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Communication Milestones

These milestones may be used as a reference to help you know what to expect as your child continues to grow and develop. We offer free developmental screenings, which can help determine if a full evaluation is necessary.

Please contact us with any questions.

Speech

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  • 2 1/2 years old: 25% intelligible to unfamiliar listeners and 50% intelligible to familiar listeners
  • 3 years old: 50% intelligible to unfamiliar listeners and 75% intelligible to familiar listeners
  • 3 1/2 years old: 75% intelligible to unfamiliar listeners and 100% intelligible to familiar listeners
  • 4 years old: 100% intelligible to unfamiliar listeners and 100% intelligible to familiar listeners

Language

  • Vocabulary size
    • 1 year: 1-10 words​
    • 1.5 years: 50-200 words
    • 2 years: 200-500 words
    • 3 years: 1,000 words
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  • Utterance length (Sentence length)
    • 1 year: communicates with single words ​
    • 2 years: combines two or more words to communicate
    • 3 years: combines three or more words to communicate
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  • Important preverbal skills before words emerge
    • Shared attention​
    • Turn-taking
    • Gestural communication
    • Receptive give/get commands
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Fluency

  • Speech characteristics associated with "typical disfluency"
    • Whole word and phrase repetitions​
    • Interjections (Example: "um", "like")
    • Revisions (Example: "yesterday I, no wait today...")
      • More disfluencies can be observed in times when language is quickly developing​
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  • Speech characteristics associated with "stuttering"
    • Sound or syllable repetitions (Example: "b-b-b-ball")​
    • Prolongations (Example: "sssss-ee" for "see")
    • Blocks (Example: "I want _____ more")
    • Secondary behaviors (Example: eye blinks and facial grimaces)
    • Negative reactions or frustration 
    • Moments of stuttering associated with physical tension or struggle 
    • Avoidance behaviors 
    • Family history of stuttering

Social Aspects

  • 1 year old: engaged in routine-like games (Example: pat-a-cake)
  • 1.5 years old: uses a pointer-finger gesture 
  • 2 years old: notices when others are hurt/upset and looks at a caregivers face to observe reactions
  • 2.5 years old: plays next to/with other children and follows simple routines (Example: "clean up")
  • 3 years old: joins other children in play
  • 4 years old: avoids danger, comforts others emotions, and engages in pretend play
  • 5 years old: follows rules and takes turns with others
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