Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
In Los Angeles, you can get a free speech evaluation. Early Start helps if your child is under 3, and your public school district helps from age 3. Below you’ll find who to call, what happens next and simple ways to practice at home while you wait.
If something on this list worries you, you don’t need to wait and see. You can ask for a free evaluation right away.
An evaluation is a check of how your child talks and understands words. It usually happens through play, often with a speech therapist.
Early Start is California’s early intervention program for babies and toddlers up to 36 months. Los Angeles has several regional centers, so look up the one for your address and call it.
If you live in LAUSD, the district evaluates children from age 3, even before kindergarten. Ask its preschool team for a speech and language evaluation.
CHLA’s speech-language team evaluates and treats children’s speech and language. Contact CHLA to book a first evaluation.
These services are run independently of Speech Blubs.
Watch and respond together.Getting an appointment can take time. Speech Blubs gives you short activities to do together: your child watches other kids say words and make sounds, then tries too.
Pick a topic your child loves, like animals or snacks.
Watch together and pause. Give your child time to look, point or say a word.
Use the word later, at snack time or in a book.
AnaMom of a 2-year-oldIt's definitely one of my favorite apps right now for my little one.
ShannonMom of three autistic sonsIt's just really been a joy to see how much fun he has using the app.
NoelleMom, sister of a speech therapistMy sister is an SLP, and she actually told us to download this app for my kid.
KaterinaMom and educatorI started looking for something that was research-backed and supported by professionals.
LezlieMom of a toddlerHe looks forward to it every day because we get to take a fun picture.
MimiMomIt has so many different resources to help your child with their first words up to learning how to build sentences.
Father of a 23-month-oldWhen I tell her it's time to play her game, she runs and gets up on the couch to play.
LindsayMom of a 2-year-oldThey agreed that we could be doing some more practice at home.
ChristinaMom of EdenWe aren't completely there, but we're closer than we ever have been.
MikeDad of a toddlerGail responds really well to seeing kids his age or a little bit older doing things that he's doing.
If your child sees a therapist, ask which activities fit.
The app content is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Czech, Swedish, Polish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Lithuanian and Romanian. You can switch the language in the app menu. Read the language FAQ.
Use a walk, a book, or a snack as a reason to talk together. Follow what interests your child.
A Sherman Oaks recreation center with a children’s play area, picnic tables and a jogging path. 14201 Huston Street, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.
Name something your child notices with a short phrase, such as “big tree.” Pause for their response.
A Los Angeles Public Library branch in Sherman Oaks. Let your child pick a picture book to take home. 14245 Moorpark Street, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.
Choose a picture your child likes and talk about it together. Connect it to a toy at home.
Offer two familiar toys or foods and name each one. Give your child time to respond. Follow a look, gesture, sound, or word.
Opening hours change, so check the website before you go.
Short answers about free help, costs and the app.
The evaluation is free: through Early Start under age 3, or through your public school district from age 3. School speech services are free if your child qualifies. Early Start therapy may be billed to Medi-Cal or your health insurance. Find free help.
Medi-Cal covers medically necessary speech therapy for children. Private plans differ, so call the number on your insurance card and ask about pediatric speech therapy. Find free help.
Not for Early Start or the school district: you can contact them yourself. Medi-Cal and many insurance plans may ask for a referral from your child’s doctor. Find free help.
Many 2-year-olds put two words together, like “more milk.” If your child doesn’t yet, it’s a good time to ask Early Start for a free evaluation. You don’t need to wait and see. Find free help.
No. It gives you short activities to practice together at home. A speech therapist evaluates your child and plans the therapy. See how the app works.
Speech Blubs is available in English and Spanish, plus 11 more languages. You can switch the language in the app menu. See how the app works.
Speech Blubs is a subscription. You’ll see the current price and any trial in the quiz before you pay. Choose your child’s age.
Start with the quiz to learn about the app for your child.
In Los Angeles, your child can get a free speech evaluation through Early Start or your school district. Library books and playground visits give you easy chances to talk together every day.
If your child is under 3, start with Early Start. Regional centers run Early Start in California. Los Angeles County has several, and yours depends on your home address. Look up your center, then call and say you are worried about your child’s speech. You don’t need a doctor’s note, and the evaluation is free.
From age 3, your public school district does the free evaluation. In LAUSD, a preschool team handles evaluations for children before kindergarten. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles also has a speech therapy team if you would like a hospital clinic.
Los Angeles Public Library has branches in Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Silver Lake and Westwood. There are also branches in Woodland Hills, Los Feliz and Atwater Village. Encino families can use the Encino–Tarzana branch in Tarzana. Pick the branch that fits easily into your week.
A short visit works well with a toddler. Choose one book, read a few pages together and take it home. Reading the same book many times is fine. Children often start to join in once they know the words.
Griffith Park is very big, so choose one spot, like the Park Center, for a visit with a little one. Smaller places, like North Atwater Park or a neighborhood recreation center, fit easily into a busy day.
Talk about what you see: a dog, a swing, a bird. Say two words, like “big dog,” then wait for your child to answer.
We last checked these details in October 2026.
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