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Late Talker or Communication Delay?
Do you have concerns about your child’s ability to communicate? We want you to know you’re not alone.
Communication has many components and all serve to increase the way children learn about the world around them (Graves, 2006).
It is estimated that communication disorders affect 1 of every 10 people in the United States (Graves, 2006).
Should you wait and see?
Dr. Stanley I. Greenspan, Chairman of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders, and the world's foremost authority on clinical work with infants and young children with developmental and emotional problems, believes early intervention is the key to preventing more serious secondary problems.
Most mommies and daddies tell me “I thought there was a problem at 14 or 15 months...and they told me let’s wait and see because sometimes some kids grow out of it. Well, that’s not a good answer. We’ve got to make the distinction between less important problems, where we can wait and see from core problems, which involve a lack of reciprocity and a lack of getting to know your world. For these core problems, we have to act on it yesterday. We can’t wait nine months, we can’t wait two months.” (Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D., Child Psychiatrist)
As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. You are in the best position to observe your child’s social, emotional, and communication behaviors.
If you have concerns, trust your instincts and seek help by talking to a speech and language therapist at the Child Success Center. The sooner you identify a developmental delay, the sooner you can help your child on the path to success.
Should my child be talking more than he is? Look at this chart and find out!
| Age |
Language Level |
| Birth |
Cries |
| 2-3 months |
Cries differently in different circumstances; coos in response to you |
| 3-4 months |
Babbles randomly |
| 5-6 months |
Babbles rhythmically |
| 6-11 months |
Babbles in imitation of real speech, with expression |
| 12 months |
Says 1-2 words; recognizes name; imitates familiar sounds; understands simple instructions |
| 18 months |
Uses 5-20 words, including names |
| Between 1 and 2 years |
Says 2-word sentences; vocabulary is growing; waves goodbye; makes “sounds” of familiar animals; uses words (like “more”) to make wants known; understands “no” |
| Between 2 and 3 years |
Identifies body parts; calls self “me” instead of name; combines nouns and verbs; has a 450 word vocabulary; uses short sentences; matches 3-4 colors, knows big and little; likes to hear same story repeated; forms some plurals |
| Between 3 and 4 years |
Can tell a story; sentence length of 4-5 words; vocabulary of about 1000 words; knows last name, name of street, several nursery rhymes |
| Between 4 and 5 years |
Sentence length of 4-5 words; uses past tense; vocabulary of about 1500 words; identifies colors, shapes; asks many questions like “why?” and “who?” |
| Between 5 and 6 years |
Sentence length of 5-6 words; vocabulary of about 2000 words; can tell you what objects are made of; knows spatial relations (like “on top” and “far”); knows address; understands same and different; identifies a penny, nickel and dime; counts ten things; knows right and left hand; uses all types of sentences |
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