My child used words and then lost them. What now?

Reviewed by Dr. Daniel Quiñones Meléndez, PhD, M.S., CCC-SLP · 24 years of clinical practice · Doctoral research on training parents and educators

Watching words disappear is one of the most frightening things a parent can experience, so let's be direct: losing language — often between 15 and 30 months — is a recognized pattern, frequently associated with autism, and it deserves prompt professional attention. Not panic. Action. Children whose families move quickly tend to do better, because the brain you're teaching is at its most flexible right now.

This week: evaluations, starting with hearing

Book three things: a hearing test (always rule this out first), a developmental evaluation, and a speech-language evaluation. While you wait for appointments, write down what remains — sounds, gestures, looks, the words that came and went, roughly when the change happened. That record is gold for the clinicians. And ignore anyone who says 'boys talk late, he'll catch up' — late talking and losing words are different things, and the second one is never a wait-and-see.

Meanwhile at home: become irresistible to communicate with

Every attempt at communication — a sound, a gesture, a glance — gets an enthusiastic response, instantly. Place favorite things in sight but out of reach so there are reasons to communicate. Imitate your child's sounds and play; being copied is magnetic. Keep your own language short and clear. None of this replaces evaluation and intervention — but it keeps the communication channel warm while help arrives, and it's exactly the kind of structured home work that pays off most.

This article is educational and does not replace an individual evaluation. If you are concerned about your child's development, talk to a qualified clinician.