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Home › Articles › Speech/Language Issues › Early Intervention Key in Language Development

Early Intervention Key in Language Development

By Jennifer Newton Reents

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Mindy Hudon, a Massachusetts certified speech-language pathologist, encourages parents to listen to their own instincts and to seek help if they have a concern, even if their child's doctor says the child will "grow out of it" or says that some children simply talk late.

"Doctors who are saying wait till [the child] is 3 – that's the old school," says Hudon, who often works with infants and toddlers. "You don't want to do that. You want to get to them as soon as possible. I don't think a child's ever too young to get going if there's a problem. I would encourage parents just to get them evaluated. ... If they take care of it now it's not going to affect them when they get to school. ... The sooner you get to them, the better."

Hudon says children should be talking by 18 months and should be able to follow directions, such as "get the ball," even before they start talking. If not, they may not be hearing well or it could be a sign of a developmental delay.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, many toddlers express the following language skills at specific ages:

12 to 18 months –
They say their first words. They understand a few words and simple directions. They know their own names. They will give you a toy if you ask for it. They create long babbling sentences and look at a picture book with interest. Contact a professional if your toddler at this age does not say more than a few words clearly.

18 to 24 months –
Toddlers put two or more words together to make short sentences such as "want juice" or "car go." They learn words quickly and can copy adult sounds, words and motions. They ask and answer simple questions. Contact a professional if your child at about 20 months cannot follow a simple request, such as "Come to Mommy," or if your 24-month-old does not use two words together.

24 to 36 months –
They listen to stories and like to play pretend games. They ask "why" questions and use "no" and "not" a lot. They enjoy looking at picture books, turning pages and naming objects they see. Contact a professional if your 2-year-old does not ask questions or respond to simple questions with "yes" or "no."

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