Do boys really talk later than girls?

Do boys talk later than girls? Yes, but the answer’s complicated ...

Research shows that girls tend to be at the earlier end of the normal range for when children acquire certain language milestones, while boys tend to be at the later end of the same range.

This is true for ...

• the number of words they say

• the number of words they understand

• how complex their sentences are and ...

• how long their sentences are

However, boys are not actually delayed in their language development. They’re just a little behind girls - by a few months.

Researchers suspect this is for one of two reasons:

• Girls mature sooner than boys and the part of their brain devoted to language development specializes sooner.

• Girls elicit more conversation than boys around them.

These differences even out within a few months.

So, if your young son is lagging in their speech and language milestones, don’t assume that it’s because he’s a boy and that it’s perfectly normal.

Reach out to your pediatrician, a speech-language pathologist, or your area early intervention program for support.

Click here to find the contact information for your state’s early intervention program.