Why is my 3 year old not talking but understands everything? [Ans. from SLP]
- Sanya Modi
- Sep 1, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 17
Just like any other milestones, attainment of speech and language milestones can also vary in children. Before dwelling more in the topic for the blog, it is critical for the parents to understand that the developmental milestones are based on the average age at which most children attain them. It doesn't always happen that you child will attain them at that exact age, there can sometimes be a slight delay, if you suspect any such delay it can be very helpful to consult a specialist.
As a speech therapist, I often get approached by parents with the worrisome thought that, 'my toddler isn't speaking yet but seems to understand almost everything'. In today's competitive world, where children are sent to school at the tender age of 2-3 years, it can be quite bothersome for parents when their child lags in their speech development. In this blog I would like address speech delay in toddlers, it's causes, treatment, and few tips for parents to help their child overcome speech delay.
If your child understands everything but doesn't speak it is mostly because the child has developed receptive language appropriately for their age and may have an expressive language delay.
Receptive language
Receptive language is a term used to define the understanding of language. It is the ability of a child to understand what others are saying to them. A child often develops receptive language first.
Expressive language
Expressing language is defined as the communication skill through which your child uses words to express their thoughts and ideas. Expressive language disorder is a condition that impacts the child's ability to use language to express themselves.
Causes of speech delay in a child
There can be several reasons why your 3-year-old child is not talking. Some possible reasons can be hearing loss, neurological disorders like autism, intellectual disability, lack of language stimulation at home, cognitive delay, delayed motor and speech and language development, and developmental anomalies like cleft lip, cleft palate, short frenulum.
Speech and language delay in children is a common presentation affecting approximately 6% of pre-school children.
Speech milestones for a 3 year old toddler.
There is no rule as to when a child develops speech and language, it mostly depends on the innate abilities of the child, how stimulating their environment is, and the way others respond to it when a toddler tries to communicate. Here is a list of few speech milestones that a 3 year old is expected to acquire:-
Is your child showing signs of a speech delay? Our certified speech therapists are available online — worldwide, flexible scheduling, no waitlist. 👉 Book a Free 15 -Minute Assessment at sounderic.com/book-online-speech-therapy |
Sometimes a child can catch up on his own if there is a minor delay in a certain milestone. However, if there is a significant delay in all the milestones you should visit a speech language pathologist/ speech therapist and get your child evaluated. This can be very helpful for the appropriate development of your child if timely diagnosed and treated, it can minimize the distress a child may feel after growing up due to speech and language issues.
Several factors can contribute to a 3-year-old not speaking:
1. Hearing problems: Hearing impairments can affect the ability to learn and produce speech.
2. Developmental delays: General developmental delays can impact speech and language development.
3. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Children with ASD often have speech and language delays.
4. Speech and language disorders: Conditions like apraxia of speech or specific language impairment (SLI).
5. Intellectual disabilities: Cognitive impairments can affect speech development.
6. Environmental factors: Lack of stimulation, limited interaction, or excessive screen time.
7. Neurological issues: Brain injuries or neurological disorders can impact speech.
8. Bilingualism: Learning two languages simultaneously can sometimes cause temporary speech delays.
9. Psychosocial factors: Emotional or psychological factors, such as trauma or neglect.
How can you help your child develop speech at home?
The goal is to make speaking fun for your child, incorporate fun activities, reward systems, and positive reinforcement.
Ask your child to give directions. Follow their directions as they tell you how to build a tower of blocks.
Guessing game:- Have your child guess what you describe. Say, "We use it to sweep the floor," and have them find the broom. Say, "It is cold, sweet, and good for dessert. I like strawberry" so they can guess "ice cream."
Learn new words:- Say a new word, and tell them what it means, or use it in a way that helps him understand. For example, you can use the word "vehicle" instead of "car." You can say, "I think I will drive the vehicle to the store. I am too tired to walk."
Talk to them:- tell them about the story you read somewhere. When you go shopping, describe the objects you buy. Incorporate activities of everyday chores, as the child knows colors, you can arrange vegetables as per colors, wash the vegetables and put them in the fridge.
Ask open- ended questions like ‘what did you do at the park?’ rather than ‘did you have fun at the park?’, or something like ‘what swings did you play at in the park?’ as it gives them a chance to explain things in detail and listen enthusiastically to them.
Go for a walk:- pick up treasures like some stone you find of funny shape, some feathers, colorful leaves, and much more, and ask the child to describe it to the family.
Dance to various rhymes:- you can put various poems, or kids songs on television and dance and sing along with it. It will surely increase the interest of your child and also help them learn how to pronounce words correctly.
Please continue to use these strategies and let your speech therapist know what you have been trying and if you have noticed any progress in your child.
Concerned about your child's speech development? Sounderic's certified speech therapists are available online — including families in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. Flexible scheduling, no referral needed. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is it normal for a 3-year-old to not talk but understand everything?
A: It can be — some children are late talkers who understand language well but are slow to produce speech. However, a professional evaluation is recommended if your 3-year-old is not using at least 200 words or combining words into short sentences.
Q: What causes a 3-year-old to understand but not talk?
A: Common causes include expressive language delay, apraxia of speech, hearing loss, autism spectrum disorder, or simply being a late talker. A speech-language pathologist can determine the cause through a formal assessment.
Q: When should I be worried that my 3-year-old is not talking?
A: Seek a speech therapy evaluation if your 3-year-old uses fewer than 50 words, does not combine two words, is difficult for strangers to understand, or shows frustration when trying to communicate.
Q: Can online speech therapy help a 3-year-old who is not talking?
A: Yes. Online speech therapy is highly effective for toddlers and preschool-age children. Sessions are play-based and conducted via video, making them engaging for young children.
Q: How long does speech therapy take for a 3-year-old late talker?
A: Progress varies, but many children show measurable improvement within 8–12 weeks of weekly therapy sessions combined with parent-guided home practice.
Q: Is it worrisome that my child is not speaking at 3 years of age?
A: Most children are able to start speaking by the age of 3, but some of them may even not speak until they are 5 or this may prolong, in these cases intervention of a Speech therapist becomes necessary.
Q: How do you help if a 3-year-old doesn't talk?
A: To help a 3-year-old who doesn't talk:
Consult a professional: See a pediatrician or speech-language pathologist for evaluation.
Encourage communication: Use simple language, repeat words, and describe activities.
Read together: Read books aloud to build vocabulary and comprehension.
Engage in play: Play interactive games to stimulate speech and language skills.
Limit screen time: Encourage face-to-face interaction instead of screen time.
Early intervention and consistent support are key.
Q: Can too much TV cause speech delay?
A: Yes, excessive TV watching can contribute to speech delays in children by reducing the time they spend interacting with caregivers and engaging in activities that promote language development.
Q: By what age does a child start talking clearly?
A: Most children start talking clearly by the age of 3 to 4 years. By this age, they should be able to form complete sentences and be understood by unfamiliar listeners most of the time.
Read more-
Is your child showing signs of a speech delay? Our certified speech therapists are available online — worldwide, flexible scheduling, no waitlist. 👉 Book a Free 15-Minute Assessment at sounderic.com/book-online-speech-therapy |
Sounderic provides online speech therapy sessions for children with various communication disorders. We would love to help you. Get in touch with us on WhatsApp at +919644466635 or schedule a consultation with us at https://www.sounderic.com/service-page/speech-language-consultation-for-kids.
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