Is your 18-month-old toddler unable to use single words to communicate with you?

The inability to use single words by the age of 18 months can be the first sign of language delay in children. Before this age, most children learn to speak single words, refer to the correct person/object using the word, and are able to say the word consistently at different times and in different situations. The first words children speak usually serve to get the attention of a caregiver.

Ms Goh Siew Li, Senior Speech-Language Therapist, Rehabilitation Department at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), a member of the SingHealth group, says that while speech and language development varies from child to child, generally, by the age of 18 months, most children can request for an object by pointing and talking. She advises parents to consult an expert if their 18-month-old is not able to do this.

Read on for 8 tips to help your child learn to talk.

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