Developmental Charts


Speech & Language Development Measurement

View information about Speech & Language Development Measurement within our Development Charts section by reviewing this area of our website. We provide a wealth of information online to help our visitors become better informed about Brazos Children's Center.

What we focus upon
  • Articulation: Vocabulary & Basic Concepts
  • Hearing and Understanding: Receptive Language
  • Verbal Language: Expressive Language
Measurement Age Groups
  • 0 to 6 months
  • 7 to 12 months
  • 13 to 18 months
  • 19 to 24 months
  • 2 to 3 years
  • 3 to 4 years
  • 4 to 5 years

Ages 0 to 6 Months
  • Coos
  • Produces some sounds
  • Startles or cries at loud noises
  • Listens to speech
  • Turns head toward sounds
  • Responds to "no" and his/her name
  • Uses cries, sounds and/or gestures to indicate wants
  • Repeats same sounds often

Ages 7 to 12 Months
  • Babbles using a variety of sounds (e.g. baba, dada) and imitates inflection patterns
  • Likes to make the sounds of familiar animals and noises
  • Recognizes words for common objects (e.g. cup, shoe, juice)
  • Responds to own name
  • Responds to simple requests
  • Understands "no"
  • Listens when spoken to
  • Begins to use jargon (babbling that sounds like real talking)
  • Uses speech intentionally for the first time
  • Uses gestures to communicate (waving bye, pointing)

Ages 13 to 18 Months

  • Speech is difficult to understand
  • Omits some beginning & most ending consonant sounds (e.g. "_at" for "cat")
  • Uses 3-20 words, primarily nouns
  • Recognizes pictures of familiar persons
  • Follows simple commands (e.g. "come here")
  • Responds to simple questions through use of gesture (e.g. head shake/nod, pointing)
  • Enjoys imitating sound
  • Expresses wants by using gestures and vocalizations

Ages 19 to 24 Months
  • Speech is understood 25-50% of the time
  • Uses 50-100 + words
  • Understands 300+ words
  • Knows 5 body parts
  • Answers "What's that?"
  • Enjoys listening to stories
  • Follows two-step commands (e.g. "get the ball and put it on the table")
  • Uses 2-word phrases (e.g. more cookie")
  • Pronouns emerge (e.g. mine, me)
  • Uses at least 15 words
  • Asks questions (e.g. "Go bye-bye?" "Where mommy?)

Ages 2 to 3 Years
  • Speech is understood 50-70% of the time
  • Uses consonant (p, b, m, n, h, w) correctly
  • Uses vowels correctly
  • Uses beginning consonants, although may not be clear
  • Frequently omits middle and final consonants or substitutes ending consonants (e.g. "dod" for "dog")
  • Uses 50-250+ words
  • Understands 500-900+ words
  • Understands concepts such as one/all and on/off
  • Continues to notice environmental sounds (e.g. telephone, doorbell)
  • Able to identify objects/pictures in books
  • Answers simple questions
  • Understands most things which are said to him/her
  • Uses 200-300 words
  • Uses 3 to 4-word phrases
  • Asks questions (e.g. why and what)
  • Uses some pronouns, past tense verbs, and possessives (e.g. he, walked, baby's)
  • Uses the verb "is" and its contracted form (e.g., "It is mine.")

Ages 3 to 4 Years
  • Speech sounds are 80% intelligible
  • Understands 800-1500 words
  • Concepts such as size and time
  • Follows 3-step directions
  • Answers "why" questions
  • Asks "why" questions
  • Consistently uses: plurals, possessives, verbs

Ages 4 to 5 Years
  • Speech can be understood majority of the time
  • Uses 1000-2000 words
  • Understands 2800+ words
  • Answers questions regarding object function ("what do you do with a spoon?")
  • Answers complex "why" questions
  • Communicates easily with peers and adults
  • Uses 8-10 word sentences
  • Uses grammatically correct sentences