As parents, we are always anxiously watching and waiting to see if our child reaches developmental milestones on time. Family members want to know what your baby is doing every month. Each visit to the pediatrician typically includes those questions as well. “Is he rolling over yet?” “Does she crawl?” “Has he started walking?” “What foods has she tried?”
Language milestones are not excluded. Every parent eagerly awaits hearing their child’s first words. But language development begins in infancy- long before you hear your child’s first word. Every child develops and grows at their own pace; however, it is important to make sure that he/she is on track.
How does your child hear and talk? is a chart from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. The information provided is an average age when most children typically master each milestone and should be used as a guide to monitor your child’s growth. If you suspect that your child’s language development may be off track, contact an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist for professional advice or request additional information from Having Our Say.