| Speech-Language Milestones |
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The following are speech-language milestones observed in typically developing children from age 7 months-4 years of age:
| Age 7-9 Months [1] |
| • | Understands "no" |
| • | Enjoys playing peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake |
| • | Begins variegated babbling (mabamaba) |
| • | Looks at common items when their names are spoken |
| 10-12 Months [1] |
| • | Understands up to 10 words |
| • | Understands simple commands when accompanied by a gesture |
| • | Listens when spoken to |
| • | Recognizes words for common objects ("shoe," "juice") |
| • | Uses a large variety of sounds in babbling |
| • | Uses 1-2 words (examples- "dada," "hi") around first birthday |
| 1-2 Years [1] |
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• | Is able to point to a few body parts on command |
| • | Understands approximately 200 words (age 18 months) |
| • | Begins using more words each month |
| • | Begins using verbs and adjectives |
| • | Begins verbalizing immediate experiences ("bath hot!") |
| • | Asks for "more" |
| • | Some children start to put 2 words together ("more juice") |
| • | Is about 25-50% intelligible to strangers |
| • | Uses some 1-2 word questions ("where dada?") |
| • | Child often use one word to communicate a variety of meanings (holophrastic speech) |
| • | Uses 3-20 words with gestures |
| • | Uses 10-50 words (approximately 18 months) |
| 2-3 Years [1] |
| • | Understands up to 2400 words (age 2.5 years old) |
| • | Understands 3600 words (age 3) |
| • | Speech is generally understood by familiar listeners |
| • | Uses 200-600 words |
| • | Uses approximately 400 words (2.5 years old)- rapid vocabulary growth during this period |
| • | First pronouns used are "I" and "me." |
| • | Child has a word for almost everything |
| • | Uses the auxiliary verb "is." |
| • | Can identify several body parts |
| • | Understands plurals |
| • | Can tell understandable stories (approximately age 3) |
| • | Asks 1-2 word questions |
| • | Uses 2-3 word phrases |
| 3-4 Years [1] | |
| • | Understands up to 4200 words |  |
| • | Understands up to 5600 words (at 4 years) |
| • | Uses 4-5 words in sentences |
| • | Uses 800-1500 words |
| • | Begins using tag questions ("you want to go to McDonalds, don’t you?") |
| • | Uses irregular plurals (mice, feet) |
| • | Uses is, am, and are in sentences |
| • | Knows first, last, and street name. |
| • | Asks when, how, and why questions |
| • | Relates experiences and can talk about activities in sequential order |
| • | Speech is approximately 80% intelligible |
| • | Engages in long conversations |
| • | Child can keep a conversation going without losing track of topic |
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