🗣️ Why a Child Might Not Be Speaking at Age 3

Understanding possible reasons and how to find support

It’s natural to feel worried if your child isn’t talking yet at age 3. The important thing to know is that there are many possible reasons — and support is available.

Below are some of the main areas to consider, written in parent-friendly language.

🧠 Developmental & Neurodivergent

• Autism – Speech may develop differently, with echolalia (repeating words/phrases), fewer spoken words, or a stronger focus on non-verbal communication.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Speak to your GP or health visitor about a developmental assessment. A Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) can also support communication strategies while you wait.
• Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) – A condition where understanding or using spoken language is much harder than expected.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Ask your GP or nursery to refer to an SLT. Early nursery or preschool SENCOs can also help coordinate support.
• Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) – The brain knows what it wants to say, but struggles to plan and coordinate the mouth movements.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Specialist SLT input is needed — ask your GP or local NHS SLT service for assessment.
• Global Developmental Delay – Speech delay may be part of wider delays in areas like motor skills, play, or learning.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Discuss with your GP or paediatrician, who can coordinate referrals to SLT and other services.
• Stuck Gestalt Language Processing: There are 2 ways of acquiring language and for a GLP they can become “stuck” in stage one. Changing the way we speak to our children and understanding GLP can make all the difference.

      ➡️ Where to seek help: Discuss this with our SLT. They may not be trained in NLA (Natural Language Acquisition) but they should be able to direct you to an SLT who is. Many SENco’s and Parent Coaches are also trained in NLA.

👂 Hearing & Processing

• Hearing loss or fluctuating hearing (e.g., glue ear, frequent ear infections). Even mild loss can affect speech development.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Ask your GP for a referral to audiology for a hearing test.
• Auditory Processing Disorder – The child hears sounds but struggles to process and make sense of them.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Start with audiology to rule out hearing loss, then ask about specialist referral through SLT or paediatrician.

🗣️ Speech & Oral-Motor

• Oral-motor difficulties – Weakness or coordination issues in the muscles for speech.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: An SLT can assess oral-motor skills and give exercises or strategies.
• Structural differences – Conditions like cleft palate, tongue tie, or enlarged tonsils may affect speech sounds.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: GP or paediatrician for ENT referral. SLT can support speech once medical needs are addressed.
• Speech sound disorders – Difficulty making certain sounds clearly or in the right order.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Referral to an SLT for assessment and therapy.

🌍 Environment & Exposure

• Bilingual/multilingual learning – Children may use fewer spoken words at first while processing two or more languages. They usually catch up. There is no evidence to suggest this causes a child to be non speaking.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Reassurance from an SLT. Encourage both/all languages at home — reducing to one isn’t necessary.
• Limited exposure to language – Some children simply haven’t had as many opportunities to hear and practise speech.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Local children’s centres, playgroups, and SLTs can suggest ways to boost language-rich play.
• Trauma or neglect – Stressful or unstable environments can affect communication.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: GP, health visitor, or social worker. An SLT may also support safe communication development.

💛 Other Medical / Developmental Factors

• Selective Mutism – The child is able to speak but anxiety prevents them from speaking in certain places or with certain people.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: SLTs and child psychologists often work together to support this. Speak to your GP.
• Intellectual disability – Global learning differences can impact communication development.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: GP or paediatrician for referral to a community paediatric team and SLT.
• Genetic syndromes – Some syndromes (e.g., Down syndrome, Fragile X) can affect speech development.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Paediatrician or specialist clinic, plus ongoing SLT support.
• Neurological conditions – Conditions like seizures or brain differences may affect language areas.
  ➡️ Where to seek help: Paediatrician or neurologist. SLT can provide tailored therapy.

✅ Important to Remember

• Not all children speak by 3, but all children communicate — whether through gestures, sounds, pointing, or echolalia.
• Early support makes a big difference — you don’t need to “wait and see.”
• A hearing check and SLT referral are the best first steps if you’re concerned.

💡 If you’re worried about your child’s speech, trust your instincts and seek advice. You know your child best.

✨ You don’t have to figure this out alone — I’m here to walk alongside you and share ideas that can make communication feel easier for both you and your child.