Help! My toddler is not saying words they used to
If you’ve noticed your child reverting in their talking skills, or they are not saying words they used to, they are experiencing what speech therapists call a language regression.
Language Regression: Should I be worried?
Language regression happens when a child stops using a communication strategy (or strategies) they once had. This could mean they stopped saying a word or words they previously used often; or maybe they have gone from talking back to babbling again.
All children will experience language regression to some degree at some point in their development of communication. Some forms of language regression are expected and therefore there’s no need to rush to the pediatrician’s office.
Language regression can also be a characteristic of Autism. Please keep in mind, language regression is just one of many characteristics of Autism (*language regression alone does not qualify a child as having Autism). If you would like to learn more about common parent observations of young children with autism, download our free checklist below.
Keep reading to learn more about language regression in toddlers and when language regression may be a sign of Autism.
I’ve also included my YouTube video here which also explains the causes of language regression in case you’d prefer to listen!
Language regression as part of toddler development
As I mentioned previously, language regression or losing a particular communication skill(s) a child once had, is part of typical development and often not cause for concern.
If your child loses a particular skill for a few days or even a week or two, try your best not to panic!
Although it’s impossible not to worry, the best thing you can do is to act normal when you notice language regression! You don’t need to make a big deal about the lost skill or continually ask your child to do it. The skill is likely to come back on its own in a few days or weeks. For now, your job is to keep talking to your child, playing together, and having fun!
It’s a good idea to make a note in your phone of your observations or worries to refer back to. It can be surprisingly hard to keep track of the skills that come and go in our busy days and weeks, especially if you’re concerned about your child. So, having it written down will help you know for certain if it’s time to just keep playing it cool or to ask for help.
P.s. It’s never too early to ask for help if you’re concerned about your child's speech and language development (or anything else). Trust your instincts :)
Here are some examples of common language regression for toddlers that are short lived.
A child who was imitating sounds and words suddenly stopped repeating you.
A child who was using words to communicate reverts back to babbling and jargon (speaking in their own language).
A toddler who was using words to communicate reverts back to pointing to communicate their wants and needs.
A child who was outspoken suddenly becomes shy around less familiar people.
Now you might be wondering, “What causes language regression in toddler development?”
I am going to first explain some causes of short-lived language regression that will pass on their own. Then I will move on to talk about language regression as a characteristic of Autism. And finally, I will explain the difference between language regression and speech delay.
Here are some common causes of short lived language regression for toddlers:
Big life changes
Big life changes can often result in a short lived period of language regression where your toddler reverts back to more baby-like forms of communication. In a sense, your child is processing the change and once they’ve become more used to the new normal their language skills will re appear. Big life changes include a move, a new sibling, starting preschool, etc.
Illness
It’s quite common for children to revert back to older communication strategies when they aren’t feeling well. When they’re sick they don’t have extra energy to spare, so they default to the easy forms of communication for them (Can we blame them? Being sick is the worst!). Once your child is rested and recovered you can listen for their previous communication skills to reappear.
Bursts of development in other areas
Toddlers only have so much “developmental energy” they can use on any given day. It’s common for children who are dedicating a lot of their developmental energy to motor skills, like learning to climb or walk, to experience a short regression in their language skills. They have simply shifted their focus to another area of development momentarily and once they have mastered their new milestone, you can watch and listen for their previous language skills to reappear!
Language regression as a characteristic of autism
If your child experiences a language regression and you cannot pinpoint the cause (no major changes or illness) and you don’t see their old skills reappear in time, it’s a good idea to talk to your child’s pediatrician about your observations and concerns.
Their pediatrician will be able to help play detective to figure out what might be causing the language regression and who (developmental professionals) might be able to support you and your child best.
Because language regression is one characteristic of autism, your pediatrician may ask if you have observed other characteristics of autism in your child. Remember, language regression alone does not mean your child has autism.
If you’re curious to learn other common characteristics of autism observed by parents, download our free Characteristics of Autism Checklist here:
Autism Characteristics Checklist Download
“When is language regression a sign of Autism?”
Charlie just turned 20 months old. He loves playing with toy cars and chasing his dog around the house. When he was 15 months old he had started saying a handful of words, including Mama, Dada, milk, uh-oh, and woof to refer to his dog. He has always been an independent child and is happy playing by himself for long periods of time. Around the time he turned 18 months old his parents noticed that he wasn’t really using any of the words he had previously learned. He had begun pointing to things he wanted or doing whatever it took to get the things he wanted. He was even moving furniture and climbing to try to get things on his own. At 20 months, his words haven’t come back and his parents are worried, so they scheduled an appointment with his pediatrician so they can better understand how to continue supporting their son’s communication development because everything they have tried so far doesn’t seem to be helping.
Language regression is one characteristic of autism. When language regression occurs because of autism, children’s language skills do not reappear on their own.
Children with autism and their families benefit from the support of speech therapists and other developmental professionals to identify and use proven techniques to elicit old and new talking and language skills.
When language regression occurs as a characteristic of autism, it’s important to know that supporting other areas of development, such as play and sensory regulation, can have an impact on a child’s language learning by influencing their readiness to learn.
So how is language regression different from a speech or language delay? And how is that different from Autism?
Speech and language regression occurs when a child loses communication skills they once had. Whereas a language delay occurs when the skills have yet to be learned.
A child qualifies for a diagnosis of Autism when they meet several criteria; several characteristics must be present in order to qualify. For example…
Carla has learned to say 18 words by 15 months and she suddenly stopped saying half of those words. She would be experiencing a language regression.
But her twin sister Patricia hasn’t said any words by 15 months. She has begun imitating some words, but hasn’t said them yet on her own. Because she is saying less words than we would expect for her age, Patricia is experiencing a language delay.
Carla and Patricia’s toddler friend Avery is 3 months older than them. At 18 months her mom began to feel concerned about Avery’s language development. She had stopped saying all the words she once learned and didn’t seem interested in trying to say any new words. Plus, Avery was having a hard time switching between activities throughout the day, she showed a strong preference for doing things her way. She didn’t like it when Carla and Patricia tried to play beside her and would often move to the corner of the room where her toys were safe. Avery’s mom scheduled a developmental evaluation because she noticed several characteristics of Autism in her daughter and she wanted to find the best classes to support her daughter’s continued development.
If you are curious to learn more about how doctor’s decide if a child qualifies for a diagnosis of Autism, keep reading here.
Let’s review what we have learned about language regression.
Short lived language regression is a part of typical development. It often occurs as a result of life changes, illness, or periods of rapid development in other areas.
When language skills disappear without a clear cause and they don’t reappear within a short period of time, language regression may be a sign of autism.
Always consult your child’s pediatrician if you have concerns about language regression.
Here are some other questions parents often ask about language regression:
Suggested Next Reads:
© 2020-2023. Stephanie Keffer, MS CCC-SLP. All Rights Reserved.
The content offered on ToddlerTalk.com is for informational purposes only. Toddler Talk is not engaged in rendering professional advice, whether medical or otherwise, to individual users or their children or families. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor, speech language pathologist, or other health professional. By accessing the content on ToddlerTalk.com, you acknowledge and agree that you are accepting the responsibility for your child’s health and well-being. In return for providing you with information related to home speech and language practice, you waive any claims that you or your child may have as a result of utilizing the content on ToddlerTalk.com.