Speech milestones: What to expect and when to take action
Nov 17, 2024
From our 2024 resident scholar Wendy Gordon, speech-language pathologist and founder of Words with Wendy
As parents, we want to do everything in our power to give our children the best start in life. These kids don’t come with a manual, so how do you know if your child is on track or needs some extra support? Below are some key speech and language milestones—and some red flags—to keep an eye out for.
Keep in mind, this is a guide. There is a wide continuum in development, and children often learn at their own pace. The following information gives you a general sense of what to watch out for. If you feel that your child is not reaching the milestones that they should be, trust your instincts and reach out to a professional. Early intervention is one of the foundations for success.
3 to 6 months
At this point, you are still very tired (!), but your baby should be watching your face when being spoken to. Your little one will turn their head to locate sounds. They may even attempt to mimic sounds and facial expressions.
🚩Not turning to localize sounds.
6 to 12 months
This is an exciting time for speech!
Babies begin babbling. Sounds you may hear first are typically the most visual, including p, b, m, n and t. Children are attempting to communicate with you; this may be through gestures or even first words. Babbling at this time will include inflection, such as changes in pitch or tone. Make sure to use lots of varied pitches and animated expressions during your interactions.
🚩Not babbling or using gestures.
12 to 18 months
This is when it really starts to get fun!
New words are usually being added daily. Your toddler may imitate words as well. It is fine if it doesn't sound like the actual word; approximations are acceptable, too. Your child should point to recognized or named objects. They should understand simple words and phrases, such as "bye-bye" and "come here." Children generally say between 10 to 50 words by 18 months.
🚩Fewer than five words. Difficulty following one-step directions.
18 to 24 months
Children at this age will often respond to yes and no questions. They'll understand action words. They may start to combine two words together (for example, “want cookie,” “go park”) near age two.
🚩Fewer than 50 words. Preferring gestures over vocalizations.
2 to 3 years
As vocabulary explodes, you may find that you are translating what your child has said to unfamiliar listeners. It's normal at this age for unfamiliar listeners to not understand everything your child says. Parents and caregivers should understand approximately 50 to 75% of their children’s speech.
Vocabulary should be increasing daily. Children may have between 100 (two years) to 1000 (three years) words at this time. They may learn some spatial concepts, such as “in” or “on,” and start using pronouns. Sounds heard should include p, b, m, d, t, n, h, w, y
🚩Limited vocabulary. Not combining three words by age three.
3 to 4 years
At this point, most speech sounds are acquired (not necessarily mastered), but some may be more difficult to pronounce. Sounds such as /r/ and TH are later developing and not expected to be perfect at this time. Unfamiliar listeners should understand approximately 75% of your toddler’s speech. Sounds produced by now should include p, b, m, t, d, n, l, h, w, k, g, SH, CH, J, s, z, f and v.
It's not uncommon for children to experience periods of dysfluency (stuttering) during this time. However, there are some factors which may impact whether intervention is needed in this area. How long has the stuttering been going on? Is there a family history of stuttering? What types of stuttering are you noticing?
🚩People frequently ask you to translate what your child has said. You have to ask your child to repeat what they said often. Your child is exhibiting frustration when trying to communicate.
What to do if you're concerned
As a speech-language pathologist for over 25 years, I can say from experience that it is far easier to correct speech errors when they are tackled early versus waiting until the child is older to see if it corrects on its own. This will save you headaches and money down the line! I always recommend a hearing screening as part of a comprehensive assessment—you never know if there is an underlying issue contributing to speech and language delays. If you're unsure, reach out to a certified speech-language pathologist. Always remember, though, that you are the expert on your child!
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Wendy Gordon is a certified speech-language pathologist with 25 years of experience working with the paediatric population. She worked in the school system in Arizona for 10 years, then returned home to Toronto with her husband and two daughters to continue to raise her family. She works primarily with children ages 18 months and up, both in-person and via teletherapy. Her passion and creativity is evident in her fun and functional speech therapy sessions and videos. You can find her here.
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