It is important to remember that while norms exist for speech, language and communication development, you should also be reassured that there is a wide variation in typical development.
All children develop at their own rate. These pages will give you a guide to when most children, who speak only one language, will reach each developmental milestone. The norms for bilingual children (children who speak more than one languages) may differ due to the length of exposure to each language, nationality, ethnicity, and culture.
Following is a general outline of the different ages and developmental stages that are expected; however please note that these lists are not all- inclusive:
When should I consider referring my child to a Speech & Language Therapist?
Here are some of the reasons you may choose to do so:
- Your child has difficulties understanding instructions and questions compared to other children his age
- Your child is happy to speak at home, but appear anxious to speak in other environments
- Your child is struggling to join words together
- Your child finds it difficult to play with other children or he/she is not interested in interacting with others
- Your child is 3 and people are having difficulty understanding his/her speech
What should I do if I think that my child may have a speech, language, or communication problem?
Please use our Get In Touch page to discuss any concerns or worries that you may be having about your child’s development.