Waiting for first words can be one of the most stressful parts of having a toddler. Every child develops at their own pace, and many late talkers catch up. Some do not, and some quiet toddlers have a hearing problem, a speech or language disorder, or autism. The good news for Florida families is that you can get a free, professional opinion quickly, and you do not need a doctor's referral to start. This guide explains what is typical, what is a red flag, and exactly where to go in Florida.
How many words should my toddler be saying?
The CDC's milestone checklists describe what most children, 75% or more, can do by each age. For talking and communication they list:
| Age | Talking and understanding | Gestures and social communication |
|---|---|---|
| 9 months | Makes lots of different sounds like mamama and bababa | Lifts arms up to be picked up; looks when you call their name |
| 12 months | Calls a parent mama, dada or another special name; understands no | Waves bye-bye |
| 15 months | Tries to say one or two words besides mama or dada; looks at a familiar object when you name it | Points to ask for something or to get help |
| 18 months | Tries to say three or more words besides mama or dada; follows one-step directions without gestures | Points to show you something interesting |
| 24 months | Says at least two words together, like more milk; points to things in a book when you ask | Uses more gestures than waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes |
| 30 months | Says about 50 words; uses two or more words together with an action word, like doggie run; uses words like I, me or we | Plays next to other children and sometimes with them |
Two things to notice in that table. First, communication is more than words: pointing, waving, looking where you look and bringing you things are all communication. Second, understanding matters as much as talking. A toddler who understands a lot and gestures well but says few words is in a different situation from a toddler who does not respond to their name, does not point and does not seem to follow simple directions.
When is it time to worry?
You do not have to wait for a specific birthday. The CDC's advice is to act early if your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills, or you are concerned. Common red flags for speech and language include:
- No babbling with different sounds by about 9 months.
- No gestures such as waving or pointing by about 12 to 15 months.
- Not trying to say three or more words by 18 months.
- Not combining two words by 24 months.
- Not seeming to understand simple words or directions.
- Losing words or babbling they used to have, at any age. Loss of skills should always be checked promptly.
Some patterns point more toward autism than a speech delay alone: not responding to their name, rarely pointing to show you things, little eye contact or shared smiles, repeating words or phrases without using them to communicate, or strong reactions to change or sensory input. Our comparison of speech delay vs autism goes through those differences in detail. Only an evaluation can tell them apart.
Why should hearing be checked first?
A child who cannot hear well cannot learn to talk on schedule. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) explains that a delay is sometimes caused by hearing loss and sometimes by a speech or language disorder, and that a hearing test is usually part of a speech and language evaluation. Even if your baby passed the newborn hearing screen, ear infections, fluid in the ears or later hearing changes can affect a toddler.
Florida's school evaluation rule says the same thing for preschoolers: vision and hearing screenings are done to rule out sensory problems before a child is evaluated for a disability. Ask your pediatrician whether a hearing test by an audiologist makes sense for your child.
Where do I start in Florida if my child is under 3?
Early Steps is Florida's early intervention program for babies and toddlers from birth to 36 months, run by the Florida Department of Health. It is the fastest free route for most toddlers who are not talking.
- Who can refer: anyone, including you. No doctor's referral is needed. Call 1-800-218-0001 or use the referral form at floridaearlysteps.com.
- Who qualifies: children with a measured delay of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean in two or more areas, or 2.0 standard deviations in one or more. Communication is one of the five areas, along with cognitive, physical (including vision and hearing), social or emotional, and adaptive skills. Recent medical records from the past 90 days can help establish eligibility. A diagnosed condition such as autism or a hearing impairment qualifies on its own.
- How fast: the local program must evaluate and hold the first family plan meeting within 45 calendar days of the referral.
- Cost: no out-of-pocket charges to families for evaluation or plan services, and no income limit. With consent, Early Steps can bill insurance, but your child still gets services if you decline.
- Where: services are delivered in your child's natural environment, such as home or daycare, wherever possible.
If your child is close to turning 3, call now. A referral that arrives fewer than 45 days before the third birthday is sent to the school district instead. The full program guide is at Early Steps Florida: who qualifies.
What if my child is 3 to 5?
From age 3, free developmental evaluations come through your public school district and FDLRS, the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System. FDLRS centers do Child Find screening for children from age 3 to kindergarten entry. If a screening suggests a disability, the district must seek your consent to evaluate. You can also make a written request to the district yourself; under Rule 6A-6.0331, the district then has 30 days to get your consent or give you written notice explaining a refusal. Once you consent, the evaluation must be finished within 60 calendar days, with school holidays and summer excluded.
FDLRS associate centers in the areas Hope Center serves, as listed on fdlrs.org:
- Palm Beach: FDLRS Alpha, West Palm Beach, 561-434-8975
- Broward: FDLRS Reach, Tamarac, 754-321-3466
- St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, Okeechobee: FDLRS Galaxy, Port St. Lucie, 772-429-4600
- Hillsborough: FDLRS Hillsborough, Brandon, 813-837-7777
- Polk: FDLRS Sunrise, Bartow, 863-535-6486
- Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry: FDLRS Heartland, Sebring, 863-471-5510
- Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota: FDLRS Suncoast, Sarasota, 941-927-9000
- Duval, Clay, Nassau: FDLRS Crown, Jacksonville, 904-346-4601
- Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola: FDLRS Action, Orlando, 407-317-3660
More detail is in FDLRS and Child Find for ages 3 to 5.
Should I also get a private evaluation?
Early Steps and school evaluations decide eligibility for their own services. They do not always produce a medical diagnosis, and some insurers will not accept school paperwork alone as proof of an autism diagnosis for therapy. Depending on what you see, your pediatrician may refer you to:
- a speech-language pathologist, who evaluates speech, language and communication;
- an audiologist, for a full hearing test;
- a developmental pediatrician or child psychologist, if autism or a broader developmental difference is a question.
You can do these in parallel. Many families refer to Early Steps the same week they ask the pediatrician for a specialist referral, because waits for private evaluations can be long.
What can I do at home while I wait?
- Narrate your day in short phrases: shoes on, big bubble, more juice.
- Pause and wait. Give your child a few seconds to fill the gap with a sound, a gesture or a look.
- Count gestures and sounds as communication and respond to them warmly.
- Follow your child's interests; talk about what they are already looking at.
- Keep a short log of new words, gestures and anything lost, with dates. Bring it to every appointment.
How Hope Center can help
If your toddler is diagnosed with autism, ABA therapy can work on communication alongside speech therapy, with parent training built in. Hope Center provides ABA in homes, daycares and our centers with no waitlist, and plans to add in-house speech therapy in January 2027. We also offer diagnostic evaluations through our clinical director with a supervising licensed psychologist. Request a free consultation or call 561-337-8865, and we will check your insurance benefits for free.