When to be Concerned

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When to be Concerned about
a Child's Speech or Language

Are you concerned about a childs speech or language development? The following general information may guide your decision regarding whether speech or language screening is needed. Please remember that these are only general guidelines and cannot replace professional assessment by a speech-language pathologist. If in doubt it is best to request a speech and language screening. Remember that age-appropriate speech and language skills are critical to later academic success!
Click here to find an overview of speech and language services available in U.S. communities.

By 36 months a child should:

Be understandable 75% of the time when talking to family members
Use at least 200 intelligible words
Use -ing on the end of verbs (Im jumping. Daddys running)
Use plural -s on the end of nouns (cats, toys, kids)
Speak in 3-word sentences
Ask "where" and "what" questions
Enjoy listening to a 5-minute story

By 48 months a child should:

Be understandable 75% of the time when talking to unfamiliar people
Pronounce b d k g f y and vowels correctly in words
Use the word is in sentences (mom is coming; its mine)
Use the pronouns he and she correctly
Understand many prepositions (put it in front of the box; put it behind the chair)
Understand and use adjectives like "big" and "little"
Speak in 4- to 5-word sentences
Enjoy listening to a 10-minute story
Repeat information when a listener doesnt understand

By 60 months a child should:

Be understandable to both familiar and unfamiliar people most of the time
Pronounce almost all sounds correctly
Use 1,500 to 2,000 different words
Understand and use prepositions in sentences (between, above, on top of)
Use the words our and they correctly in sentences
Use the words this that there correctly in sentences
Speak in 4- to 7-word sentences and join sentences together using and
Ask questions using why when how
Tell simple stories