Various Communication Disorders~Developmental Speech and Language Checklist
Most children learn to say their first words between 12 to 15 months; by the time they walk. Each child develops at his own pace. It is important to know what is typical, or normal speech and language of a developing child. Refer to this checklist for a general average of development of children’s speech and language skills.
Two Years Old
___ Child correctly produces the following sounds in isolation, syllables, and one-syllable words 80% of
the time /p, b, m, n, h, w/.
___ By two, child has 50-word vocabulary moving to more constant two-word combinations.
___ Child understands simple spatial concepts (on, off, in, out, up, down), quantity concepts
(one, all, more), and simple attributes (cold, hot, soft, hard, loud, wet).
___ States simple wants and needs.
___ Child might demonstrate some "stuttering-like" behaviors.
Three Years Old
___ Child correctly produces the following sounds in isolation, syllables, and words 80% of the time /k,
g, d, t, f/
___ Expresses over 1,000 words and uses three to five word sentences.
___ Understands about 1,500 words.
___ Understands concepts such as same, not the same, under, over, beside, next to, full, empty.
____ Some dysfluencies present
Four Years Old
___ Child correctly produces the following sounds in isolation, syllables, and words 80% of the time
/ ing, l, v, y, and blends begin to emerge/.
___ Uses imaginative and creative play; likes simple board games.
___ Able to categorize items according to shapes, sizes, colors, quality & quantity.
___ Expresses about 1,500 words and uses four to six word sentences that include plurals, pronouns,
possessives, simple wh-questions, and some verb forms.
___ Understands about 2,000 words and concepts such as first, last, middle, between, same, different,
short, tall.
___ Dysfluences are intermittent.
Five Years Old
___ Child correctly produces the following sounds in isolation, syllables, and words 80% of the time
l-blends, s-blends, s, sh, ch, th, j, and r begins to emerge or stabilize/.
___ Child uses complete sentences and engages in adult-like conversations
___ Phonemic awareness emerges and child starts learning to read simple sentences.
___ Child uses a variety of inflections, articles (a, the, an etc.), gestures, and expressions.
___ Abnormal dysfluencies decrease.
Two Years Old
___ Child correctly produces the following sounds in isolation, syllables, and one-syllable words 80% of
the time /p, b, m, n, h, w/.
___ By two, child has 50-word vocabulary moving to more constant two-word combinations.
___ Child understands simple spatial concepts (on, off, in, out, up, down), quantity concepts
(one, all, more), and simple attributes (cold, hot, soft, hard, loud, wet).
___ States simple wants and needs.
___ Child might demonstrate some "stuttering-like" behaviors.
Three Years Old
___ Child correctly produces the following sounds in isolation, syllables, and words 80% of the time /k,
g, d, t, f/
___ Expresses over 1,000 words and uses three to five word sentences.
___ Understands about 1,500 words.
___ Understands concepts such as same, not the same, under, over, beside, next to, full, empty.
____ Some dysfluencies present
Four Years Old
___ Child correctly produces the following sounds in isolation, syllables, and words 80% of the time
/ ing, l, v, y, and blends begin to emerge/.
___ Uses imaginative and creative play; likes simple board games.
___ Able to categorize items according to shapes, sizes, colors, quality & quantity.
___ Expresses about 1,500 words and uses four to six word sentences that include plurals, pronouns,
possessives, simple wh-questions, and some verb forms.
___ Understands about 2,000 words and concepts such as first, last, middle, between, same, different,
short, tall.
___ Dysfluences are intermittent.
Five Years Old
___ Child correctly produces the following sounds in isolation, syllables, and words 80% of the time
l-blends, s-blends, s, sh, ch, th, j, and r begins to emerge or stabilize/.
___ Child uses complete sentences and engages in adult-like conversations
___ Phonemic awareness emerges and child starts learning to read simple sentences.
___ Child uses a variety of inflections, articles (a, the, an etc.), gestures, and expressions.
___ Abnormal dysfluencies decrease.