Sometimes it's obvious. And sometimes it's not.
There are children who don't speak at all. And there are children who speak "something"... but that "something" isn't enough to communicate, learn, or be calm.
And then comes the phrase that does the most damage: “He’ll talk.”
Breathe. This isn't about panicking. It's about using common sense.
Here are 5 signs that may indicate language difficulties (in ASD, SLD/language delay or other developmental difficulties) and when to ask for an evaluation .
Before the signs: an important clarification
These signs are not a diagnosis. They are warning signs .
And if you see several together, the smartest thing to do isn't to wait. It's to assess them to know:
- what does your child understand?
- what can it express,
- And what basic skill is holding everything else back?
Sign 1) Does not respond to his/her name (consistently)
If your child is 18–24 months old and you call him and he doesn't turn around, it's not always "lack of interest".
Could be:
- that it does not process language in the same way,
- that it is saturated,
- or that does not have stable shared care.
Note: If they only respond when there's a screen or something that interests them, that's also information.
To do
- Get closer, get down to their level.
- Say his name once.
- Accompany with gestures and immediate reinforcement when he looks.
Sign 2) Does not follow simple instructions
“Give me the shoe.” “Sit down.” “Come here.”
If they don't, it's often not disobedience. It's fragile understanding .
What to observe
- Does it do it if you point at it?
- Does he do it only during routines (bath, food) but not outside of them?
- Do you need to repeat this 10 times?
To do
Start with 1-step instructions in a real-world context:
- "Give it to me."
- “Put it on.”
- “Open.”
And support with:
- gesture + word
- signage
- object in hand
- pictograms if needed
Sign 3) Very limited vocabulary for their age
As a general (approximate) reference:
- At age 2: there are usually at least 50 simple words and combinations starting out.
- At 3 years old: there are usually many more words and simple phrases.
If your child has very few words (for example, 50) at age 3 and is not progressing, don't leave it for "later".
To do
- Prioritize functional communication (more, help, water, no, again).
- It works on basic skills: attention, imitation, comprehension.
- Request an evaluation to find out where to start.
Sign 4) Says single words, but does not connect them into sentences
“Water.” “More.”
But it doesn't say: "I want water." "More water."
This may indicate that the following is missing:
- appropriate modeling,
- comprehension,
- or structure to combine.
To do
- Model short, repeatable phrases yourself (without demanding repetition):
- “I want more.”
- “More water.”
- “Help, please.”
- Use visual aids if it helps.
- Reduce questions and increase modeling.
Sign 5) Play that is not very functional or symbolic
The game is not "just a game". It is language in action.
If your child:
- He doesn't play "kitchen," "mommy and baby," or "mechanic."
- doesn't act like,
- or just align/order without changing,
There may be difficulties in:
- imitation,
- flexibility,
- communication,
- or understanding.
To do
- Enter their game first (without directing).
- Imitate what he does.
- Add a small variation.
- Celebrate any exchange.
When should I request an evaluation?
A rule of thumb:
- If you see 3 or more signs from this list, request an evaluation.
- If your intuition tells you "something doesn't fit," ask for an evaluation.
- If language does not progress in 8–12 weeks despite stimulation, request an evaluation.
Because language is time. And the sooner you intervene, the better.
What you can do today (without waiting)
Quick checklist:
- 5 minutes of shared attention
- 5 minutes of imitation (motor or objects)
- 3 one-step instructions in real-life routine
- 3 communication opportunities (pause/choice/help)
- 1 objective function word (more / help / pause)
Small, sustained, daily.
If you want step-by-step activities to work on attention, imitation, comprehension and communication (language foundations), you can try the VICON Method for 7 days free.
