Language development is a term that describes a child's growing ability to communicate to other members of his culture. This ability is closely tied to speaking, which represents a main method of communicating with language. Children develop their language and speech skills gradually, and doctors note phases of normal development with gauges of capability called milestones.
Language Development Basics
Children learn languages best during their first three years of life, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, or NIDCD. This time period coincides with extensive development inside your child's brain. Your child's first attempt at language comes with cries that summon your attention for needs such as food and companionship. Children begin recognizing the importance of these cries within days of their birth, and also begin to recognize the importance of external sounds, including the sound of your voice. By the time most children are six months old, they recognize the basic units of sound---called phonemes---that form their native language.
Early Milestones
The NINDS lists specific language and speech milestones for children between birth and five months that include reacting to loud sounds, watching you when you speak, turning his head toward sounds in his environment and making noises when you speak to him. For children between the ages of six and 11 months, language and speech milestones include babbling, trying to repeat sounds you make, trying to communicate with gestures or actions and understanding the word "no." Milestones for children between the ages of 12 and 17 months include pointing to family members of objects, answering basic questions nonverbally, following basic directions that include gestures, and describing people or objects in two or three simple words.
Later Milestones
Children between the ages of 18 and 23 months should be able to at least partially pronounce eight to 10 words, the NINDS reports. Additional milestones at this age include following basic directions without gestures, asking for familiar foods by name, pointing to major body parts, making animal sounds and understanding simple verbs. By the time your child is two, he should know roughly 50 words and have the ability to pronounce roughly 40 words. He should also be able to answer simple questions, speak in short phrases, recognize and use most basic pronouns, and begin using plural word forms.
Preschool Milestones
Between the ages of three and four, your child should be able to repeat sentences and identify colors, the NINDS notes. Additional milestones for this age-group include grouping different types of objects, using most speech sounds and expressing specific feelings or ideas. Between four and five, your child should be able to pronounce roughly 200 to 300 words, answer "why" questions, define words and have generally comprehensible speech. Consult your child's doctor about additional language and speech milestones.
Developmental Delays
If your child is not reaching his developmental milestones, his doctor can direct you to appropriate specialists or services, the University of Michigan Health System notes. Potential causes of language and speech delays include natural variations, learning disabilities, hearing loss, sound processing problems, nerve damage or other structural problems, and autism.
