05/09/2026
Is your gut saying something feels off with your little one's speech? Trust it. 💛
We know it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out if your child needs extra support, so we've put together 5 signs to look out for:
🗣️ Hard to understand, even for family and close friends
By age 3, most people outside the family should be able to understand your child around 75% of the time. If grandparents, carers or friends are regularly asking "what did they say?", that's worth looking into.
📅 Missing speech milestones for their age
Every child develops at their own pace, but there are general milestones to look out for, like saying first words around 12 months or putting two words together by 2. If your child seems a few steps behind, an early check-in can make all the difference.
😤 Getting frustrated when they can't express themselves
When kids can't get their message across, it often shows up as meltdowns, shutting down, or acting out. It's not bad behaviour, it's a child telling you they need a little extra support to express themselves.
🔤 Dropping sounds or mixing up words
Things like saying "nana" for "banana" or dropping the ending off words ("ca" instead of "cat") are common in toddlers, but if it's still happening past certain ages, it could signal a speech sound disorder that responds really well to therapy.
👂 Finding it hard to follow simple directions
If your child often seems confused by simple directions like "go get your shoes" or doesn't respond to their name consistently, it could point to a language comprehension difficulty, something a speech pathologist can assess quickly and accurately.
There's no judgement here, just friendly, expert support for your child and your family.
Book a consultation and let's chat. 💬 Link in bio.
