Typical Speech and Language Development

Two questions parents frequently ask are, “Is my child behind in his speech development?” and “When do I need to do to get help for my child?”  Although speech and language skills can vary widely from one child to another there are specific guidelines regarding typical development and when it may be time to get some help for your child.

Typical Developmental Milestones

1 Year Old:

  • Understands a variety of words
  • Expressive vocabulary of 3-20 words by 18 months
  • Expressive vocabulary of 50 words by second birthday

2 Years Old:

  • Expressive vocabulary of 200 words
  • Combining two-three words together in phrases (i.e. more juice)
  • Beginning to use simple grammar (verb + ing as in eating, running), (plurals)
  • Others can understand 70% of child’s speech

2 1/2 Year Old:

  • Expressive vocabulary of 500 words
  • Can ask simple questions (i.e. What’s that?)
  • Uses pronouns “I, me, my, you”
  • Understands concepts “in/on/under”, “big/little”

3 Years Old:

  • Expressive vocabulary of 800 words
  • Combining 4-6 words in phrases or sentences
  • Follows directions involving 2-3 objects (i.e. Get your coat and shoes)
  • Can answer simple questions (i.e. What do you do when you are tired?)
  • Others can understand most of child’s speech
  • Uses compound sentences with “and”
  • Beginning to ask questions (mostly “what” and “who”)
  • Uses “is, are, am” in sentences

3 1/2 Years Old:

  • Expressive vocabulary of 1,000-1,500 words
  • Others can understand most of child’s speech
  • Can hold long, detailed conversations
  • Can answer situational questions (i.e. What do you do when you are tired/sleepy/hungry?)
  • Asks “how, why, when” questions looking for detailed explanations

4 Years Old:

  • Should be few omissions and substitutions of consonants in speech
  • Very intelligible in connected speech
  • Knows above, below, between, top, bottom
  • Irregular plurals are consistent (child/children, man/men)
  • Combines 4-7 words in sentences
  • Produces most speech sounds correctly
  • Asks the meaning of words

4 1/2 Years Old:

  • Most consonant sounds are used consistently and accurately
  • Can tell first/middle/last name
  • Tells a long story accurately
  • Asks the meaning of words
  • Combines 5-8 words in sentences

5 Years Old:

  • Understands more difficult concepts (yesterday/tomorrow, more/less, many/few, before/after, now/later
  • Can state similarities and differences of objects
  • Can tell opposites
  • All pronouns are used consistently (she, her, him, his, they, them)

When to Refer to a Speech/Language Pathologist

18 months:   Does not speak any words

2 Years Old:   Does not have an expressive vocabulary of 50 words

2 1/2 Years Old:   Does not combine two words together

3 Years Old:

  • Parents have to interpret child’s speech to others on a regular basis
  • Cannot answer “who” or “what “ questions
  • Child shows frustration at not being understood by others
  • Physical behaviors take the place of verbal communication (i.e. hitting, pointing)
  • Does not use the following sounds correctly in conversational speech: n, m, p, b, h, f, w, t, d, k, g

4 Years Old:

  • Only talks in 2-3 word phrases
  • Cannot answer “what”, “where” or “why” questions
  • Child shows frustration at not being understood by others
  • Speech is difficult to understand or unintelligible compared to peers
  • Does not use the following sounds correctly in conversational speech: p, b, m, h, t, d, k, g, y, f, n, w

5 Years Old:

  • Does not use grammatically correct speech
  • Produces 4-5 sounds incorrectly in speech (including r, l, s, z, sh, ch, v, j, th)

6 Years Old:

  • Produces more than 2 sounds incorrectly in conversation
  • Has difficulty following directions in the classroom

7 Years Old:   Produces one or more speech sounds incorrectly in conversation

It may be recommended that your child receive an assessment in the area of speech and/or language.  A standardized assessment will let you know if your child falls within the typical range of development for his or her age.  If there is a significant delay, therapy will be recommended.  Early intervention is the key to success.  Children who enter school with speech and language delays are at a higher risk for learning difficulties.