Speech therapy for late talkers
A late talker is not a child who needs more quizzes. They need a reason to communicate, a pause long enough to take it, and an adult who comments more than they test.
Written by the Inclusive Developmental and Therapy Center therapy team — our Speech & Language Therapist, psychology and ABA staff. This page is awaiting its clinical review.
How we work with a late talker
We start from what they already do — a look, a reach, a sound — and build a request. Choice with two things in your hands. Wait five seconds. Say it one word longer than they did. That is the hour, and it is the home job. Condition page: speech delay. Session shape: a speech session. Home: talking program.
What we check first
Hearing, if it has never been done. Understanding — a child who follows “get your shoes” has language even with few words. Lost words belong in an assessment this week, not a wait-and-see. Assessment.
Urdu, English, both
Count every language in the house. Mixing is not the problem. Bilingualism does not cause delay. Coaching in the language they hear most. Bilingual homes.
What we check first
Hearing. Understanding (“get your shoes”). Lost words belong in assessment this week. Condition: speech delay. Guide: why is my toddler not talking. Early years: early intervention.
The idea behind the work (in the books)
A reason to communicate, a pause long enough to take it, an adult who comments more than they test.
Hanen — It Takes Two to Talk ideas
Follow the lead, wait, then add one word. We are not a certified Hanen centre.
Mundy — joint attention
A look and a point are the floor under first words. Drill vocabulary lists after those exist, not before.
What the research tells us
This isn’t just our opinion — it’s grounded in published research. Here are a few findings from trusted, independent sources:
NICE CG170 recommends a play-based social-communication intervention with parents, carers and teachers to increase joint attention, engagement and reciprocal communication, adjusted to the child’s developmental level. For pre-school children it recommends parent mediation.
— NICE Clinical Guideline CG170 — Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management. View sourceA Cochrane review of parent-mediated early intervention (17 trials, 919 children) found strong evidence that parent–child interaction changes — more shared attention, more parent synchrony. Evidence that the child’s own language and adaptive skills change was smaller and less certain.
— Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — Oono, Honey and McConachie (2013), CD009774. View source
Take a worksheet home
Print one sheet. Fill it in this week. Bring it to the consultation — a consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes.
First-words picture cards
Cut-out cards for late talkers. Name, wait, celebrate any try.
Requesting cards
Help, more, finished, stop, my turn, can I play — a faster ask than screaming.
Talking home program (PDF)
A pause at snack.
Book a consultation
Contact owner Muhammad Salman Afzal first. No referral needed. A consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes.
Late talkers — questions parents ask
No words at two — is it too late?
No. Earlier is easier, but two is a very common time to start. A worry is enough.
They talk at home and clam up here.
Then we play until a real request appears. A performance of words for the therapist is not the goal.
Should I stop the dummy / bottle / screen?
Screens that replace back-and-forth are worth changing. Dummy and bottle are a conversation, not a moral test. See the feeding and dummy guides on the blog if those are the wall.
How do we start?
A consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes. “Bacha bolta nahi” is a complete first message.
No words at two — is it too late?
No. Earlier is easier, but two is a very common time to start. A worry is enough.
Ask about late talkers
A short, friendly conversation is the best first step. Call, text or WhatsApp us — we’ll listen and guide you, with no pressure.
MPS Road, Block A Model Town, Multan (near Bloomfield Hall School, Street No. 2) · Mon–Fri, 2 PM – 6 PM