LANGUAGE DEVELoPMENT

Language Development Timeline, Paper, and T-Chart

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Language Development Timeline, Paper, and T-Chart

Children's language develops through a series of identifiable stages as outlined in the language development charts below. If your child is exposed to a rich language environment, this will be reflected in her speech development. Not all children will follow the exact sequence below. This is presented so that you will know what to expect from your child as children vary in the speed with which they reach these milestones. You should seek advice from your child's language and speech therapist if she seems to be significantly behind in her speech development.

Pre-linguistic Stage: 0 to 12 Months

The first stage of development in the process of children learning to use language is the pre-linguistic stage. Babies use this stage to learn how to communicate with others.

During the first stage of life, babies rapidly learn how to communicate with their carers, so that by the age of 12 months, most babies understand what is being said to them and are starting to communicate their needs by pointing or by showing their carer objects.

Language and Speech Development T Chart:0 to 12 Months

0-3 Months

Recognises different tones of voices

Coos and gurgles when content

Cries to show hunger, tiredness and distress

Smiles in response to others' faces

Recognises carer's voice.

6 Months

Babbles and coos

Babbles consist of short sounds e.g. 'da da, ma ma'

Laughs, chuckles and squeals

Cries to show distress

9 Months

Babbling continues

Begin to recognise own name

Imitate simple words

12 Months

Babbling becomes more tuneful and inventive

Strings vowels and consonants together to make repetitive sounds

Use gestures to ask for things

Enjoy games e.g peek-a-boo

Understand more than they can say

Begin to respond to simple instructions e.g 'come here', 'clap your hands'.

Linguistic Stage: 15 Months to 8 Years

Children start to use words around twelve months and by fifteen months they have developed their own word for an object or person and use it consistently. They then go on to use holophrases - using a single word to express several meanings by changing the sound and using gestures. As they grow children gradually put two words together to form a mini-sentence.

Language and Speech Development Chart:15 Months to 8 Years

15 Months

Have about ten words that their carers can understand

Words are used to mean more than one thing depending on the intonation the baby uses

Pointing is accompanied by a single word.

18 Months

Two words are put together ...