Normal Speech and Language Development
Speech vs. Language:
Language: The system of symbols organized into conventional patterns to communicate meaning. Language development is structured and heirarchical
Speech: The mechanical production of language
Voice: Vocalization or sound; not always produced as speech
Elements of Language:
Phonology – how we combine sounds to form words
Morphology – how word meaning may be changed by adding/deleting word parts (-ed, -s, -ing)
Syntax – how words may be combined to form sentences
Semantics – how language users understand the meaning of words and word combinations
Pragmatics – how to use language appropriately in a social context
Production of Speech
Stages of Speech:
Cooing – pleasant, repetitive vocalization
Babbling – producing repetitive syllables
Comprehension begins around this stage.
Echolalic Speech – immediate imitation
Jargon – nonsense speech; sounds like speech but does not contain real words
Holophrasic Speech – single word utterances that express bigger ideas
Telegraphic Speech – basic sentences
Speech Development:
0-5 months
Cooing; pleasure sounds
6-11 months
Babbles, tries to repeat sounds
Tries to communicate with actions/gestures
12-17 months
Knows four-six words
Tries to imitate simple words
18-23 months
Knows 50 words, including pronouns
Asks for food by name
Starting to combine words
2-3 years
Knows spatial concepts, pronouns, descriptive words
Vocabulary of 250-900 words
Answers simple questions
3-4 years
Groups and describes objects
Knows colours
Repeats sentences
4-5 years
Vocabulary of 1500-2000 words
Understands complex questions
Answers “why?”
Defines words; engages in conversation
Normal Hearing Development:
0-3 months
Reacts to loud sounds with startle reflex; soothed by soft sounds; turns head to voice; smiles in response to voice
3-6 months
Looks/turns to new sound; responds to changes in voice; enjoys toys that make sounds; scared by loud voice
6-10 months
Responds to certain sounds even when not loud; babbles even when alone; recognizes some words, responds to directions
10-15 months
Plays with voice; points to familiar things when asked; imitates simple words and sounds
15-18 months
Points to some body parts when asked; knows 10-20 words; uses short sentences
18-24 months
Understands yes-no questions, simple phrases; points to pictures when asked
24-36 months
Understands certain phrases; follows two-step commands; understands action words
Child Studies and Development 
