Real-Life Speech & Language Concerns Parents Ask About All the Time (And Why You’re Not Alone)

If you’ve ever found yourself lying awake at 2 AM Googling, “Is it normal that my child still can’t say that sound?"...hi, you’re in good company. I work with families every single day who are navigating the same questions, worries, and “I swear he said this yesterday but now he won’t say it again” moments.

Let’s walk through some of the most common real-life concerns parents bring to me, so you can feel a little less alone and a lot more supported.

“My child is SO frustrated because we can’t understand them.”

This one tugs at every parent’s heart. A lot of little ones know exactly what they want to say, their mouths just aren’t cooperating yet. When a child’s speech isn’t clear, it can lead to tantrums, shorter patience, and moments where they give up trying.

What you should know: Speech sound errors are super common, but when they get in the way of daily life, meeting basic wants and needs, talking to grandparents, sharing stories from school, it’s worth a deeper look.

“My toddler isn’t talking yet… or only says a few words.”

If you’ve ever compared your child to the extremely advanced toddler on Instagram who’s reciting the alphabet and naming every Paw Patrol character, please don’t. Every child develops differently.

But if your child is 18–24 months and you’re not seeing new words, gestures, or attempts to imitate sounds, that’s a sign to check in. The good news? Early support works wonders.

“They talk all day, but they’re not really using words to communicate.”

This is a biggie. Some little friends fill the room with sound, babbling, singing, scripts from TV shows, but they’re not using language to request, comment, or interact.

Parents often say things like:

• “He repeats everything but doesn’t answer questions.”

• “She knows tons of words but can’t tell me what she wants.”

• “He talks at us, not with us.”

T

hese are communication skills we can absolutely support with the right strategies.

“My child can’t follow directions.”

Before we jump to “They’re not listening,” we look at:

• attention skills

• language comprehension

• sensory needs

• whether the direction was developmentally appropriate (because “go upstairs, get the blue shirt from your drawer, and bring down your water bottle” is… a lot)

  
  

Kids who struggle with following directions often need help understanding language, not just hearing it.

“He used to say it… and now he doesn’t.”

Parents tell me this all the time.

Language isn’t always linear. Kids can lose words during growth spurts, illness, big life changes, or when new skills are emerging. But consistent loss of skills, or regression paired with other characteristics, is something you want assessed sooner rather than later.

“Other kids can understand each other. My child hangs back.”

Social communication takes so many skills working together:

• expressive language

• comprehension

• emotional regulation

• flexible thinking

• play skills

• confidence

  
  

When kids struggle here, they often end up on the outside looking in, not because they don’t want to join, but because they’re not sure how.

This is one of the most common concerns parents bring up, especially around preschool and early elementary.

“Teachers are saying he’s having a hard time in class.”

Parents share things like:

• trouble answering questions

• difficulty telling a story about their day

• challenges remembering multi-step directions

• unclear speech

• trouble with letter sounds or early reading skills

  
  

These school-based concerns often overlap with speech and language needs, and early support can make a huge difference in academics and confidence.

“I don’t know if this is normal or if I’m overthinking it.”

If I could bottle up one message and hand it to every parent, it would be this:

You’re not overreacting. You’re paying attention.

Speech and language skills are foundational for everything, friendships, problem-solving, confidence, learning, independence. Trusting your gut is a superpower.

And here’s the truth:You never have to wait for things to “get worse” or “catch up.”

A quick chat with a speech-language pathologist can give you clarity, a plan, and peace of mind, whether your child needs therapy, a few strategies to try at home, or just reassurance that you’re on the right track.

If something you read here sounds like your child… you’re in the right place.

I offer a free 15-minute phone consult where we walk through your questions, your child’s strengths, and what support might look like. No pressure, no judgment, just guidance and next steps.

You’re doing an amazing job. And you don’t have to figure this out alone!