Language Development

Language Development

Many new parents are bombarded with information about developmental milestones. They receive pamphlets, magnets, booklets, and more with when their new baby will turn over, sit up, walk, talk, etc. Discovering all of the information that you, as a parent, are supposed to know can be somewhat overwhelming, but all of those milestones are important. Most of the information given to parents focuses on the big physical and cognitive milestones, but few go into communication milestones and how to help your child achieve these milestones. 

This list was taken from "Early Language Development", one of the awesome Super Duper Handy Handouts. As your child grows, you should see them go through the following milestones. While some variation is possible, if your child is more than one section behind (ex. your child is 9 months and not performing the 4 month milestones), you should seek an evaluation with a certified speech language pathologist and talk to your pediatrician as soon as possible. Many communication disorders can be drastically improved through early intervention.

Expressive Language
Birth to 3 months

• Appears to recognize your voice and smiles or quiets
• Makes pleasure sounds (cooing)
• Smiles reflexively as newborn then develops social smile by 3 months

4 to 6 months

• Moves eyes toward sound source
• babbles using more consonant like sounds (p, b, m)
• Vocalizes excitement and displeasure
• Begins to play "peek-a-boo" and other games
• Imitates some movements and sounds

7 to 9 months

• Exhibits resistive behaviors
• Shouts for attention
• Imitates play
• Plays vocally
• Recognizes some words
• Uses social gestures
• Uses jargon

10 to 12 months

• Shows moods
• Uses objects appropriately (ex., spoon to pick up food)
• Obeys simple commands and directions (ex. touch your foot)
• Speaks one or more words
• Recognizes own name

2 years

• 50 word vocabulary
• 2+ word sentences (ex., want more)

At 12 months, your child should be beginning to say their first words. If, by 18 months, your child has not said their first meaningful words, then they may be delayed. It would be appropriate at that time to contact a speech language pathologist or your local Early Childhood Interventionists to get your child evaluated for a possible language delay.

Receptive Language
At one your child may understand far more than they are able to express. For example, they should be able to obey simple commands such as, "come here" or "pick up the toy," but they may not be able to say a complete sentence.

Sign Language 
Sign language is a form of an alternative communication system.  I've had many parents ask me if they should teach sign language to their child to encourage language development. My answer is: If it helps your child communicate and lessens their frustration then, absolutely, yes. The piece of advice I do have for parents who would like to implement sign with their children is that you should focus on using specific vocabulary instead of generic terms. For example, instead of teaching please and more in order to request, teach your child the signs for what your child is requesting (apple, crackers, water, etc.). Using sign is a great opportunity to teach and develop vocabulary and teaching generic signs such as "more" in order to request everything diminishes that opportunity for growth. Look at the references for some great websites to learn signs.

As far as research on baby sign language is concerned, studies have been done on using both American Sign Language (ASL) signs and using gestures. Results show that while baby signing may be beneficial, most studies have come to either no significant conclusion or they do not have the scientific rigor necessary to make a significant conclusion whether baby signing is beneficial or not. The key to remember with baby signing is that you as a parent should continue to provide language in whatever mode you communicate in (be that verbal English, ASL, or verbal bi-lingual languages).

References
http://handyhandouts.com/pdf/15_Early_Language_Development.pdf Fantastic handout on language development from 0-1.
http://www.signingsavvy.com/ This is a great video sign language dictionary.
http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/concepts.htm Video dictionary of 100 basic signs to teach
http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2010/101102/About-Baby-Signing.htm Information from the American Speech Language Hearing Association monthly magazine, The Leader, on infant signing.