4-6 Months

• Discriminates between angry and friendly tones or facial expressions, cries in response to an an angry voice or expression

ASL

• Begins to attend to signs with repetitions and exaggerated movements

• Begins to follow the eye gaze of the signer and movement with alertness

• Responds to changes in facial expressions

Spoken Language

• Localizes the sound source with a head or eye turn

• Occasionally responds to own name

• Usually stops crying in response to a voice

• Responds to changes in tone of voice

• Blows raspberries, coos, yells

• Uses non-verbal means to call attention to physical needs like toileting or hunger

• Uses non-verbal means to express personal reactions, like curiosity, surprise, or reluctance

• Smiles when a familiar person is present

• Begins to laugh when fingers approach to tickle

• Begins to express excitement and displeasure

ASL

• Hand babbling emerges- opens and closes hands, wiggles fingers, twist wrists

• Begins to copy physical movements involving the arms, hands, head and face

• Begins to turn head in response to a hand wave or tapping

Spoken Language

• Vocalizes for needs and wants in response to others

• Babbles with a variety of vocalization, vowels and consonants

• Tries to imitate sounds

• Engages in communicative play like peek-a-boo

• Begins to enjoy finger plays and games

• Imitates facial expressions

• Share joint attention

• Enjoys holding and cuddling

• Maintains eye contact

ASL

• Fixates on the face and hands for more than 10 seconds

• Uses hand babbling to gain attention

Spoken Language

• Produces different vocalizations for social reasons 

• Takes the initiative in vocalizing to engage with others

• Engages in vocal turn taking