Speech Delay in Children: How to Tell if Your 4-Year-Old Needs Speech Therapy

As parents, it’s common to wonder if your 4-year-old’s speech and language skills are on track. You might ask yourself questions like: “Is it time to consider a speech evaluation?” or "How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?"  There are typical communication milestones that can help you gauge whether your 4-year-old child might be experiencing a speech delay.

Speech and Language Milestones for 3-4 Years

By around age 4, many children are beginning to:

• Speak in complete sentences, although there may be some lingering grammatical errors (e.g., "I sawed that boy at the playground")

• Understand and use location and time words (e.g., behind, next to, tomorrow, later, etc.)

• Follow directions and rules to play games

• Tell stories and describe events in order

• Use language for jokes and fantasy play

• Be understood by others most of the time even if a few speech errors persist

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Signs Your 4-year-old May Have a Speech Delay

Not every child will meet these milestones at the exact same time, but you may want to seek guidance if your child:

Understanding (Receptive Language)

• Has trouble paying attention to, remembering, and following directions

• Has trouble answering questions, especially open-ended questions

• Seems "lost" when you are talking to them

Speaking (Expressive Language)

• Relies on you to "interpret" for them because others have a hard time understanding

• Becomes frustrated when speaking

• Has trouble retelling stories or events

Play & Interaction

• Prefers to play alone and gravitates to supportive adults (as opposed to peers)

• Rarely shares their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in expected ways

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When to Consider Speech Therapy

• If your child meets several of the concerns above

• If teachers, daycare staff or other caregivers express concern

• If your child’s speech and language seems behind their peers

• If your gut tells you something may be delayed

A speech and language pathologist can perform a full evaluation and give you strategies to support your child at home. Speech therapy can give your child the support they need to grow their language skills with confidence.

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The Bottom Line

If you’ve been wondering, “Should my 4-year-old see a speech therapist?” a great place to start is by checking in with your pediatrician. They can connect you with a speech-language pathologist for an evaluation. Early support often has a powerful impact, and with the right guidance, many children make wonderful progress. At Radiant Moments, our team is here to provide evaluations and support whenever you’re ready. Fill out our contact form to get in touch!

For more information on communication milestones and potential speech delays in children, visit ASHA's website.