Development of Speech and Language
Every child develops at a different rate, but most go through the same stages. Listed below are the average ages of some important language and comprehension milestones as developed by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Please note that like with any developmental timeline, these stages may be quite varied and perhaps met in a different order. A child who accomplishes these milestones differently may not necessarily have a developmental delay or speech disorder (and a child who hits these stages early is not necessarily a prodigy!).
- birth to 3 months
- startles to loud sounds
- smiles when spoken to
- responds to pleasure with 'cooing' noises
- 4 months to 6 months
- notices and pays attention to sounds and music
- shifts eyes in direction of sounds
- makes babbling noises that resemble speech
- 7 months to 1 year
- recognizes basic familiar words such as cup or ball
- imitates different speech sounds
- produces first words such as bye-bye or mama
- 1 year to 2 years
- listens to simple stories
- identifies pictures by name when directed (point to the cow, e.g.)
- speaks two-word sentences such as more juice or where daddy?
- 2 years to 3 years
- understands differences in meaning for basic words (up-down or in-out)
- produces three-word sentences
- can name most objects
- 3 years to 4 years
- understands questions
- talks about events
- speech is understood by most people
- 4 years to 5 years
- pays attention and responds to stories and questions
- speaks clearly
- tells detailed, ordered stories
Problems can arise at any stage of development, as well as much later in life. They can be the result of a congenital defect, a developmental disorder, or an injury. If a problem is suspected, an assessment should be made by an SLP who can diagnose and treat communication disorders.
Read more about this topic: Speech And Language Pathology In School Settings
Famous quotes containing the words development of, development, speech and/or language:
“Other nations have tried to check ... the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.”
—John Louis O’Sullivan (1813–1895)
“Ultimately, it is the receiving of the child and hearing what he or she has to say that develops the child’s mind and personhood.... Parents who enter into a dialogue with their children, who draw out and respect their opinions, are more likely to have children whose intellectual and ethical development proceeds rapidly and surely.”
—Mary Field Belenky (20th century)
“One thinking it is right to speak all things, whether the word is fit for speech or unutterable.”
—Sophocles (497–406/5 B.C.)
“Consensus is usually made possible by vague language and shallow commitments.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)