Speech and Language Developmental Scale

Age (months)	Receptive Language	Expressive Language
0–3	Startle to loud noise Attends to voices	Random vocalizing Coos
3–6	Turns toward voice Anticipates feedings	Babbles, Laughs Vocalizes with intonation
6–9	Attends to pictures Responds to sound not visible Attends to singing	Vocalizes two syllables Imitates syllables Sings along with songs
9–12	Gives objects upon request Understands simple questions Looks at objects named Responds to "no"	Says "mama" or "dada" Imitate non-speech sound Says one or two words Vocalizes with intent
12–15	Identifies 3 body parts Shows use of objects Identify pictures	Imitates animal sounds Shakes head "no" Names objects
15–18	Identify six body parts Understands 50 words Identify by category Chooses objects upon request	Uses 15 words Asks "Whats that" Asks for "more" Imitates many words
18–21	Identify clothing items Identify more pictures Understands "come here"	Uses two word phrases Imitates three word phrase Verbalizes needs
21–24	Follows novel command Understands action words Understands new words Follows a two-step command	Uses 50–100 words Refers to self by name Uses new words Uses plurals
24–27	Understands size concepts Understands the concept of one Uses toys appropriately	Uses three word phrase Uses action words Asks for assistance
27–30	Responds to simple questions Identifies object by function Understands location phrases	Names one color Uses negatives Uses two sentence types
30–33	Understands the concept of all Follows complex commands Understands action words	Answers yes/no questions Uses prepositions States gender
33–36	Identifies parts of an object Responds to wh- questions Identify 7 colors Understands descriptive concepts	Counts to five Uses verb forms Uses possessives

Speech and Language Developmental Scale

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