Below is a list of speech/language milestones that may be used as a guide in determining when to seek out services.
4-6 months
- Babbling emerges; speech-like sounds are present (e.g., /m/, /p/, /b/)
- Child responds to changes in the tone of your voice
- Child begins to notice toys that make sounds
7-12 months
- Babbling consists of long and short groups of sounds
- Child imitates various speech sounds
- Emergence of first words with meaning (9-12+ months)
- Child turns and looks in direction of sounds and listens when spoken to
- Child begins to respond to requests (e.g., “come here” or “want more?”)
1-2 years
- Vocabulary is developing rapidly
- Child begins to put 2 words together (e.g., “more juice” “no car”)
- Child begins to use some 1-2 word questions (e.g., “where mommy?”)
- Child uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words
- Child is able to follow simple commands and understand simple questions
2-3 years
- Child uses 2-3 word phrases/sentences to comment and request
- Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time
- Child is able to follow two requests (e.g., “Get baby and put her in bed.”)
- Child uses sentences comprised of 4+ words Child understands simple “wh” (who, what, where, why) questions
3-4 years
- Child is understood by most unfamiliar listeners
- Child uses sentences comprised of 4+ words
- Child understands simple “wh” (who, what, where, why) questions
4-5 years
- Child is able to use detailed sentences (e.g., “I like to wear my pink Dora hat.”)
- Child is able to communicate easily with other children and adults
- Child produces most speech sounds correctly
- Child tells coherent simple stories
- Child pays attention to a short story and answers simple questions about it
What can you do if you are concerned about your child’s speech and language development?
Contact us for a comprehensive speech and language evaluation to see whether your child is communicating at age-appropriate expectations.
The information contained herein was made possible by
the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association.
