Child Language Development
| Approximate Age
|
Expressive Language
|
Auditory Comprehension
|
| 2 to 4 months
|
Verbal play through cooing, gooing and laughing. Vowel sounds
heard such as ooohh, eee, and ahhh.
|
Turns head toward sounds and can begin to discriminate one sound
from another.
|
| 4 to 8 months
|
Babbling begins. Some Consonant sounds can be heard.
|
Anticipates an event (e.g. peek-a-boo) and follows a line of
regard (e.g. visually follows toy moving across floor) as well as joint
attention (i.e. is capable of visually attending to object with caregiver).
|
| 8 to 12 months
|
Syllable variation (e.g. badugatadudah). First word approximations
(e.g. dada for daddy). Non-verbal communication. Jargon (i.e. unintelligible
speech) is present.
|
Relates words with physical objects (e.g. understands that the
word “ball” actually means the object ball). Responds to simple phrases such as
“no”.
|
| 1 to 2 years
|
10-15 words at 18 months, 40-50 words at 24 months. Uses mostly
nouns and pronoun me/mine. Jargon (i.e. unintelligible speech) still present.
|
Increased attention to toys. Changes behavior in response to
comments made to him/her. Knows a few simple commands with gestures needed at
times. Understands simple questions. Points to simple pictures.
|
| 2 to 3 years
|
150 words at age 2; 300-400 at age 3 years. Uses two-three word
phrases frequently. Asks simple questions. Fluency can be poor. Jargon
(unintelligible speech) mostly gone. Vowel sounds intact.
|
Comprehension shows rapid increase. Responds to more 2 step
commands with prepositions (e.g. Pick up the ball and put it on the table).
|
| 3 to 4 years
|
Uses 600-1000 words and 3-4 word sentences. Pronouns and
adjectives are used as well as some adverbs, prepositions, past tense and
plurals. Answers what, where and when questions.
|
Understands 1500 words. Recognizes gender differences, plurals,
pronouns, adjectives, and colors.
|
| 4 to 5 years
|
Vocabulary increases to 1000-1600 words and 4-6 word sentences.
3-4 syllable words are being used. Articles appear. Uses more adjectives,
adverbs and conjunctions. Fluency improving.
|
Comprehends 1500-2000 words. Understands if, because, why and
when. Follows complex directions.
|
| 5 to 6 years
|
Vocabulary of 1500-2100 words. Uses complete 5-6 word sentences.
Fluent speech. Many multi-syllabic words are used.
|
Understands 2500-2800 words. Understands more complicated
sentences.
|
*It is important to note that this information depicts a general range of
development, and should only be used as a guide. If you have any concerns
regarding your child’s speech development, we recommend that you contact a
pediatrician or speech-language pathologist.
©2003 Talking Child™ http://www.talkingchild.com
