What should my child be able to do?

AGES 1-2

Hearing and Understanding

• Points to a few body parts when asked.
• Follows simple commands and understands simple questions ("Roll the ball," "Kiss the baby," "Where's your shoe?").
• Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes.
• Points to pictures in a book when named.

Talking

• Says more words every month.
• Uses some one- or two- word questions ("Where kitty?" "Go bye-bye?" "What's that?").
• Puts two words together ("more cookie," "no juice," "mommy book").
• Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

AGES 2-3

Hearing and Understanding

• Understands differences in meaning ("go-stop," "in-on," "big-little," "up-down").
• Follows two requests ("Get the book and put it on the table").
• Listens to and enjoys hearing stories for longer periods of time.

Talking

• Has a word for almost everything.
• Uses two- or three- words to talk about and ask for things.
• Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds.
• Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time.
• Often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming them.

AGES 3-4

Hearing and Understanding

• Hears you when you call from another room.
• Hears television or radio at the same loudness level as other family members.
• Answers simple "who?", "what?", "where?", and "why?" questions.

Talking

• Talks about activities at school or at friends' homes.
• People outside of the family usually understand child's speech.
• Uses a lot of sentences that have 4 or more words.
• Usually talks easily without repeating syllables or words.

AGES 4-5

Hearing and Understanding

• Pays attention to a short story and answers simple questions about them.
• Hears and understands most of what is said at home and in school.

Talking

• Uses sentences that give lots of details ("The biggest peach is mine").
• Tells stories that stick to topic.
• Communicates easily with other children and adults.
• Says most sounds correctly except a few like l, s, r, v, z, ch, sh, th.
• Says rhyming words.
• Names some letters and numbers.
• Uses the same grammar as the rest of the family.

For additional information visit the American Speech Language Hearing Association at www.asha.org.