Parent question

Late talker or speech delay: when should I worry?

Published 21 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026

The short answer

Ask early rather than wait. ASHA lists fewer than 50 words at 2, and not putting two words together by about 1½ to 2, as warning signs, and says getting help early is better than waiting. About half to two-thirds of late-talking toddlers catch up by late preschool or school age, but it’s hard to tell in advance which ones will, so a check-up is worth it. In the US you don’t need a doctor’s referral to contact early intervention.

What most children do, by age

CDC milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by a given age, revised in 2022 to discourage “wait and see” (Zubler et al., 2022):

Selected CDC language milestones
Age	Most children can
18 months	Try to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”; follow one-step directions without gestures.
2 years	Say at least two words together, like “More milk”; point to things in a book when asked; point to at least two body parts.
30 months	Say about 50 words; put two or more words together, including an action word (“Doggie run”); name things in a book.

Warning signs to ask about

Saying only a few words at 12 to 18 months (ASHA).
Not putting two words together by 1½ to 2 years (ASHA).
Saying fewer than 50 words at 2 years (ASHA).
Losing words or skills your child used to have (CDC advises acting early on any loss of skills).

Do late talkers catch up?

Late language emergence affects roughly 10 to 20% of 2-year-olds, and about 50 to 70% catch up by late preschool or school age (ASHA).
A meta-analysis of 2,134 late talkers found that vocabulary size, understanding of language, and family socioeconomic status predicted later expressive language (Fisher, 2017).
In a small long-term study, late talkers scored in the average range at 17 but somewhat lower than matched peers on vocabulary, grammar and verbal memory (Rescorla, 2009).

Because it’s hard to predict who will catch up, the guidance is to check rather than wait.

What to do

Talk to your child’s doctor and ask about developmental screening (CDC).
Expect a hearing check: ASHA lists hearing screening as part of an evaluation, and the AAP says a doctor may order a hearing test and refer you to a speech therapist.
Under 3, you can contact your state’s early intervention program directly; a doctor’s referral isn’t needed (CDC). Find your state’s program.

Questions parents ask

How many words should a 2-year-old say?

There’s a wide range. ASHA lists fewer than 50 words at 2 as a warning sign, and the CDC’s milestones say most children say about 50 words by 30 months.

Will my late talker catch up on their own?

Many do: about half to two-thirds catch up by late preschool or school age. But you can’t tell in advance which ones, so it’s worth getting checked.

Do I need a referral for early intervention?

No. The CDC says you can contact your state’s early intervention program yourself if your child is under 3.