Toddlers with delayed expressive language: An overview of the characteristics, risk factors and language outcomes

• Reviewing the factors that appear to contribute to the delayed onset and progression of late talkers.
• Examining family/parenting characteristics as well as individual linguistic characteristics of late talkers.
• Discussing the relation between expressive language delay and social-emotional development of late talkers.
• Summarizing language outcomes of late talkers at a later point in development and clinical practice guidelines.

“Late talkers” is a term used in the scientific field of atypical language development to describe toddlers who exhibit delay in expressive language skills, although they do have intact receptive skills. This article provides an overview of the literature on late talking toddlers. Specifically, it underscores the risk factors for late talking as well as the parenting and individual characteristics of this group of children. It also presents the association between expressive language delay and the behavioral and socio-emotional development of late talkers, and the language outcomes of late talking toddlers at a later point in development. Our review culminates with recommendations and intervention guidelines for clinicians.