Speech-Language Pathology

Speech Milestones

For more information on general developmental milestones,
visit www.howkidsdevelop.com.

Age	Receptive Language	Expressive Language
0 to 6 months	Turns to sounds Initiates sounds Responds to name	Cooing Babbling
6 to 12 months	Understands simple commands Knows names of toys and objects	Imitates consonant / vowel sounds Uses "Jargon" - babbling that sounds like real speech
12 to 18 month	Follows two-step commands Knows at least three body parts Identifies objects, people and toys	Uses two to five words Increase in jargon/babbling
18 to 24 months	Recognizes pictures Identifies environmental sounds, (i.e. telephone, doorbell) Continues to increase vocabulary Asks one- to two-word questions	Uses 10 to 15 words Sometimes repeats requests Puts two words together
2 years	Follows two-part "related" commands Answers "what" and "where" questions by gesturing or single words Responds to "who" or "whose"	Vocabulary of 50 words Combines two words Uses "no" questions appropriately
3 years	Understands number concepts "more" and "one" Remembers and retells events of yesterday	Vocabulary of 400 words Can be reasoned with on a concrete level
4 years	Responds to "why" by giving reason or consequence Follows two-part "unrelated" commands	Vocabulary of 800 words Uses "how" and "why" Uses past tense
5 years	Responds to "when" questions by answering with reference to time Understands most conversation	Vocabulary of 1200+ words Produces sounds correctly (sometimes the s, r & th sounds are not quite mastered at this stage)

Development of Individual Speech Sounds