Speech Milestones: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Have you ever wondered if your child’s speech development is on track? Imagine two parents, both deeply invested in their child’s well-being, but divided over their speech development. One believed the child’s errors were age appropriate, while the other was deeply concerned. As a speech therapist, I observed pronounced speech sound errors that required therapy to resolve. To foster understanding and progress, we reviewed speech milestones to clarify what typical development looks like.
This scenario is more common than you might think. Some parents, especially first-timers, lack a clear frame of reference for typical speech development, often delaying referrals and therapy services.
Does this sound familiar? Let’s take a closer look at why speech norms matter, what they are, how to understand them, and what to do if you are concerned. Understanding speech development ensures children receive services at this crucial junction in their development.
The Value of Speech Milestones
What are speech milestones? Speech specifically refers to how children develop the sounds of language over time. In this post, milestones and norms are used interchangeably to describe to the age at which a child is expected to develop a specific behavior or skill. When combined, speech norms specifically refer to the age at which children acquire specific speech sounds.
Although speech and language skills are related, they are not the same thing. Speech development focuses on sound production, like when a baby starts to produce /m/ or /d/. In contrast, language milestones encompass a broader skills, such as first words, sentence formation, vocabulary growth and comprehension. Though this post’s focus is on speech production, understanding the overlap in speech and language development is key in evaluating communication sills. Click here for more information about early speech and language skills related to early intervention.
Speech norms provide parents and speech therapists a reference point to compare a child’s speech sound to typical development and to monitor their progress. By comparing a child’s sound production to typical developmental patterns, we can detect potential delays or disorders early. Combined with clinical judgement and experience, speech therapists can use milestones to craft effective treatment to support a child’s success in communication and beyond.
Now that we’ve captured a clear understanding of speech milestones, let’s explore the typical sounds children acquire at different ages and how these benchmarks guide speech therapy decisions.
Speech Milestones
Over the past 50 years, several different speech norms have been collected and refined regarding speech development. In a recent study, Dr. Sharynne McLeod and Kathryn Crowe collected norms based on over 18,000 children in the United States. These speech norms reflect typical variation in speech development; typically developing children acquire sounds at similar rates, but individual variation is normal. Therefore, the researchers defined the age for acquiring a speech sound as when over 90% of children at an age group were using a speech sound across word positions. For example, over 90% of two-year-olds are using /p/ in words like ‘puppy’ or ‘cop’. Click here for a chart of their work for your reference.
Unique Sound Characteristics
It’s important to note that some of these sounds can only exist in certain word positions, like /h/, /w/, /zh/, /ng/. For example, we only say /ng/ at the end of words like king or song, while /h/ occurs at the beginning of words like happy or hand. You may also notice some unfamiliar sounds or terms, like /ng/, /zh/, voiced /th/ and voiceless /th/. Fortunately, there’s a table with examples of these sounds.
Sounds |
Examples |
|---|---|
| /zh/ | /s/ in measure; /g/ in leige |
| /ng/ | /ng/ in song and king |
| Voiceless /th/ | /th/ in think and month |
| Voiced /th/ | /th/ in this and breathe |
Why aren’t there any speech norms before age two?
Before the age of two, children typically have fewer words, and there is greater variation in their speech and language skills This makes it difficult to establish consistent norms for this age group. Additionally, collecting data on speech development in children under two poses its own unique challenges. With that mind, below is the speech sound development chart.
Speech Sound Development Chart
Age Group |
Sounds |
|---|---|
| 2 Years Old | /p/, /b/, /d/, /m/, /n/, /h/, /w/ |
| 3 Years Old | /t/, /k/, /g/, /ng/, /f/, /y/ |
| 4 Years Old | /v/, /s/, /z/, /sh/, /ch/, /j/, /l/ |
| 5 Years Old | Voiced /th/, /zh/, /r/ |
| 6 and Beyond | Voiceless /th/ |
How to Use Speech Norms
Speech therapists and parents can reference these speech milestones to identify which sounds a child is expected to produce at a given age. Begin by recording the sounds a child is using incorrectly. Then, compare the child’s speech to these norms. If a child is missing any sounds typically acquired at an earlier age, contact a speech therapist near you to schedule an evaluation.
Take the First Step
Speech norms are a powerful tool for parents, offering clarity into your child’s speech development and identifying when there might be cause for concern. If you’re wondering whether your child’s speech is progressing as it should or wondering if they could benefit from a professional evaluation, reach out to a qualified speech therapist near you today. Don’t wait. Early intervention can nurture your child’s communication skills and set the foundation for lifetime success.
Contact us today now to schedule an appointment or to learn about how we can support your child’s journey to clear and confident communication.. Together, we can help your child find their voice and achieve their fullest potential.
