Reading Resource – Speech and Language Development in Early Years

I. Speech and Language Milestones: 0-3 Years

Theoretical Perspectives
The table below traces development across five domains — receptive language, expressive language, vocabulary, phonology, and social communication — from birth to 36 months.

II. Identifying Red Flags: 0-3 Years

Receptive Language
1.   Does not respond to sounds or name consistently
2.   Poor attention to speech or environmental sounds
3.   Difficulty understanding simple words, commands, or routines
4.   Does not identify familiar objects or people
5.   Limited response to questions by 2–3 years

Expressive Language
1.   No babbling by 9 months
2.   No meaningful words by 12–15 months
3.   Very limited word use by 18 months
4.   No two-word combinations by 2 years
5.   Limited sentence use by 3 years

Vocabulary (Semantics)
1.   Very restricted word learning over time
2.   Does not label familiar objects or actions
3.   Limited variety of words — only a few repeated words
4.   Difficulty learning new words even with repetition
5.   Vocabulary significantly below age expectations

Speech / Sound Development (Phonology)
1.  Limited variety of sounds — restricted consonants or vowels
2.   Absence of canonical babbling
3.   Poor clarity — speech difficult to understand
4.   Does not imitate sounds or words
5.   Persistent use of only simple sound patterns

Social Communication (Pragmatics)
1.   Poor eye contact and limited social engagement
2.   Lack of gestures — pointing, waving, showing
3.   No joint attention — does not share interest with others
4.   Does not initiate or respond to interaction
5.   Limited play skills — especially pretend or symbolic play by 2–3 years
6.   Poor turn-taking and interaction skills

Summary – Seek Assessment IF:
1.   No response to name by 12 months
2.   No gestures by 12 months
3.   No single words by 16 months
4.   No two-word phrases by 24 months
5.   Loss of speech, babbling, or social skills at any age (regression)

III ACADEMIC LANGUAGE SKILLS: DEVELOPMENT & IDENTIFICATION

What Develops
▸ Listening & Attention — Attends to voices and sounds — the foundation for all learning.
▸ Understanding Routines — Comprehends simple words and daily instructions.
▸ Early Vocabulary — Learns names of familiar people, objects, and actions.
▸ Joint Attention — Shares focus through looking, pointing, and showing.
▸ Symbolic Understanding — Understands that words and pictures represent real-world objects.
▸ Early Literacy Exposure — Interest in books, rhymes, and songs begins to emerge.

How to Identify
▸ Response to Sound & Name — Turns and responds to familiar voices.
▸ Following Simple Directions — Carries out basic commands — ‘give’, ‘come’.
▸ Object / Picture Recognition — Points to familiar items when named.
▸ Engagement in Interaction — Participates in play, songs, and daily routines.
▸ Use of Gestures + Words — Uses pointing, showing, and early words to communicate.

Red Flags
▸ Poor Attention to Speech — Does not attend to voices or environmental sounds.
▸ Limited Understanding — Does not follow simple instructions or routines.
▸ Reduced Joint Attention — No pointing, showing, or shared attention with others.
▸ Delayed Vocabulary Growth — Very few or no meaningful words by expected age.
▸ Lack of Interest in Interaction — Minimal engagement in songs, stories, books, or play.

Video – Speech and Language Development in Early Yearsears

Teacher Resource Document – Speech and Language Development in Early Years