Normal Pattern of Speech Development
Language Development
The following are age related milestones in normal speech development that can provide a basis for monitoring language development.
| Age | Activities |
|---|---|
| 1-6 months | Coos in response to voice* |
| 6-9 months | Babbling* |
| 10-11 months | Imitation of sounds; says "mama/dada" without meaning |
| 12 months | Says "mama/dada" with meaning; often imitates 2- and 3-syllable words |
| 13-15 months | Vocabulary of 4 to 7 words in addition to jargon; <20% of speech understood by strangers |
| 16-18 months | Vocabulary of 10 words; some echolalia and extensive jargon; 20 to 25% of speech understood by strangers |
| 19-21 months | Vocabulary of 20 words; 50% of speech understood by strangers |
| 22-24 months | Vocabulary >50 words; two-word phrases; dropping out of jargon; 60% to 70% of speech understood by strangers |
| 2-2.5 years | Vocabulary of 400 words, including names; 2- to 3-word phrases; use of pronouns, diminishing echolalia; 75% of speech understood by strangers |
| 2.5 to 3 years | Use of plurals and past tense; knows age and sex; counts three objects correctly; 3 to 5 words per sentence; 80 to 90% of speech understood by strangers |
| 3 to 4 years | Three to 6 words per sentence; asks questions, converses, related experiences, tells stories; almost all speech understood by strangers |
| 4 to 5 years | Six to 8 words per sentence; names four colors; counts 10 pennies correctly |
* Note that infants who are deaf may coo and babble, so the presence of these behaviors
does not rule out hearing loss. [Schwartz: 1997]
Page Bibliography
Schwartz, ER ed.
Pediatric Primary Care: A Problem-Oriented Approach.
St. Louis: Mosby;
1997.
0815180543 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0815180543/qid=110815752...
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA. Extensive reference for practitioners in office-based pediatric care. Previous
edition: c1990. Softcover. DNLM: Pediatrics.