Speech and Language Milestones
It is important to note that every child develops at his/her own pace; the following outlines when most children reach language milestones. Please contact Kamloops Speech and Language if you have further questions or concerns.
Milestone Source: Speech Language and Audiology Canada
Birth to 3 Months
The child makes cooing sounds
The child has different cries for different needs
The child smiles at you
The child is startled due to loud sounds
The child is soothed/calmed by a familiar voice
4 to 6 Months
The child babbles and makes different sounds
The child makes sounds back to you when you talk
The child enjoys games like peek-a-boo
The child turn his/her eyes toward a sound source
The child responds to music or toys that make noise
7 to 12 Months
The child should wave hi/bye
The child responds to his/her name
The child lets you know what he/she wants using sounds, and actions like pointing
The child begins to follow simple directions (e.g., Where is your nose?)
The child localizes sound by turning his/her head toward the sound
The child pays attention when spoken to
12 to 18 Months
The child should use common words and start to put words together
The child enjoys listening to storybooks
The child points to body parts or pictures in a book when asked
The child looks at your face when talking to you
18 to 24 Months
The child understands more words than he/she can say
The child says two words frequently (e.g., More juice)
The child asks simple questions (e.g., What’s that?)
The child takes turns in a conversation
2 to 3 Years
The child should use sentences of three or more words most of the time
The child understands different concepts (e.g., in-on; up-down)
The child follows two-part directions (e.g., take the book and put it on the table)
The child answers simple questions (e.g., Where is the car?)
The child participates in short conversations
3 to 4 Years
The child should tell a short story or talk about daily activities
The child talks in sentences with adult-like grammar
The child generally speaks clearly so people understand him/her
The child hears you when you call to them from another room
The child listens to the television at the same volume as others
The child answers a variety of questions
4 to 5 Years
The child should tell a short story or talk about daily activities
The child talks in sentences with adult-like grammar
The child generally speaks clearly so people understand him/her
The child hears you when you call to them from another room
The child listens to the television at the same volume as others
The child answers a variety of questions
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
It is always a smart decision to have your child assessed if you have any concerns with their speech or language – it is NOT a good idea to “wait and see”. Most children who are late to talk will catch up with their peers, but research shows that they have an increased risk for reading, spelling, and/or overall learning difficulties as they get older. Early intervention to treat communication problems is the key to developing age level appropriate speech and language skills.
Please see Speech and Language Milestones for more information about your child’s communication development.
Chronic ear infections can cause problems with hearing. If a child has trouble hearing, he will have trouble understanding, imitating and using speech. Other risk factors for communication delays/disorders include: premature birth, head trauma, developmental delays, oral-motor problems, chronic or prolonged pacifier use, and a family history of speech, language and/or learning problems.
This is a difficult question to answer, and it varies depending on the nature of the communication problem, the age of the child, the nature of the child, and the results of the assessment. Kamloops Speech and Language Services may be able to give you some idea as to the length of the therapy after your child’s assessment.
Please see our “fees” page for more information.
No, caregivers can refer to Kamloops Speech and Language Services themselves. Contact us here.
Speaking two or more languages does not cause a speech/language delay or disorder; children who speak two or more language will start speaking within the same time frame as children who speak one language. At Kamloops Speech and Language Services, we encourage families to speak to their children in whichever language they feel most comfortable (this is referred to as the “home language”).
If the child requires speech therapy, we will teach parents and caregivers in language strategies to help the child learn their home language.
Speech refers to “how” we produce language and involves articulating sounds, using the vocal folds to produce sound, and the rhythm of speech.
Language is a shared code that represents concepts with arbitrary symbols (i.e., words) and provides a set of rules as to how those symbols can be combined together to create meaning. This is an entire system of expressing and receiving information and is shared socially. We need to both use and understand language.
See What We Do for more information.