The chart given below is based on an average in which children develop speech and language skills. However every child is an individual and develop at their own rate. Most children master skills for their chronological age by the time they reach the upper age for that particular age group.
Keep in mind that if your child has not met or acquired a specific skill does not mean that he/she has a disorder. However, if your child has not mastered a majority of the skills for their chronological age group, speech and language therapy should be considered.
| Hearing and Understanding | Talking |
| Birth-3 Months • Startles to loud sounds. • Quiets or smiles when spoken to. • Seems to recognize your voice and quiets if crying. • Increases or decreases sucking behavior in response to sound. |
Birth-3 Months • Makes pleasure sounds (cooing, gooing). |
|
4-6 Months • Moves eyes in direction of sounds. |
4-6 Months • Babbling sounds more speech-like with many different sounds,
including p, b and m. |
| 7 Months-1 Year • Enjoys games like peek-o-boo and pat-a-cake. |
7 Months-1 Year • Babbling has both long and short groups of sounds such as "tata
upup bibibibi." |
| 1-2 Years • Points to a few body parts when asked. |
1-2 Years • Says more words every month. |
| 2-3 Years • Understands differences in meaning ("go-stop," "in-on,"
"big-little," "up-down"). |
2-3 Years • Has a word for almost everything. |
| 3-4 Years • Hears you when call from another room. |
3-4 Years • Talks about activities at school or at friends' homes. |
| 4-5 Years • Pays attention to a short story and answers simple questions
about it. |
4-5 years • Voice sounds clear like other children's. |
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