Speech Delay in Bilingual & Multilingual Children: What Parents Should Know
Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
Raising a bilingual child does not cause a speech delay. This is one of the biggest myths in early childhood. Bilingual children (who speak two languages) hit the same milestones at the same ages as monolingual kids (who speak one language)—as long as you count words across both languages, not just English. If your bilingual toddler seems behind in English, they may still be right on track overall. In this article, we cover what’s typical for bilingual kids, how to spot a real speech delay, and how to find bilingual speech therapy.
Key takeaways
Bilingualism, or the ability to communicate in two languages, does not cause speech delay. Research shows bilingual kids reach milestones at the same ages as monolingual kids when you count words in both languages.
Bilingual kids may know fewer words in each single language. But their total vocabulary across both languages is close to what monolingual kids have.
The signs of a real speech delay in a bilingual child are the same as in a monolingual child: fewer than 50 total words by age 2, no two-word phrases by 24 months, or trouble understanding either language.
If your child is evaluated for speech therapy, ask for a bilingual speech therapist (or one who tests in your child's stronger language, not just English). Testing in English alone can lead to a mistaken diagnosis of speech delay.
Keep using both languages at home. Dropping one language does not help a speech delay. It can hurt the bond between parent and child and cut off cultural ties.
Curious or concerned?
Our free screener is tailored by age and covers all areas of speech, language, and feeding. Find out if your child might need speech therapy.
Screener for childrenDoes bilingualism cause speech delay?
No. Bilingualism, or the ability to speak two languages, does not cause speech delay. This is one of the most stubborn myths in speech-language pathology. Decades of peer-reviewed research—including guidance from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association—shows bilingual kids hit the same speech and language milestones at the same ages as monolingual kids when you count both languages.
In other words, a bilingual 2-year-old who knows 30 words in English and 25 in Spanish (55 total) is on the same track as a monolingual 2-year-old with 55 English words. The myth sticks around because well-meaning doctors and family members sometimes count only the words in the majority language. That makes bilingual kids look like they’re behind when they aren’t. There is also a mistaken belief that bilingual children are prone to confusion—that their vocabulary development is split between two languages, and they don't fully understand when or how to use each language.
According to Kimberly Meschede, M.S., CCC-SLP, who is a bilingual speech therapist with Expressable, “If a child experiences a speech or language delay, it will be evident in both languages, but it's not a result of acquiring two languages. Blending two languages in communication does not mean the child is confused. In fact, blending two languages is a sign of cognitive flexibility!”
How to measure speech milestones in a bilingual child
The way to measure milestones in a child who speaks more than one language is called total conceptual vocabulary. You count how many concepts your child can label, no matter which language they use. If your child says "agua" for water but not the word "water," that still counts as one concept. Here is the simple framework:
List every word your child uses in each language.
For each concept (like “water”), count it once, even if your child uses different words for it in different languages.
Add up the total number of unique concepts your child can express.
Compare that total to age-expected milestones (such as 50 words by age 2, or 200+ words by age 3).
Example: Your 2-year-old says these words: mama, dada, agua, leche, more, ball, dog, gato, hola, bye, up, no, mine, cookie, papa, book, car, cat, pelota, gracias. That is 20 unique concepts (some Spanish, some English)—a bit below the 50-word mark. What matters is the total, not just the English count.
Signs of a real speech delay in a bilingual child
A speech delay in a bilingual child has the same signs as in a monolingual child. You are just looking at the total across both languages. Red flags by age:
By 18 months
Fewer than 10 total words across both languages
Not copying sounds or gestures in either language
Not using pointing, waving, or other gestures to communicate
By 24 months (2 years)
Not putting two words together in either language (like “more milk”)
Trouble following simple directions in the stronger language
By 36 months (3 years)
Fewer than 200 total words across both languages
Not using simple 3- to 4-word sentences in either language
Family members understand your child less than half the time in the stronger language
A note on the “silent period”: Some bilingual children go through a short silent period (often 1 to 6 months) when they are first around a new second language. This is normal. It is not a speech delay. The child is soaking in the new language before they start to use it.
“The biggest myth I hear is that raising a child bilingually ‘confuses’ them. It does not,” Meschede says. “In fact, bilingualism has been shown to have many cognitive benefits. This is true for both typically developing children and children with speech or language delays. The benefits of bilingualism are very well established in the research literature. If someone tells you to ‘drop one language,’ get a second opinion from a bilingual speech therapist.”
What causes speech delay in bilingual children?
The causes are the same as in monolingual kids. Common causes of speech delay include:
Hearing loss (including from repeated ear infections)
Autism spectrum disorder
Oral-motor issues (like childhood apraxia of speech)
Developmental language disorder
Not enough language exposure in either language
Neurological conditions
For a full breakdown of these causes, see our guide on causes of speech delay.
Speech delays can happen for many reasons. Learn the most common causes, when to seek help, and how speech therapy can support your child.
How to support your bilingual child's speech development
The best thing you can do is keep talking to your child in both languages every day. Common approaches include:
One Parent, One Language (OPOL): Each parent speaks only their native language to the child.
Minority Language at Home (mL@H): The family speaks the minority language at home and the majority language at school and in the community.
Time and Place (T&P): Use one language at certain times (like Spanish at dinner) or in certain places (like English at the park).
“None of these is the single best way. Pick what fits your family,” Meschede suggests. “What matters most is consistency and how much your child hears each language. Read books, sing songs, and talk about your daily routines in both languages.”
Don’t worry when your child code-switches (mixes two languages in one sentence). That’s a normal sign of typical bilingual development, not confusion. Code-switching is important for multicultural identity and connecting with family and community members from different backgrounds. “It’s actually a language skill, not a language weakness, since bilingual speakers use multiple languages in intentional ways,” Meschede notes.
Help your child make faster progress with 15 easy speech therapy exercises to use at home—proven tips from speech therapists for toddlers and kids.
Bilingual speech therapy for children with speech delay
If you think your child has a speech delay, ask for an evaluation from a speech-language pathologist, also known as a speech therapist. Two things to ask:
Can the speech therapist evaluate my child in both languages? If not, will they use a medically trained interpreter?
Will therapy sessions use my child’s home language too, not just English?
Testing in English alone can badly over-diagnose speech delay in bilingual kids. A child who talks fluently in their home language but hasn’t learned English yet will look “delayed” when they are really developing normally. For timing on when to seek an evaluation, see our guide on when to get speech therapy for a speech delay.
Important: If a speech therapist tells you to drop one language to “focus on English,” get a second opinion. Modern evidence-based practice supports keeping both languages during speech therapy. Dropping the home language hurts the parent-child bond and cultural ties, and it doesn’t speed up speech.
Find the right speech therapist for your child
We'll match you with a licensed speech therapist who's experienced in your child's needs and available when you are.
Get startedBilingual vs. monolingual milestones by age
12 months
Monolingual milestone: First word (e.g., "mama")
Bilingual milestone: First word in either language
18 months
Monolingual milestone: Uses 10-20 words; points; follows 1-step directions
Bilingual milestone: Uses 10-20 total words across both languages; points; follows 1-step directions
2 years
Monolingual milestone: Uses 50+ words and 2-word phrases
Bilingual milestone: Uses 50+ total words across both languages and 2-word phrases in either language (may code-switch)
3 years
Monolingual milestone: Uses 200+ words; speaks in 3-4 word sentences
Bilingual milestone: Uses 200+ total words across both languages; speaks in sentences in dominant language; may still be learning second language
Find bilingual speech therapy for your child
With bilingual speech therapists and interpreter services, Expressable works with families in more than 40 languages. If you’re worried about your bilingual child’s speech, contact Expressable to get matched with a speech therapist who has experience with bilingual families.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
No. Decades of research show bilingual kids hit milestones at the same ages as monolingual kids when you count both languages. The myth sticks around because doctors sometimes count only the words in the majority language, and some people believe teaching kids two languages will confuse them.
No. Dropping a language does not speed up speech, and it often hurts the parent-child bond and cultural ties. Modern speech therapy for bilingual kids uses both languages.
Ask your pediatrician or search ASHA's ProFind directory. If a bilingual speech therapist isn’t available near you, look for one who uses validated bilingual tests and can work with a bilingual family member or interpreter during sessions. Or consider online speech therapy, where you have access to therapists from across your state, not just in your local area.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
