As your child grows from infancy toward young adulthood, their communication skills grow with them, helping them express themselves, connect with others, and explore the world.
Your child makes this exciting progress at their own pace. However, at some point along the way, additional support may help them with skills like speaking clearly, forming complete sentences, following directions, or engaging confidently in conversations.
Here is your guide to spot common developmental differences as your child builds skills for thriving — and to know the best time to connect with a Speech-Language Pathologist who can lead your child toward confident communication.
What Is Pediatric Speech Therapy?
Pediatric speech therapy uses proven methods to help children control mouth movements (oral motor skills), use breathing techniques (breath support), and build essential communication skills for everyday activities and social interactions.
With a Speech-Language Pathologist, children engage in personalized, play-based sessions that strengthen speech — how to produce sounds — and develop language — how to use and understand words, gestures, and body language.
By improving speech-language skills through pediatric speech therapy services, children gain the knowledge and techniques they need to communicate each day with boosted confidence and stronger independence.
Common Speech-Language Milestones
Each child reaches speech-language milestones — guideposts used to track development — at a pace that is right for them. There are times, however, when pediatric speech therapy can provide valuable support for developing essential skills in oral motor control, breath support, or communication.
To help you monitor your child’s progress and know when to collaborate with a Speech-Language Pathologist, here are common speech-language milestones from infancy through the teen years.
Speech-Language Milestones for Infants
From your child’s birth to their first birthday, you are busy celebrating exciting firsts — cooing, babbling, smiling to show joy, laughing to express amusement, and much more.
While your child grows at their own pace, here are several milestones they are likely to reach during infancy:
- Cooing (by 3 months)
- Smiling or calming down when spoken to (by 3 months)
- Laughing (by 6 months)
- Babbling various sounds (by 12 months)
- Imitating different sounds (by 12 months)
Communicating by using simple gestures, like shaking their head to say “no” or lifting their arms to be picked up (by 12 months)
Speech-Language Milestones for Toddlers and Preschoolers
As your child enters the toddler years and later becomes a preschooler, they are exercising their independence a bit more. Your child is trying out simple sentences and gestures, getting familiar with their interests and how to ask for them, building playful friendships, and more.
While your child blossoms with more independence at their own speed, here are some milestones to watch for between ages 2 and 5:
- Putting two words together, like “More juice!” or “Play ball!” (by 2 years)
- Using two- or three-word phrases when talking or asking questions (by 3 years)
- Answering simple “who,” “what,” “where,” and “why” questions (by 4 years)
- Communicating easily with other children and adults (by 5 years)
Speech-Language Milestones for School-Age Children
Your child is now attending big-kid school! This stage is important for developing skills in reading, writing, and critical thinking — abilities that support lifelong learning and success. Your child is also picking up more social skills, such as cooperating, sharing, and showing respect.
Like previous years, your child learns skills in their own way and at their own rate. Here are some speech-language milestones to keep an eye out for between ages 6 and 12:
- Understanding or following rules (by 6-7 years)
- Expressing interest in clubs, teams, or group activities (by 8-9 years)
- Initiating conversations or showing enjoyment in socializing (by 10-12 years)
Speech-Language Milestones for Teenagers
At a pace unique to them, teenagers start applying their skills in reading, listening, thinking, writing, and speaking to more complex activities. They are exploring abstract ideas, planning for the future, and more. Some are preparing for college, careers, and adulthood.
- Here are speech-language milestones to watch for during the teenage years:
- Engaging in abstract thinking, like hypothetical scenarios or big-picture ideas
- Expressing curiosity in social, political, or philosophical topics
- Dreaming about or setting goals for the future
- Seeking independence from parents or caregivers
- Forming or maintaining close friendships or long-term connections
Common Conditions Treated by Speech-Language Pathologists
Remember, your child develops speech-language skills at their own rate. If your child is still working toward certain milestones — for mouth movements (oral motor skills), language-related thinking processes, or communication — there may be no cause for concern.
Sometimes, however, an underlying condition may be contributing to speech-language struggles. Here are some common conditions pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists treat:
- Cluttering (fluency disorder): Speaking rapidly or in a disorganized way, making speech challenging for listeners to follow or understand.
- Stuttering (fluency disorder): Repeating sounds, stretching out words, or pausing before certain sounds and words during speech.
- Lisps (articulation disorder): Replacing “s” or “z” sounds with “th” sounds when speaking.
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech (motor speech disorder): Struggling to plan and coordinate mouth movements needed for clear speech.
- Spasmodic Dysphonia (voice disorder): Speaking with a strained, tight, or shaky voice due to involuntary spasms of the voice box muscles.
- Dysarthria (motor speech disorder): Speaking with slurred, slow, or unclear speech due to reduced control or strength in muscles used for talking.
When to Call Fluens for Pediatric Speech Therapy
If you feel like your child may be experiencing one or more speech-language struggles, now is a great time to chat with a Fluens Speech-Language Pathologist. Early intervention lets us act promptly, working together as a team to help your child make meaningful progress so they can thrive in life.
At Fluens Children’s Therapy, we are dedicated to helping children, like yours, develop communication skills for building relationships, connecting with their communities, and navigating the world around them — with greater confidence and independence.
Call us today at 253-212-3502 to receive professional advice and support for your child or reach out online.
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