SOCIAL & PRAGMATIC LANGUAGE DISORDERS

Disclaimer: I’ve incorporated and edited content pulled directly from the ASHA (American Speech-Hearing Association). My goal is to give parents a resource to use as a guide to determine if their child’s speech development is standard, or if they might need to consider hiring a Speech Therapist. Please visit this link for more detailed information.

18-24 months (1 ½-2 years old)

  • uses single words to express self

  • uses 1-2 words to request, indicate possession, express problems, and gain attention

  • uses pronouns:  I, me, you, my, and mine

  • participates in verbal turn-taking with at least 2 turns

  • demonstrates simple topic control

  • demonstrates secure or insecure attachment pattern

  • exhibits emotion and behavioral regulation

  • demonstrates an increase in independence

  • shows daily routine schemes in play (feeding a bear, putting doll to sleep)

24-36 months of age (2-3 years)

  • engages in short dialogues

  • verbally introduces and changes topic

  • expresses emotions

  • begins to use imagination with language 

  • relates to own experiences

  • begins to provide descriptive details 

  • uses attention seeking words

  • clarifies and asks for clarification

  • uses some politeness terms or markers (please, thank you) 

  • understands that others may feel differently than oneself

  • follows rules

  • shows common schemes in play (e.g., dentist, grocery shopping)

3-4 years old

  • engages in longer dialogues

  • anticipates next turn at talking

  • terminates conversation

  • engages in appropriate role-plays

  • uses filler words such as “yeah” and “okay” to acknowledge a partner’s message

  • requests permission

  • begins using language for imagination, jokes, and teasing

  • makes conversational repairs when they are not understood and corrects others

  • infers information from a story and infers indirect meanings

  • uses inferences in stories

4-5 years

  • uses indirect requests (e.g., this, that, here, there)

  • uses many effective utterances as 3-year-olds to discuss emotions and feelings

  • shifts topics rapidly

  • shows fantasy schemes in play

  • understands that beliefs can result in predictable emotions

  • understands that someone may feel the same way when experiencing a similar event

  • uses promises

6-8 years

  • increased understanding of predicting what one person is thinking about what another person is thinking or feeling;

  • recognizes sarcasm

  • provides assistance 

  • uses narrative development characterized by causally sequenced events using “story grammar”

  • demonstrates improved conversational skills (e.g., topic maintenance, repair, and increased number of turns)

  • extends topic of conversation

  • demonstrates understanding of social and conversational rules

  • uses language for a variety of functions, including persuading and advancing one’s opinion

9-12 years

  • understands that people can feel multiple emotions at the same time

  • practices increased self-regulation

  • uses indirect requests

  • uses inferential language

  • uses ambiguous or figurative language 

  • uses sarcasm

  • uses double meanings (puns)

Older Adolescents

  • uses verbal and nonverbal language competently and flexibly

  • demonstrates refined understanding and use of nonverbal behavior

  • can explain idioms and nuanced figurative language

  • develops close friendships and romantic relationships

  • continues to develop empathy


Disclaimer: The communication milestones included in ASHA's "How Does Your Child Hear and Talk" products are currently being revised and will be published in 2023. Changes include (a) shorter timeframes and (b) evidence regarding the percentage of children demonstrating specific milestones.