From the Guidelines
Most children should have well-developed speech by age 5, as supported by the most recent evidence from 1, which highlights the importance of early intervention in speech development.
Speech Development Milestones
Speech development varies among children, but there are key milestones that parents and caregivers should be aware of.
- Babbling around 6 months
- First words around 12 months
- Two-word phrases around 18-24 months
- Short sentences and a vocabulary of several hundred words by age 3 These milestones are influenced by both genetic factors and environmental stimulation, with regular conversation, reading aloud, and responsive interactions supporting optimal development 1.
Importance of Early Intervention
Early intervention is crucial for children who show significant delays in speech development.
- Consulting with a pediatrician or speech-language pathologist is recommended for early intervention, which can significantly improve outcomes
- Intensive speech-language therapy throughout childhood may be required for some children, especially those with underlying conditions such as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome 1
- Augmentative communication, such as sign language, can promote language use and help avoid frustration
Quality of Life and Outcomes
The goal of early intervention is to improve the quality of life and outcomes for children with speech development delays.
- Surgical treatment, such as palatal repair, can lead to significant improvements in intelligibility and quality of life 1
- Early implementation of augmentative communication can promote language use and help avoid frustration
- Regular speech-language assessments and interventions can help children achieve well-developed speech by age 5, which is critical for their social, emotional, and academic development.
From the Research
Speech Development in Children
- Speech development is a crucial aspect of a child's growth, and various factors can influence it, including the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Research suggests that AAC can be an effective tool in promoting communication skills in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 2, 3, 5.
- A study published in 2020 found that the use of AAC in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) therapy clinics can lead to a significant increase in communicative acts in children with ASD 2.
- Another study published in 2021 found that AAC can result in improved speech production in children with ASD, although the gains may be modest 3, 5.
Age and Speech Development
- Typically, speech development is most rapid in early childhood, and by around 5-6 years old, children's speech is usually intelligible to unfamiliar listeners 6.
- A study published in 2021 examined the effect of sentence length on speech rate in typically developing children between the ages of 10 and 14 years, but did not find significant main effects of age on speech rate 6.
- There is limited research available on the specific age by which speech would be considered "the best" for age, as speech development can vary significantly from child to child.
Factors Influencing Speech Development
- Various factors can influence speech development, including the use of AAC, sentence length, and cognitive-linguistic load 3, 6, 4, 5.
- Research suggests that AAC can be a valuable tool in supporting communication skills in individuals with speech and language disorders, including ASD and other developmental disorders 2, 3, 4, 5.