Speech Delay Assessment

You can start spotting speech delay as early as 6–12 months, though more definitive signs become clear by waiting until 18–24 months of age to do an official assessment.

If you’d like to conduct a high-level speech delay assessment at home, our Speech Language Pathologists have put together a list of signs and common assessment tools/tests, broken down by age and different developmental stages.

Speech Delay Assessment:
Age 1 (Around 12 Months)

Possible Signs of Speech Delay at 1 year old:

  • Not babbling (e.g., “ba-ba,” “da-da”)

  • Not using gestures (e.g., waving, pointing)

  • Does not respond to name

  • Doesn’t attempt to imitate sounds

  • Limited eye contact or social interaction

Common Speech Delay Assessments at 1 year old:

  • Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) – parent-report developmental screener

  • Hearing Test – to rule out hearing loss

  • Observation of Play and Social Interaction – by a speech-language pathologist (SLP)

Speech Delay Assessment:
Age 2–3 (Toddlers)

Possible Signs of Speech Delay at 2-3 years old:

  • Fewer than 50 words by age 2

  • Not combining two words by 24–30 months

  • Hard to understand even by familiar adults

  • Echolalia (repeating instead of generating language)

  • Doesn’t follow simple directions (e.g., “Give me the ball”)

Common Speech Delay Assessments for Toddlers:

  • Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale – criterion-referenced, includes observation and caregiver report

  • Hearing Screening

Speech Delay Assessment:
Age 4–5 (Preschoolers)

Possible Signs of Speech Delay at 4-5 year old:

  • Not speaking in full sentences

  • Poor grammar (e.g., “He go to park”)

  • Speech is hard to understand by unfamiliar listeners

  • Trouble telling a story or answering “why”/“how” questions

  • Limited vocabulary for age

  • Frustration with communication

Common Speech Delay Assessments for preschoolers:

  • Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals – Preschool (CELF-P2) – for receptive/expressive language

  • Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation (GFTA-3) – to assess speech sound production

  • Dynamic Assessment – how the child learns new words or concepts with support

When to seek professional help for speech delay

If a child shows several of these signs of speech delay or you’re unsure, it’s best to talk to your pediatrician as soon as you can and request a referral to an SLP to conduct a formal speech-language evaluation or screening from.

NOTE: If your child is under 3 years old, we highly recommend seeking contact with Early Intervention (EI) services.