Should I wait and see if my child catches up?

You don't have to. A free screening costs nothing and gives you a clear picture. Early support is low-risk and often helps.

How young is too young for speech therapy?

Children can start speech therapy before age 2. For toddlers, therapy is play-based and heavily involves parents.

Does screen time cause speech delays?

Research links heavy screen time with slower language development in some children, but delays usually have many causes. Shared, face-to-face play and talk is what helps most.

No. We grow our team as needed so families can start without waiting.

Late talkers

Help for Late Talkers and Toddler Speech Delays

If your toddler isn't saying as many words as other kids their age, you're not alone, and you don't have to wait and see. Fisher-Jost Therapy helps late talkers in Frankfort, Mokena, Manteno and nearby build words, sentences and confidence, usually through play at home.

Book a Free Screening Call (815) 200-8851

Speech therapist using a stop sign picture card to build first words with a toddler at the playground

What is a late talker?

A late talker is a toddler, usually between about 18 and 30 months, who understands a lot but says fewer words than expected for their age. Some late talkers catch up on their own, but many benefit from help, and there's no way to know in advance which group a child will fall into. Getting support early is low-risk and often makes a real difference.

By age

Speech and language milestones

Most children reach these milestones by the ages shown (source: CDC milestones).

12 monthsWave bye-bye and call a parent “mama,” “dada” or another special name

18 monthsTry to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”

2 yearsSay at least two words together, like “more milk”

30 monthsSay about 50 words

3 yearsTalk with you in conversation, taking at least two turns back and forth

4 yearsSay sentences of four or more words

When to get an evaluation

Call us for a free screening if your child:

Isn't saying any words by about 15–18 months
Isn't putting two words together by 24 months
Is frustrated, or has frequent meltdowns, because they can't tell you what they want
Has stopped using words they used to say (tell your pediatrician too)
Has trouble understanding simple directions

What you can do at home today

Get face to face at your child's eye level during play.
Talk about what they're doing in short phrases (“Push car! Car goes fast!”).
Pause and wait. Give your child time to try a word, sound or gesture.
Offer choices: “Milk or water?” Then hold up each one.
Add one word: if your child says “ball,” you say “big ball.”

5 ways to help your child say more words →

How therapy helps late talkers

Therapy for toddlers looks like play, because that's how toddlers learn. Your therapist uses your child's favorite toys, songs and routines to create lots of chances to communicate, and coaches you on simple strategies, like pausing, offering choices and modeling short phrases, that you'll use all day long.

You don't have to. A free screening costs nothing and gives you a clear picture. Early support is low-risk and often helps.
Children can start speech therapy before age 2. For toddlers, therapy is play-based and heavily involves parents.
Research links heavy screen time with slower language development in some children, but delays usually have many causes. Shared, face-to-face play and talk is what helps most.
No. We grow our team as needed so families can start without waiting.

Late talker FAQs

Ready to talk about your child?

Book a free screening. We'll listen, answer your questions, and help you decide on next steps.