08/07/2026
Let’s talk about the language hierarchy! 💬
One of the most common calls we receive is after a child’s 2-year well visit because they’re “not saying enough words.”
While developmental milestones do matter, as SLPs, we’re just as concerned about the skills that come before spoken language. These early communication skills are the foundation that language is built on. If your child doesn’t have those skills, we don’t want to wait until age 2 to intervene.
So what are those prerequisite language skills?
-eye contact and looking towards a parent or caregiver
-smiling and showing enjoyment or other emotions with others
-using gestures and body language (waving, pointing or reaching)
-cooing, babbling and making sounds to express pleasure or displeasure
-orienting to sounds and responding to spoken language
-play skills like exploring toys, playing with others, using toys together, using one object to represent another (symbolic play), engaging in pretend play
-listening, following directions and identifying familiar people or everyday objects
Notice something? None of these skills listed above involve saying words.
These early communication skills are the foundation for meaningful spoken language. When they’re missing or delayed, it’s often a sign that a child could benefit from an evaluation and early intervention.
As I’ve said before, we don’t recommend a “wait and see” approach. If you’re noticing your child isn’t developing these early language skills, trust your instincts. Early intervention can make a tremendous difference and the earlier we begin, the more opportunities we have to support your child’s speech and language development.
If you have concerns, give us a call! We’re here to help!
