Know the Number to Watch and Your Next Step
An 18-month-old not talking yet is a real worry for Mission Viejo parents. Jill Dews, M.A., CCC-SLP, has evaluated South Orange County toddlers since founding Let’s Talk in 2002. She starts with a number you can check at home. By 18 months, 3 in 4 children try three or more words besides mama or dada. Under three words, Orange County families can request a free state evaluation. You’ll also see what Jill watches for when she plays with an 18-month-old.
The fear underneath the question is real. You worry about waiting too long during the years when language grows fastest. The first three years are the busiest stretch for learning language, according to the NIDCD. Guessing costs time you’d rather spend helping. A clear answer gives you a plan for the months ahead. You can read how Let’s Talk runs early intervention evaluations for toddlers in Mission Viejo.
What Counts as a Speech Delay at 18 Months?
A speech delay at 18 months usually means fewer than three words besides mama or dada. Also watch for missed one-step directions and no pointing to share interest. Lost words matter at any age. Any one of these signs is reason to ask your pediatrician for a screening.
- Says fewer than three words besides mama or dada
- Can’t follow a one-step direction like “Give it to me” without a gesture
- Doesn’t point to show you something interesting
- Won’t look at a few pages of a book with you
- Has lost words or skills he or she used to have
Source: CDC, Milestones by 18 Months, updated May 16, 2026.
One missed item doesn’t diagnose anything. Pediatricians recommend a developmental screening for every child at the 18-month well-child visit, the CDC reports. Bring this list and ask for the screening by name.
What If Your 18-Month-Old Understands Everything but Won’t Talk?
A toddler who understands well but says few words can still qualify for help in California. Since June 30, 2022, Early Start reviews understanding and talking separately. Strong understanding no longer hides a talking delay. A 25 percent delay in expressive communication alone can now meet the state eligibility line in California.
The change came from Senate Bill 188, which amended California Government Code Section 95014. Before it, the threshold sat at 33 percent across communication as a whole. Under the old rule, it might mask few words. Now a toddler who follows directions well but rarely speaks can still qualify for state services.
Source: California Department of Developmental Services, Early Start Eligibility Changes, July 27, 2022.
Jill’s evaluations look at understanding and talking as separate skills, too. If your child points and follows directions but says few words, write those moments down. Bring every word, sign, or sound. Those notes help an evaluator see the gap between what your child knows and says.
How Many Words Should an 18-Month-Old Say?
At 18 months, 3 in 4 children try three or more words besides mama or dada. The CDC sets each milestone at a skill 75 percent of children reach. So three words is a floor, not an average. Under three words, a closer look from a speech-language pathologist is worth your time.
| Source | What it says about words | What the number tells you |
| CDC, Milestones by 18 Months | Tries to say 3 or more words besides mama or dada by 18 months | A floor 75 percent of children reach |
| Mayo Clinic, Speech Milestones for Babies | Says as many as 10 to 15 words by the end of 18 months | A typical upper range |
| MedlinePlus, Toddler Development | Uses 2 to 3 words other than mama or dada at 12 to 15 months | The window when first words usually show up |
Sources: CDC, Milestones by 18 Months, updated May 16, 2026. Mayo Clinic, Language Development: Speech Milestones for Babies, February 19, 2025. MedlinePlus, Toddler Development, reviewed January 1, 2026.
These numbers disagree because they measure different things, and the difference changes your next move. The CDC number tells you when to act. A range tells you what’s common, so between three and fifteen words, keep tracking. Under three words, ask for an evaluation. For later ages, see speech milestones from babbling through age five.
How Do You Get a Free Speech Evaluation for a Toddler in Orange County?
The Regional Center of Orange County runs free Early Start evaluations for children under 3. Anyone can make the referral, including you, so you don’t need a doctor’s note. Call its Early Start intake line at (714) 796-5354. The program has 45 days from referral to evaluate your child and plan services.
Sources: California Department of Developmental Services, Early Start FAQ, December 2025. California Department of Developmental Services, Regional Center Early Start Intake list, accessed October 8, 2026.
A private evaluation is a second path, and you don’t have to pick one. Early Start decides eligibility for state services. A private speech-language pathologist can see your child without waiting on the state’s decision. Families in Arroyo Vista and across Mission Viejo can request both paths at the same time.
What Does Jill Watch for in an 18-Month-Old’s Play?
Jill watches six skills while she plays on the floor with your toddler. They are joint attention, play, gestures, thinking, following directions, and expressive language. Expressive language covers words, babbling, and sign. Those six areas show a fuller picture of an 18-month-old’s communication than a word count alone.
Joint attention means your child looks between you and a toy to share the moment. It shows whether your child is tuned in to communication. Gestures count too, like waving bye. A wave or a point is a toddler’s first way to say something.
Jill calls her practice play-based, therapist-led, and very systematic. Play keeps a toddler relaxed enough to show true skills, and structure turns the session into answers. Before opening Let’s Talk, she worked with families and teachers in Capistrano Unified School District.
What Can You Do at Home to Help Your 18-Month-Old Talk?
Narrate your day, add one word to your child’s words, and reread favorite books together every day. The CDC advises no screen time before age 2. Video calls with family are the exception. These habits support talking while you wait, alongside an evaluation and never in its place.
- Add one word to your child’s word, so “dog” becomes “big dog”
- Face your child at eye level so they can watch your mouth move
- Name body parts at bath time, like “Here’s your nose, here’s my nose”
- Blow bubbles and say “pop” each time one bursts
- Narrate a stroller loop at Granada Park with “Big tree. Fast dog. Up the hill.”
Source: CDC, Milestones by 18 Months, tips and activities, updated May 16, 2026.
The Let’s Talk Early Intervention App adds guided activities for toddlers 12 to 36 months. Jill built it from the tools she uses in the clinic. Use it between visits to keep practice steady.
How Do You Get a Clear Answer About Your Toddler’s Talking?
Jill Dews, M.A., CCC-SLP, founded Let’s Talk Speech and Language Therapy in 2002. She holds California License SP12461. For 24 years she has served Mission Viejo families, from Pacific Hills to Melrose. An evaluation gives you a clear plan. You stop guessing and start each day knowing what to practice, though every child’s progress is different.
Call (949) 218-0508 or request an evaluation online. Jill sees families at the office off Crown Valley Parkway, near The Shops at Mission Viejo. Not ready to book an evaluation yet? Bring the checklist above to your next well-child visit and ask for a screening.
What Else Do Parents Ask About 18-Month-Olds and Talking?
Why does my 18-month-old not talk?
Late talking has more than one cause. Some toddlers are simply late talkers, and others have a language disorder. Hearing loss can be the reason too, so a hearing test is often part of the evaluation. The NIDCD notes a hearing problem can affect speech and language development. Mention any ear infections at the visit.
Is it autism or a speech delay?
A speech delay alone doesn’t mean autism, and no home checklist can sort the two apart. Pediatricians recommend autism screening for every child at 18 and 24 months. Many screeners ask about social signs, like pointing or looking between you and a toy. If words lag but those social signs are strong, tell the evaluator. It shapes what the team checks next.
What are the red flags at 18 months?
Red flags at 18 months reach past words. You should talk with your child’s provider if your toddler isn’t walking by 18 months. The same guide lists looking for help when stuck as an 18-month skill. Scribbling, finger feeding, and copying chores like sweeping sit on the CDC’s 18-month list too. Write down what you see at home so the doctor gets specifics instead of a vague worry.
Can an 18-month-old count to 10?
Counting to 10 is not an 18-month milestone, so don’t worry if your toddler can’t yet. It appears nowhere on the CDC’s checklist. Still, one trusted health system lists counting with your child as an everyday way to build talking. Count stairs, snacks, or toy cars out loud. Treat numbers as play during your day, never as a test your toddler has to pass.
