In adjusting the eligibility criteria for speech only children
in Early Intervention, the New York State Health Department
frequently stated that “late talkers were a variation of normal
development.” The more stringent eligibility was intended to
decrease services to “late talkers” because it believed that
these children would catch up to their peers over time. The
following information reflects research and resources compiled
by Michelle MacRoy-Higgins, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor,
Communication Sciences Program, Hunter College-CUNY, who has
researched the topic of late talkers and presented at the 2010
ASHA convention on the topic. Who are Late Talkers? The late
talkers reflect 15% of the toddler population and are identified
around two years of age when children produce fewer than 50
words and do not combine words. The late talker also has normal
hearing, cognitive, sensory and motor development. A typical
child at two years of age would be using over 300 words and
putting together 2-4 word senten