Does Your Child Need Speech Therapy? A Comprehensive Quiz!

Is your toddler’s “ba-ba” still their go-to word for everything, or does your preschooler struggle to make themselves understood at playdates?

As parents, we naturally worry about our children’s development, especially when it comes to communication milestones.

Speech and language development varies dramatically from child to child, making it challenging to determine when concerns warrant professional attention.

Some children are early talkers who surprise us with full sentences before age two, while others take their time to find their voice.

Our comprehensive quiz cuts through the confusion and uncertainty, helping you assess whether your child might benefit from speech therapy evaluation in just a few minutes.

Understanding Speech and Language Development

Speech development follows a predictable timeline, though children progress at individual rates.

What are Normal Speech Milestones by Age?

Infants start with cooing and babbling by 6 months, progressing to first words like “mama” or “bye-bye” around 12 months.
Toddlers at 18 months typically have 10-20 words and understand simple instructions.
Two-year-olds combine words (“want cookie”) and have vocabularies of 50+ words.
Three-year-olds speak in short sentences, ask questions, and are understood by strangers most of the time.
Four-year-olds tell stories, use past tense, and engage in conversations. By five, children speak clearly in complex sentences and follow multi-step directions.

These milestones help parents recognize typical development patterns.

Why Early Speech and Language Skills Matter

Strong communication skills form the foundation for social bonds, academic success, and emotional well-being. Children who communicate effectively build friendships more easily, express their needs confidently, and develop higher self-esteem.

Addressing communication challenges early prevents these difficulties from compounding, setting children up for greater success in relationships and learning throughout their lives.

What is Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy is like a personal trainer for your child’s communication skills! It’s a specialized form of treatment that helps children develop, improve, and master the art of speaking, listening, and understanding language.

Think of speech-language pathologists as communication coaches who use fun, engaging techniques to help develop your child’s verbal potential.

Through games, activities, and targeted exercises, they address everything from pronunciation problems and stuttering to language delays and social communication challenges.

When your child struggles with forming sounds, building vocabulary, or expressing ideas clearly, speech therapy provides the tools and strategies needed to transform communication obstacles into confident, clear expression that opens doors to better relationships and academic success.

Why Do We Need Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy bridges the gap between where your child is and where they need to be communicatively. It prevents small speech issues from becoming bigger academic and social challenges later.

Early intervention through speech therapy builds confidence, improves classroom participation, enhances peer relationships, and sets the foundation for lifelong communication success.

When Do We Need Speech Therapy?

Consider speech therapy when your child consistently struggles to be understood by family members, falls behind age-appropriate milestones, shows frustration when communicating, or when teachers express concerns about classroom communication.

Trust your parental instincts – if something feels off about your child’s speech development, professional evaluation can provide clarity and peace of mind.

Does My Child Need Speech Therapy? – Parent Quiz

Instructions

Answer these questions based on your child’s typical behavior over the past month.

Choose the response that best describes what your child does most of the time, not just occasionally. Be honest—this quiz is designed to help you understand your child’s communication development.

The Quiz

1. How well can strangers understand your child when they speak?

A) Very well (90-100% of the time)

B) Most of the time (70-90%)

C) Sometimes (50-70%)

D) Rarely or never (less than 50%)

2. How does your child typically express their wants and needs?

A) Uses clear words and sentences

B) Uses some words, gestures, and pointing

C) Mainly gestures, pointing, or pulling you to things

D) Often gets frustrated trying to communicate

3. How many words can your child say clearly?

A) Age-appropriate vocabulary (varies by age)

B) Fewer words than expected but steadily growing

C) Very few clear words

D) No clear words yet

4. How well does your child follow verbal instructions?

A) Follows multi-step instructions easily

B) Follows simple one-step instructions

C) Needs gestures or demonstrations to understand

D) Difficulty following even simple instructions

5. Does your child engage in back-and-forth conversation?

A) Yes, has conversations appropriate for their age

B) Sometimes, but conversations are brief

C) Rarely engages in conversation

D) Does not engage in conversation

6. How does your child interact with other children their age?

A) Communicates and plays well with peers

B) Plays with others but communication is limited

C) Prefers to play alone, limited peer interaction

D) Avoids or struggles significantly with peer interaction

7. Does your child repeat sounds, words, or have trouble getting words out?

A) Speaks smoothly most of the time

B) Occasional repetition or hesitation (normal for age)

C) Frequent repetition or struggling to get words out

D) Significant stuttering or speech blocks

8. How does your child respond when you call their name?

A) Responds consistently and appropriately

B) Usually responds but sometimes needs repetition

C) Inconsistent response to their name

D) Rarely or never responds to their name

9. Can your child tell you about their day or recent events?

A) Shares stories and experiences clearly

B) Can share some information with prompting

C) Very limited ability to share experiences

D) Cannot share information about events

10. How frustrated does your child get when trying to communicate?

A) Rarely frustrated with communication

B) Occasionally frustrated but manages well

C) Often frustrated when trying to communicate

D) Frequently has meltdowns due to communication difficulties

Scoring Guide

For each answer:

A = 0 points
B = 1 point
C = 2 points
D = 3 points

Total your points and see the interpretation for your child’s age group below.

Results Interpretation by Age Group

Age Group	0–5 Points	6–15 Points	16–30 Points
12–18 Months	Typical Development Your toddler is developing communication skills appropriately. Expect 5–20 words, pointing, and responding to simple instructions.	Monitor Closely Some areas need attention. Focus on daily reading, limiting screen time, and face-to-face interaction. If concerns persist by 18 months, consult your pediatrician.	Seek Evaluation Contact your pediatrician or early intervention. Red flags: no words by 15–18 months, not responding to name, limited pointing/gesturing, or frustration communicating.
18–24 Months	Typical Development Healthy progress: 20–50 words, occasional two-word phrases, follows simple instructions, understood by family most of the time.	Some Concerns Extra support may help. Narrate activities, read interactive books, allow time to respond. Evaluate if no progress in 2–3 months.	Professional Evaluation Recommended Schedule with a speech-language pathologist. Concerns: under 20 words at 24 months, no two-word combos, trouble following instructions, frequent breakdowns.
2–3 Years	On Track Age-appropriate: 200+ words, 2–3 word sentences, understood by strangers 50–75% of the time, joins simple conversations.	Watch and Support Provide language-rich experiences, expand words, ask open-ended questions. Evaluate if no improvement in 3 months.	Evaluation Needed Contact an SLP promptly. Red flags: very limited vocabulary, no sentences, hard to understand, significant social communication issues.
3–4 Years	Developing Well Strong skills: 1000+ words, 4–5 word sentences, clear speech understood by strangers, shares stories.	Some Areas of Concern Focus on storytelling, conversation about their day, and clear speech models. Seek help if difficulties persist despite support.	Professional Help Recommended Schedule full speech-language evaluation. Concerns: unclear speech, limited sentences, poor social communication, frustration expressing thoughts.
4–5 Years	Excellent Progress Strong communication, ready for school: clear speech, complex sentences, detailed conversations, follows multi-step instructions.	Pre-School Readiness Concerns Work on clear articulation, following directions, storytelling, and conversations. Evaluate to ensure school success.	Immediate Evaluation Recommended Professional support needed before school starts. Therapy can address communication issues impacting academics and social life.
5+ Years	School-Ready Communication Appropriate skills for school and social success. Keep supporting with reading, discussions, and varied activities.	Academic Impact Possible Some difficulties could affect learning, interactions, or confidence. Consider evaluation to address gaps.	Comprehensive Evaluation Essential Intervention strongly recommended. Untreated challenges may impact school performance, friendships, and emotional health.

Age Group

0–5 Points

6–15 Points

16–30 Points

12–18 Months

Typical Development

Your toddler is developing communication skills appropriately. Expect 5–20 words, pointing, and responding to simple instructions.

Monitor Closely

Some areas need attention. Focus on daily reading, limiting screen time, and face-to-face interaction. If concerns persist by 18 months, consult your pediatrician.

Seek Evaluation

Contact your pediatrician or early intervention.

Red flags: no words by 15–18 months, not responding to name, limited pointing/gesturing, or frustration communicating.

18–24 Months

Typical Development

Healthy progress: 20–50 words, occasional two-word phrases, follows simple instructions, understood by family most of the time.

Some Concerns

Extra support may help. Narrate activities, read interactive books, allow time to respond. Evaluate if no progress in 2–3 months.

Professional Evaluation Recommended

Schedule with a speech-language pathologist.

Concerns: under 20 words at 24 months, no two-word combos, trouble following instructions, frequent breakdowns.

2–3 Years

On Track

Age-appropriate: 200+ words, 2–3 word sentences, understood by strangers 50–75% of the time, joins simple conversations.

Watch and Support

Provide language-rich experiences, expand words, ask open-ended questions. Evaluate if no improvement in 3 months.

Evaluation Needed

Contact an SLP promptly.

Red flags: very limited vocabulary, no sentences, hard to understand, significant social communication issues.

3–4 Years

Developing Well

Strong skills: 1000+ words, 4–5 word sentences, clear speech understood by strangers, shares stories.

Some Areas of Concern

Focus on storytelling, conversation about their day, and clear speech models. Seek help if difficulties persist despite support.

Professional Help Recommended

Schedule full speech-language evaluation.

Concerns: unclear speech, limited sentences, poor social communication, frustration expressing thoughts.

4–5 Years

Excellent Progress

Strong communication, ready for school: clear speech, complex sentences, detailed conversations, follows multi-step instructions.

Pre-School Readiness Concerns

Work on clear articulation, following directions, storytelling, and conversations. Evaluate to ensure school success.

Immediate Evaluation Recommended

Professional support needed before school starts. Therapy can address communication issues impacting academics and social life.

5+ Years

School-Ready Communication

Appropriate skills for school and social success. Keep supporting with reading, discussions, and varied activities.

Academic Impact Possible

Some difficulties could affect learning, interactions, or confidence. Consider evaluation to address gaps.

Comprehensive Evaluation Essential

Intervention strongly recommended. Untreated challenges may impact school performance, friendships, and emotional health.

Next Steps

Regardless of your results:

Trust your parental instincts
Consult your pediatrician with any concerns
Early intervention is most effective
Many evaluations are available at no cost
Speech therapy can make a tremendous difference

Remember: This quiz is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Only qualified professionals can provide comprehensive evaluations and treatment recommendations.

Additional Resources for Parents

Downloadable milestone checklists: CDC’s Developmental Milestones
Fun at-home activities to boost language skills: Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development
Links to trusted websites and support groups: Speech Pathology & Audiology: Websites

Conclusion

Watching your child develop their voice is one of parenting’s most rewarding experiences, but it can also bring uncertainty and questions.

This quiz either reassured you that your little one is on track or highlighted areas that need attention, and you’ve taken an important step in supporting their communication path.

Remember that speech and language development isn’t a race. Some children bloom early with chatter that fills every quiet moment, while others take their time to find their words.

Ready to support your child’s communication success?

Download free milestone checklists and start implementing fun language activities today.

If concerns arose from your quiz results, don’t wait—reach out to your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist this week. Your child’s voice deserves to be heard.