SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

Every child develops at his/her own rate. The information below outlines the ages at which most children will reach language milestones. Please contact our speech-language pathologists for additional information.

Birth to 3 months

  • The child makes cooing sounds
  • The child has different cries for different needs
  • The child smiles at you
  • The child is startled due to loud sounds
  • The child is soothed/calmed by a familiar voice
4 to 6 months

  • The child babbles and makes different sounds
  • The child makes sounds back to you when you talk
  • The child enjoys games like peek-a-boo
  • The child turn his/her eyes toward a sound source
  • The child responds to music or toys that make noise
7 to12 months

  • The child should wave hi/bye
  • The child responds to his/her name
  • The child lets you know what he/she wants using sounds, and actions like pointing
  • The child begins to follow simple directions ( e.g., Where is your nose?)
  • The child localizes sound by turning his/her head toward the sound
  • The child pays attention when spoken to
By 12 to 18 months

  • The child should use common words and start to put words together
  • The child enjoys listening to storybooks
  • The child points to body parts or pictures in a book when asked
  • The child looks at your face when talking to you
By 18 to 24 months

  • The child understands more words than he/she can say
  • The child says two words frequently (e.g., More juice)
  • The child asks simple questions (e.g., What’s that?)
  • The child takes turns in a conversation
2 to 3 years

  • The child should use sentences of three or more words most of the time
  • The child understands different concepts (e.g., in-on; up-down)
  • The child follows two-part directions (e.g., take the book and put it on the table)
  • The child answers simple questions (e.g., Where is the car?)
  • The child participates in short conversations
3 to 4 years

  • The child should tell a short story or talk about daily activities
  • The child talks in sentences with adult-like grammar
  • The child generally speaks clearly so people understand him/her
  • The child hears you when you call to them from another room
  • The child listens to the television at the same volume as others
  • The child answers a variety of questions
4 to 5 years

  • The child should tell a short story or talk about daily activities
  • The child talks in sentences with adult-like grammar
  • The child generally speaks clearly so people understand him/her
  • The child hears you when you call to them from another room
  • The child listens to the television at the same volume as others
  • The child answers a variety of questions