”
Most parents miss these easy options: You should be informed from a professional in speech and language development, understand your child’s unique communication skills, then confidently make a decision from there.
I would especially consider an evaluation if:
Your child is around age 2 and using significantly fewer words than expected
Vocabulary does not seem to be growing
Your child is not beginning to combine words
Your child has difficulty understanding language
Communication frequently leads to frustration
There are hearing concerns
Your child has lost skills they previously had
You have continued concerns even after being told to wait
Parent concern is not a diagnosis. And it is not yet a proactive plan. But it is useful information to create a path forward through an evaluation.
Ready to Get Some Clarity?
If you’re in the Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Carrollton, or surrounding North Dallas area, ZOE Speech & Language offers pediatric speech and language evaluations and individualized therapy services.
The goal of an evaluation is to help you leave understanding your child better. We're here to get clear and show you:
1) Here’s what they’re already doing well.
2) Here's what we want to keep seeing.
3) Here's how we can support them next.
Book an evaluation or text us at 214-799-1418 to set up a free consultation.
Because when it comes to communication, parents shouldn’t have to choose between worrying and waiting. The best first step is simply getting a clearer picture.
About the Author
Sarah Chu, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a licensed bilingual speech-language pathologist and founder of ZOE Speech & Language in North Dallas, Texas. She works with young children and their families through play-based speech and language therapy, parent coaching, and culturally responsive support, with a particular interest in early language development and multilingual families.
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