Developmental Differences in Individual Language and Speech

Parents know that early childhood is critical for the development of cognitive skills, including speech and language. What isn't always clear is what's "normal" and what is a cause for concern. No two children are the same in terms of their speech and language development, which makes it difficult to know when to seek help. Professionals consider several variations in communication development as typical, but some "red flags" warrant additional evaluation and support.

Every Child is Different

• Research suggests that communication skills are acquired over age ranges rather than at discrete and predictable times. While all children follow a general timeline when developing language skills, individual differences from the "typical" language-learning profile happen. Keep in mind that kids don't typically master all of the listed skills until they reach the upper limit of each age bracket. Furthermore, most developmental norms are based on children learning a single language. Some processes may be slower in children learning more than one language at a time. For example, bilingual kids may appear to have a reduced vocabulary in one language but actually have a combined vocabulary with the same number of words as a child who speaks in one language.

Language Milestones

• Speech-language pathologists understand language and speech as two distinct concepts. While language refers to a child's ability to understand and use words and grammatical structures, speech refers to a child's ability to articulate sounds clearly and correctly. Young toddlers say their first word by 15 months, although many children reach this milestone by one year. By 24 months, children use two-word phrases, and vocabulary may be anywhere from 50-300 words. Older preschoolers gradually develop understanding and use of more complex grammar. Understanding of two-step directions, as well as use and comprehension of "what" and "where" questions may emerge at age 2, but some may not acquire these skills until age 3. Children as young as 4 can talk about number concepts and the future, but these skills continue to develop until just before a child's fifth birthday.

Speech Milestones

• Correct production of specific speech sounds is highly variable in children. The earliest sounds typically include "p," "m," "h," "n" and "w," but some children may not acquire them until age 3. While "k," "g" and "d" generally develop a bit later than these early five sounds, many kids master them sooner. More difficult sounds, such as "r "and "l," may emerge as early as age 3 or as late as age 6. Some sounds, including "s," "z," "th" and the "zh" sound in "vision" may not develop until age 8 or later. Speech-language pathologists typically intervene when many sounds are in error for a child's developmental level, or if a sound is unusually late to develop.

Red Flags

• Despite the variations in communication development across children, there are some "red flags" that suggest a child may need extra help. By six months, babies should laugh and squeal and attend to environmental sounds. Babbling should be present by no later than nine months. A child should have at least six words by 18 months, and have six consonant sounds by 20 months. By 24 months, your toddler should have at least 50 words and sometimes use two-word combinations. If you have any concerns about your child's communication development, speak to a doctor or speech-language pathologist.