Identifying Red Flags for Developmental Language Disorder

​If your child shows these red flags, or you are concerned about other aspects of your child’s speech and language development, contact a speech-language pathologist.

1 year of age:

• No reaction to sound
• No babbling
• Difficulty feeding
• No imitation
• Limited use of gestures

2 years of age:

• Minimal attempts to communicate with gestures or words
• No first words
• Difficulty following simple directions
• Inconsistent response to “no”

3 years of age:

• Limited use of speech
• Speech is not understandable to parents
• Limited understanding of simple questions
• Difficulty naming objects or pictures
• Produces at most 2-word phrases
• Frustration related to communication

4 years of age:

• Produces at most 3-word phrases
• Speech is mostly not understandable to parents
• Limited turn-taking in conversations
• Takes a long time to understand what is being said
• Difficulty asking questions
• Difficulty finding words to express thoughts

5 years of age:

• Speaks only in simple sentences
• If English speaking, leaves out the –ed marker (She play(-ed) last night)
• Speech not understandable to teachers
• Difficulty answering questions
• Difficulty with complex directions
• Difficulty telling stories
• Difficulty with peer interactions

School age:

• Difficulty with reading, writing, or math
• Difficulty following complex directions
• Does not produce complex sentences
• Produces sentences with grammar errors
• Difficulty repeating sentences
• Limited vocabulary compared to peers
• Produces speech with sound errors
• Difficulty with social interactions

This a guide on childhood language development. All children grow and develop differently. If you have concerns about your child’s health or development, contact your child’s primary care provider.

Adaptation of:

Visser-Bochane, M. I., Gerrits, E., Schans, C. P., Reijneveld, S. A., & Luinge, M. R. (2016). Atypical speech and language development: A consensus study on clinical signs in the Netherlands. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 52(1), 10-20. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12251