Is My Child Choosing Not to Talk? Let’s Talk About What Might Really Be Going On

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If your little one isn’t talking yet—or isn’t saying as much as you expected—it’s totally normal to have questions. You might be wondering, Is my child just being shy? Are they choosing not to talk? Should I be worried?

Here’s something I often share with families: When a child isn’t talking, it’s usually not because they’re choosing not to. More often, it’s a sign that they may need some extra support.

Children may be trying to communicate, but just don’t yet have the words. Others might rely on gestures or behaviors to get their needs met. Some kids feel overwhelmed during interactions, and others may have difficulty organizing their thoughts into speech. Whatever the reason, the key thing to know is that a child’s silence is not willful—they’re communicating in the best way they know how.

If you’ve been noticing delays or wondering whether your child is on track, I always recommend seeking support from a licensed speech-language pathologist. We’ll look at how your child is trying to communicate—whether it’s through gestures, sounds, eye contact, play, or words—and help you understand what it all means and how to best support their growth.

At Multimodal Communication Speech Clinic, we’re currently offering speech and language evaluations for families who want to better understand their child’s communication development. If you're interested, just fill out our intake paperwork to get started—we’ll walk alongside you every step of the way.

You’re not alone in this. And your child deserves every opportunity to feel heard and understood.