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Milestones in Your Child's Speech and Language Development

The most intensive period in speech and language development is during the first three years of life. Research has shown that by the time they are six months old, most children already recognize the basic sounds of their native language.

How do I know if my child is on track?

Children vary in their development of speech and language. There is, however, a natural progression for mastery of these skills. The following links will send you to a checklist that can determine if your child's speech and language skills are developing on schedule. Choose the appropriate age bracket for your child.

Interactive Checklist:

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What should I do if my child's speech or language appears to be delayed?

Talk to your family doctor if you have any concerns about your child's speech or language development. Your doctor may decide to refer you to a speech-language pathologist.

Read more about speech and language milestones >>

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National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Celebrating 20 years of research: 1988 to 2008