Raising a child with two languages does not cause speech or language disorders, and bilingualism is not a reason a child would need speech therapy. This is the single most important thing for parents to understand, because the worry that “too many languages” is confusing a child is one of the most common – and most mistaken – concerns I hear after 27 years of pediatric speech therapy. A bilingual child can absolutely have a speech or language disorder, but if they do, it shows up in both languages, and the bilingualism is not the cause.
On the Treasure Coast, where many families in Indian River County and across Vero Beach, Sebastian, and Fort Pierce speak more than one language at home, this question matters. More than 22 percent of people in the United States speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023), so bilingual development is a normal and growing part of how children grow up.
Does bilingualism cause speech delays?
No. Decades of research and the position of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association are clear that learning two languages does not cause language disorders or delays (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association). Children’s brains are fully capable of acquiring two languages, and bilingual children reach core communication milestones, such as first words and word combinations, within the same general ranges as monolingual children.
What can look like a delay is often normal bilingual development. A bilingual child’s vocabulary may be distributed across two languages, so counting words in only one language can underestimate what the child actually knows. When you count concepts the child can express in either language, bilingual children are right on track. Understanding that distinction prevents a lot of unnecessary worry.
What is normal in bilingual language development?
Several patterns are completely typical and are not signs of a problem. Code-switching, or mixing two languages in the same sentence, is a normal and even sophisticated feature of bilingual speech, not a sign of confusion. A silent period, where a child learning a second language listens before speaking, is also common and expected. And one language often being stronger than the other, usually the one used most, is normal and shifts over time with exposure.
It helps to look at the whole communication picture rather than one language in isolation. A child who is gesturing, understanding, following routines, and connecting with people is communicating well, even if their English vocabulary is still catching up. Everyday talk in whichever language feels natural to your family is the foundation, and simple strategies that support clearer speech at home apply to bilingual children just as they do to any child.
When should a parent be concerned?
A true speech or language disorder shows up across both of a child’s languages, not just the newer or weaker one. That is the key sign. If a child is struggling in their home language as well as in English, that pattern deserves attention, because it cannot be explained by still learning a second language.
Warning signs that warrant an evaluation, regardless of how many languages a child speaks, include very few words by 18 to 24 months, not combining words by around age two, speech that is hard for family to understand at ages when it should be clearer, limited understanding of what is said, or a loss of skills the child previously had. The number of languages is not the issue; difficulty in all of them is. When in doubt, an evaluation by a speech-language pathologist can sort typical bilingual development from a genuine concern.
How is a bilingual child evaluated and supported?
A proper evaluation considers all of a child’s languages, because assessing only English can wrongly suggest a disorder in a child who is simply still learning it. Best practice, as outlined by ASHA, is to gather information about how the child communicates in each language, often with input from the family, so the assessment reflects the child’s true abilities rather than just their English exposure.
When therapy is appropriate, it is built around the child’s real linguistic world. Families should never be told to drop the home language, because the home language is central to a child’s relationships, identity, and overall development, and abandoning it does not help English. Instead, good therapy supports communication in a way that respects the family’s languages. In our practice, we partner with parents to strengthen the child’s communication while keeping the home language a valued part of daily life.
Frequently asked questions
Will raising my child bilingual confuse them or delay their speech?
No. Research and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association agree that bilingualism does not cause speech or language delays. Bilingual children reach communication milestones within the same general ranges as other children, and mixing languages or favoring one is normal development, not confusion.
My bilingual child mixes both languages in one sentence. Is that a problem?
No. Mixing languages, called code-switching, is a normal and skilled feature of bilingual communication, not a sign of difficulty. It typically reflects a child drawing on everything they know to communicate, and it tends to settle as the child’s languages develop.
How do I know if my bilingual child has a real speech problem?
The clearest sign is difficulty that appears in both languages, not just the one the child is still learning. If a child struggles in their home language as well as in English, an evaluation is warranted. A speech-language pathologist can distinguish typical bilingual development from a genuine disorder.
Should we stop speaking our home language to help my child learn English?
No. Dropping the home language does not improve English and can harm a child’s relationships, identity, and overall language foundation. The home language is an asset. Good therapy supports a child’s communication while keeping the home language a valued part of daily life.
Can my child receive speech therapy if we are a bilingual family?
Yes. Speech therapy can support bilingual children effectively, with an evaluation that considers all of the child’s languages and a plan that respects the family’s linguistic world. The goal is stronger communication overall, not choosing one language over another.
Talk with us about your child’s communication
If you are unsure whether your bilingual child’s speech is developing typically or could use support, you do not have to guess. Vero Speech Therapy evaluates and supports children with their full language picture in mind, partnering with Treasure Coast families to build strong communication while honoring the languages of home. Contact Vero Speech Therapy to talk about your child’s development.
About the author
Pamela Cerrato, MA, CCC-SLP, is a certified speech-language pathologist with more than 27 years of experience in pediatric speech therapy. She is dedicated to partnering with families so that every child, in every language they speak, can communicate with confidence.
