Which developmental milestone typically indicates readiness for speech therapy intervention?

The milestone indicating readiness for speech therapy intervention is the failure to produce first words by 12-15 months. At this age, children typically begin to use their first words, reflecting their readiness to communicate verbally. The absence of spoken words by this age can be a significant indicator that a child may be experiencing delays in their speech and language development and could benefit from early intervention. Research highlights the critical nature of this period in language acquisition, emphasizing the importance of addressing speech development issues early to support a child's overall communication skills and social interaction.

Producing simple sentences by age 2, following simple directions by age 3, and asking questions by age 4 are all milestones that typically reflect the progression of language skills rather than indicating a need for intervention. While they are important developmental markers, they occur later in the timeline of speech development and do not signal the same immediate need for support that the absence of first words does.