Every child talks at their own pace, but some signs mean it is worth getting help early. Learn the milestones, the warning signs and how speech therapy works.
Many parents in Dhaka hear “don’t worry, boys talk late” or “it is because of two languages at home”. Sometimes that is true. But if a child is clearly behind, waiting can mean losing valuable time. Early speech therapy is simple, play-based and can make a real difference.
Typical speech and language milestones
- By 12 months: babbles, responds to their name, uses gestures like waving or pointing
- By 18 months: says several single words and understands simple instructions
- By 2 years: uses around 50 or more words and starts joining two words (“more milk”)
- By 3 years: uses short sentences that family members mostly understand
Children vary, so these are guides, not strict rules.
Signs it is time to get help
- No babbling or pointing by 12 months
- No single words by 16–18 months
- Not joining two words by 2 years
- Losing words or skills they used to have
- Not responding to their name, or little eye contact
- Repeating phrases from TV or other people rather than using their own words
Losing words at any age, or not responding to their name, should always be checked by a professional.
Does a bilingual home cause late talking?
No. Hearing Bangla and English together does not cause speech delay. Bilingual children may mix languages, but they still reach their early milestones on time. If a child is behind in both languages, it is worth an assessment.
What about screen time?
Children learn to talk through back-and-forth interaction with people. Reducing screen time and spending more time playing, singing and talking face to face helps every child.
How speech therapy works
A speech therapist first assesses how your child understands, communicates and plays. Therapy then uses games, books and everyday routines to build attention, imitation, words and sentences. Parents learn simple ways to help at home. Read more about our speech and language therapy in Uttara, Dhaka.
Five things you can do today
- Get down to your child’s eye level and follow their interest
- Name what they look at and do, using short, simple words
- Pause and wait, giving them time to respond
- Sing songs and rhymes with actions
- Read picture books together every day
If you are worried, trust your instinct. Book an assessment and talk with our team.
Have questions about your child?
Our team is happy to talk with you and help you plan the next steps.
