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Typical Milestones in the Development of Speech and Language
| Age | Receptive Skills | Expressive Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Birth |
Turns to source of sound
Shows preference for voices
Shows interest in faces
|
Cries |
| 2 to 4 months |
Coos
Takes turns cooing
|
|
| 6 months | Responds to name | Babbles |
| 9 months | Understands verbal routines (wave bye-bye) |
Points
Says ma-ma, da-da
|
| 12 months | Follows a verbal command |
Uses jargon
Says first words
|
| 15 months | Points to body parts by name | Learns words slowly |
| 18 to 24 months | Understands sentences |
Learns words quickly
Uses two-word phrases
|
| 24 to 36 months |
Follows two-step commands
Answer questions
|
Phrases 50% intelligible
Builds three- (or more) word sentences
Asks “what” questions
|
| 36 to 48 months | Understands much of what is said |
Asks “why” questions
Sentences 75% intelligible
Masters the early acquired speech sounds: m, b, y, n, w, d, p, and h
|
| 48 to 60 months |
Understands much of what is said,
commensurate with cognitive level
|
Creates well-formed sentences
Tells stories
100% intelligible
|
| 6 years | Pronounces most speech sounds correctly; may have difficulty with sh, th as in think, s, z, th as in the, l, r, and the s in treasure | |
| 7 years | Pronounces speech sounds correctly, including consonant blends such as sp, tr, bl |
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