LANGUAGE

Language is a complex skill that begins to develop immediately after birth. The outline below highlights a general summary of the developmental sequence of language in normally developing children.

Click here to access some language strategies you can try at home!

 0-6 MONTHS

• Repeats same sounds

• Coos, gurgles

• Different cries to express moods

• Smiles when spoken to

• Recognizes voices

• Listens to speech

• Uses /p,b,m/ in babbling

• Uses sounds and gestures to indicate wishes.

7-12 MONTHS

• Understands No

• Responds to simple requests

• Understands and reacts to own name

• Listens and imitates sounds

• Recognizes words for common items

• Babbles-using a variety of sounds

• Uses song-like intonation when babbling

• Uses speech sounds to get attention

• Listens when spoken to

• Uses sound approximations

• Uses nouns

• Has expressive vocabulary of 1-3 words

• Understands simple commands

 13-18 MONTHS

• Uses adult like intonation

• Uses echolalia and jargon

• Produces mostly unintelligible speech

• Follows simple commands

• Identifies 1-3 body parts

• Has expressive vocabulary of 3-20 words

• Uses both gestures and vocalizations

• Asks for wanted items

 19-24 MONTHS

• Uses words more frequently

• Has expressive vocabulary of 50-100 words

• Has receptive vocabulary of 300 or more words

• Starts to use noun-verb phrases

• Starts to use pronouns

• Is approximately 25-50% intelligible to strangers

• Answers “what’s that?” questions

• Enjoys listening to stories

• Knows 5 body parts

• Able to name some familiar objects

 2-3 YEARS

• Speech is 50-75% intelligible

• Understands “one” and “all”

• Requests items by name

• Points to pictures in books when named

• Identifies many body parts

• Follows simple commands and answers simple questions

• Likes to listen to stories, songs, and rhymes

• Asks 1-2 word questions

• Uses 3-4 word phrases

• Uses some prepositions, articles, verbs

• Has receptive vocabulary of 500-900 words

• Has expressive vocabulary of 50-250 words

• Demonstrates multiple grammatical errors

• Understands most things said to him/her

• Frequently repeats first syllables of words

• Speaks loudly

• Consistently uses initial consonant of words

• Frequently omits medial consonants

• Often omits medial consonant

3-4 YEARS

• Has 1200-2000 or more word receptive vocabulary

• Has 800-1500 or more word expressive vocabulary

• Often repeats self

• Talks fast

• Whispers

• Masters 50% of consonants and blends

• Speech is 80% intelligible

• Grammar improving, though still some errors

• Uses is, am and are appropriately in sentences

• Tells 2 events in chronological order

• Engages in long conversations

• Uses some contractions, irregular plurals, future tense verbs and conjunctions

• Consistently uses regular plurals, possessives, and simple past tense verbs

• Understands object function

• Understands meanings of words ex: stop-go, in-out

• Follows 2-3 step directions

• Asks and answers simple questions

• Expresses emotion

• Uses 4-6 word sentences

• Identifies objects by name

• Manipulates peers and adults  

 4-5 YEARS

• Understands number concepts to 3

• Speaks at a rate of approximately 186 words per minute

• Minimal repetitions

• Likes rhymes

• Produces consonants with 90% accuracy

• Significantly reduces the number of sound omissions and substitutions

• Omits medial consonants

• Speech is intelligible to strangers

• Talks about experiences at school, with friends

• Repeats long stories accurately

• Pays attention to stories and can answer simple questions

• Uses some irregular plurals, possessive pronouns, future tense, reflexive pronouns

• Understanding spatial concepts

• Recognizes 1-3 colors

• Receptive vocabulary of 2,800 or more words

• Counts to 10

• Listens to short stories

• Answers function questions

• Uses grammatically correct sentences

• Has expressive vocabulary of 900-2,000 words

• Uses 4-8 word sentences

• Answers complex 2- part questions

 5-6 YEARS

• Names 6 basic colors and 3 shapes

• Follows directions given to group

• Follows 3-part directions

• Asks “how” questions

• Uses past tense and future tense appropriately

• Uses conjunctions

• Has a receptive vocabulary of approximately 13,000 words

• Names opposites

• Names days of the week in sequential order

• Counts to 30

• Increases vocabulary rapidly

• Exchanges information and asks questions

• Uses details in sentences

• Retells stories accurately

• Sings songs and recites nursery rhymes

• Communicates comfortably with adults and children

• Uses grammar appropriately most of the time

 6-7 YEARS

• Names letters, numbers and money

• Sequences numbers

• Understands left and right

• Increases complex descriptions of objects

Acquisition of sounds is developmental. The chart to the right shows what age children should be correctly saying consonant sounds. Vowel sounds are currently considered intact by age three.

* Click the image to enlarge to view developmental sounds*

Factors that play into articulation progress:

• Oral motor capabilities (the way our tongue, teeth, and lips move to coordinate speech sounds.)

• Motivation/attitude

• Daily rehearsal/practice

• Parental involvement/support

http://www.avoncsd.org/webpages/mdonlon/photos/1998611/3sound%20acquisition.jpg