If semi-verbal, also get the book "Takes Two to Talk". It is the next level up from "More than Words" with same publisher (both are focused towards speech therapy provided by parents and easy to read). These books were a LOT more helpful than speech therapy at $120/hour.

Speech therapy can start as early as 18 months. "Not ready" is nonsense. Get the book "more than words" if mostly non verbal and do it yourself. Also get another professional written opinion.

For those who do not make a lot of money, there is the medicaid buy-in which can serve as a secondary insurance. Unfortunately I make more than the income cap. Too poor to be rich and too rich to be poor, and these expenses for these therapies certainly do not leave a man rich..

More than Words and Takes Two to Talk DVDs were very helpful. We needed more than words first. It helps with social language. Takes Two to Talk is helping now that our son is hopefully closer to conversations.

I agree about More than Words and Takes Two to Talk! Very helpful.
We used the DVDs, which refer to the book, but still worked alone.