Is my child on track?
As a parent, you naturally keep an eye on every part of your child’s growth, especially how they’re learning to talk and understand language. You might wonder: “can my child understand me?”, “is my child babbling as they should?” or “are they using enough words?” The real question is perhaps: Is my child on track?
Tracking your child’s language milestones isn’t always easy. Some days they’re picking up new words quickly, while other days, progress might seem slow. Whether you’re worried about their pace or just curious, this guide can help. We’ll explain the basics of speech and language milestones, so you know what to expect as your child grows.
Speech vs. Language
What’s the difference between speech and language? Speech refers to how sounds and words are made. It includes:
- Articulation – making sounds using the mouth, lips, and tongue.
- Voice – using breath and vocal cords to create sounds, which can vary in pitch or volume.
- Fluency – the rhythm and smoothness of speech.
Meanwhile, language is about using words to share ideas and understand meaning. It includes:
- Word meanings – understanding that one word can have different meanings.
- Making new words – forming words like “bigger” from “big.”
- Building phrases and sentences – using the right word order to string words together.
- Using words appropriately – choosing words that fit the situation.
Receptive vs. Expressive Language
Language has two main parts:
- Receptive language (understanding) – your child’s ability to follow what they hear or read.
- Expressive language (speaking and writing) – how your child uses words to share their thoughts.
Language grows in stages, and you’ll notice changes in listening, understanding of concepts, speaking, and vocabulary as they develop.
Speech and Language Milestones
Birth to 6 months
6 to 12 months
1 to 2 years
2 to 3 years
3 to 4 years
4 to 5 years
5 to 6 years
Conclusion
It is essential to note that these milestones primarily serve as a guide for parents to judge their child’s speech and language development, and every child is unique in their growth. While these stages are generally predictable, they are not definitive of every child’s speech and language development journey.
These milestones should not be used as a tool to diagnose a child with a communication disorder or language delay, and any concerns should be raised with a professional speech and language therapist. If you notice that your child is consistently facing issues with any aspect of speech or language and you are concerned about your child’s development, feel free to reach out to our team here at Ohana Therapy!
References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). ASHA’s Developmental Milestones: Birth to 5 years.
https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones/
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). What Is Speech? What Is Language?
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/speech-and-language/
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. (n.d.). Language Milestones And Activities.
https://www.kkh.com.sg/patient-care/areas-of-care/childrens-services/Documents/DCD-Language-Milestones.pdf
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. (n.d.). Age-Appropriate Speech and Language Milestones.
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=age-appropriate-speech-and-language-milestones-90-P02170