Why is my 4 year old child not talking? [Answer from an SLP]
- Sanya Modi
- Feb 22, 2023
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 24
There can be several reasons why your 4-year-old child is not talking. Some possible reasons can be hearing loss, neurological disorders, intellectual disability, lack of language stimulation at home, cognitive delay, and delayed motor and speech and language development.
If a 4-year-old is not speaking or has delayed speech development, it can be bothersome for both the parents and the child. As a 4-year-old starts preschool and for obvious reasons like not being able to express themselves and seeing all the kids around them talk they may feel left out and irritated. When it comes to parents, every parent’s ultimate joy is watching their child thrive and achieve all the milestones.
We often get emails and messages from troubled parents with the chief complaint that their 4-year-old is not talking or showing any signs of verbal expression.
What could be the underlying cause or how can we help them?
Speech and language delay in children is a common presentation affecting approximately 6% of pre-school children.
Some early Interaction skills a child develops to successfully communicate are attention, listening, eye-contact, turn-taking, understanding spoken language, and expressive language.
There are no rigid timelines as to when a child develops these skills. It depends on the innate abilities of the child, language stimulation at home, family members responses to a child's speech, and many more.
Here is a list of a few speech milestones that a 4-year-old is expected to acquire:
Child is expected to speak in sentences by now.
Child's attention level is expected to grow by now and they should be able to attend to an adult-led activity for a short period of time.
Child is able to say most of the speech sounds.
Child is able to answer and ask simple questions.
Child can narrate a short story.
At this stage they can follow and maintain a conversation.
Child is able to categorize words or sort objects like fruits, vegetables, furniture, etc.
Child is able to understand 2-step directions and follow them.
If you notice a significant speech delay in your child, you should visit a speech therapist and get them evaluated.
A timely diagnosis can be quite helpful for the child to overcome the speech delay and overcome all the problems they might face as adults.
What can you do to help your toddler with speech at home
Read Together Daily: Spend time reading books to your toddler every day. Choose books with colorful pictures and simple words. Point to the pictures and describe them, encouraging your child to repeat the words.
Talk About Your Day: Narrate your daily activities and routines. Describe what you are doing as you do it, and involve your toddler by asking questions and encouraging them to respond.
Sing Songs and Nursery Rhymes: Singing songs and nursery rhymes helps toddlers learn new words and sounds. The repetitive nature of songs makes it easier for them to remember and mimic the words.
Play Interactive Games: Engage in games that require verbal interaction, such as “Simon Says,” or simple board games that involve taking turns and naming objects.
Use Flashcards and Visual Aids: Utilize flashcards with pictures and words to build vocabulary. Show your toddler the card, say the word, and encourage them to repeat it. Visual aids can help reinforce word recognition and pronunciation.
What Causes a Speech Delay In Toddlers?
There is usually a reason behind any delay. It could be that the child does not have any good communication role models at home, have excessive screen time or that parents are not able to give the quality of attention the child requires. There could also be a medical reason, learning difficulties, etc.
Hearing loss If a child doesn't hear, how would they develop speech? Hence your doctor would always refer the child for hearing assessment if they present with a speech delay.
Neurological Disorders such as Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or Autism spectrum disorder can cause speech delays. The child often struggles with expressive and receptive language.
Speech and Language Developmental Disorders and difficulty producing sounds and forming words.
Increased screen time If children spend a lot of time on various gadgets, mindlessly watching, they might be picking up vocabulary but are not learning interaction. Interaction is a two way conversation.
Intellectual disability A child with intellectual disabilities often faces difficulty in understanding language and processing information
Lack of speech and language stimulation Parents are responsible to make the environment at home conducive for the child to pick up speech.
Speech sound disorders By 4 years of age the child should be able to say most of the sounds. If the child has difficulty saying many sounds, they might also experience speech delay.
Cognitive delay If the child has a lower intelligence quotient, they will have difficulty picking up many concepts and combining words to form sentences.
Would you like to learn why the child is not speaking yet? Contact us for a consultation today.
Speech Delay vs. Language Delay
Speech delay refers to difficulties with articulation and producing speech sounds correctly—children with speech delays may know what they want to say but struggle to say it clearly.
Language delay, on the other hand, involves difficulties with understanding language (receptive language) or using words and sentences to communicate ideas (expressive language). A child with a language delay may have trouble following directions, understanding questions, or putting words together into meaningful sentences.
Speech-language pathologists evaluate both speech and language skills to determine the nature of the delay and provide targeted therapy to help children communicate effectively.
Behavior Challenges and Emotional Impact
When a child has difficulty expressing themselves verbally, they may experience frustration that can manifest as tantrums or aggressive behavior.
Some children may show increased irritability or anxiety when they cannot make themselves understood. Recognizing these behaviors as potential signs of underlying speech and language difficulties is important.
When Should You Worry?
Generally, by age 4, children should be speaking in full sentences and engaging in conversation. If your child isn’t meeting these milestones, it may warrant further evaluation.
Timelines for Concern
If your child is not speaking in sentences by age 4
Difficulty being understood by family members or peers
Limited vocabulary or inability to ask and answer questions
Red Flags That Warrant Professional Evaluation
No or minimal verbal communication
Poor understanding of simple instructions
Limited eye contact or social interaction
Reliance on gestures without words to communicate
Regression or loss of speech skills previously acquired
The Significance of Developmental Screening
Developmental screening by a pediatrician or speech-language pathologist is essential when delays are suspected. Early assessment helps identify underlying causes and ensures that children receive timely intervention to support speech, language, and overall development.
If you have any concerns about your child’s communication skills, it’s important to seek help early—early intervention can significantly improve outcomes.
How can you help your child develop speech at home?
As parents, you spend the most time with your child therefore, you must support them to build their early skills by modelling and ‘scaffolding’ their language.
1. Talk to them: It is important to remember that, as parents, you are your child’s first teacher. It is your responsibility to be a good language role model for your child to imitate. Read stories to them. 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.
2. 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?". It gives them a chance to explain things in detail and listen enthusiastically to them.
3. Revisit their favorite old story: Now that they have learned how to read, you can ask them to read the books and tell what word comes next.
4. Go for a walk: Pick up treasures like some stone you find of a funny shape, some feathers, colorful leaves, and much more, and ask the child to describe it to the family.
5. Play family Storytime: You can all make a story together and you can be the characters of the story. Describe the back story of every character. Draw the characters with the child as per their imagination.
6. Playtime with kids: Children need one to one social interaction to be able to learn skills like; making eye contact with the person who is talking to them, waiting for their turn to speak, understanding simple instructions, and of course to learn to use words or signs to communicate their wants and needs.
7. Cooking Together: Preparing a meal together allows for discussions about ingredients, following instructions, and using descriptive words to discuss taste, texture, and temperature.
8. Sensory Play: Activities like playing with Play-Doh, sand, or water can stimulate language development through exploration and conversation about textures, shapes, and sensations.
9. Word Games: Play word games like "I Spy" or "20 Questions" to improve vocabulary, critical thinking, and questioning skills. You can adapt the complexity of the games based on the individual's age and language level.
10. Mirror Practice: Use a mirror to help the child see and correct their articulation or lip and tongue placement when producing specific sounds.
How can Sounderic help your child?
Sounderic helps your child develop speech and language skills faster.
Our team consists of highly skilled and certified speech language pathologists with extensive experience in working with children. They understand the complexities of speech and language development in young minds.
Unlock Your Child's Communication Potential with Sounderic Speech Therapy!
Expert Team of Speech Therapists:
Our experts specialize in addressing speech delays, tailoring each session to meet your child's unique needs.
Convenient Online Sessions:
You can access top-notch services from the comfort of your home. The sessions are engaging and effective, fostering a positive learning environment for your child.
Proven Track Record of Success:
Check out our success stories and testimonials from parents who have witnessed remarkable improvements in their children's speech skills.
Family-Centered Support:
Sounderic provides resources and guidance for parents to support their child's speech therapy journey. We believe in a collaborative effort to achieve the best outcomes.
Global Reach, Local Touch:
No matter where you are, Sounderic's online speech therapy services are accessible globally.
Ready to embark on a journey toward confident communication? Choose Sounderic for online speech therapy and empower your child for a lifetime of success! 🌈🗣️
What parents have shared about Sounderic?
At Sounderic, we take great pride in the impact we have on the lives of children and their families through our online speech therapy and occupational therapy services. We believe that our services are making a difference, but it's even more meaningful when we hear directly from parents about their experiences.
Here is a heartwarming and insightful testimonial from a parent who have partnered with Sounderic to support their children's speech and occupational therapy needs.
Check out More Informative videos and testimonials on our Channel
If your child is not making any progress or if you feel your child is significantly delayed with their skills, please consult a speech-language pathologist to get advice and support. Please continue to use these strategies and let your therapist know what you have been trying and if you have noticed any progress in your child
Home Activities and Supporting Speech Development
Parents can help foster speech and language skills at home through a variety of simple, engaging activities:
Storytelling and reading together: Create routines that involve daily reading and encourage children to tell or retell stories.
Narrating daily routines: Describe actions during chores, meals, or walks to expose your child to rich language.
Open-ended questions and play-based learning: Ask questions that encourage longer answers and engage in imaginative play.
Limiting excessive screen time: Ensure that screen use is balanced with interaction-rich activities.
Use of games, songs, and conversational modeling: Play language games like "I Spy," sing songs together, and model conversations that encourage turn-taking and thoughtful responses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it normal for a 4-year-old not to talk?
While some variation is normal, most 4-year-olds should be speaking in sentences and engaging in conversations. If a child is not talking or shows significant delays, it’s a sign to seek professional advice.
What milestones should my 4-year-old have reached?
By age 4, children should be able to speak clearly, ask and answer questions, tell short stories, follow 2-step directions, and engage in back-and-forth conversations.
What causes speech delay at age 4?
Common causes include hearing loss, neurological conditions (like autism or cerebral palsy), speech and language disorders, intellectual disability, excessive screen time, and lack of language stimulation at home.
Can children outgrow speech delay on their own?
Some mild delays may resolve naturally, but many children benefit from early intervention to support speech development and prevent future challenges.
How can I help my child talk more at home?
Engage your child with conversation, read together, play interactive games, use visuals and routines, and reduce distractions during communication.
When should I see a speech therapist?
If your child is not talking by age 4 or shows signs of speech delay or difficulty interacting, consult a speech-language pathologist promptly.
Does screen time contribute to speech delay?
Excessive passive screen time can reduce opportunities for meaningful interaction, which may delay speech and language development.
How is speech delay treated?
Speech therapy is the primary treatment, tailored to your child’s specific needs, often combined with parent guidance and home activities.
What are signs that my child needs extra help?
Signs include limited vocabulary, difficulty forming sentences, poor understanding of language, minimal eye contact, or trouble following simple instructions.
Are bilingual children more likely to have speech delays?
Being bilingual does not cause speech delay, but children may mix languages as they learn. True speech delays affect both languages equally.
What are success rates for children who start therapy at 4?
Children who begin speech therapy around age 4 often make significant progress, especially with consistent therapy and family support.
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-kid
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