Language develops in stages and every child has their own pace, but there are milestones that help you decide when to ask for an assessment.
Signs by age
- 12 months: no babbling, no pointing, doesn’t respond to their name.
- 18 months: no words at all.
- 2 years: no two-word phrases (“more water,” “mommy come”).
- 3 years: people outside the family can’t understand them.
- 4 to 5 years: very short sentences, can’t tell what happened.
- After 5: still substitutes sounds or struggles to learn to read.
What training the therapist should have
In Mexico, speech therapy is mainly provided by graduates in Human Communication, Speech Therapy or Special Education specializing in hearing and language. Ask about their training, experience with children your child’s age and whether they work alongside other areas such as occupational therapy.
What to expect from the first sessions
- An assessment of comprehension, expression, articulation and voice.
- Concrete goals, explained to the family.
- Sessions with play, stories and visual materials.
- Simple tasks to practice at home.
What you can do today
Talk to your child during routines, name what they’re doing, read every day, give them time to answer and limit screens. Interaction with people drives language more than anything.
The information on this page is for guidance and does not replace a professional assessment. Every child is different: diagnosis and plan are defined after an evaluation.
