Guidelines for Normal Speech and Language Development
Normal development charts list age 12 months as the average age when a child first walks alone. But we all know children who walked as early as 9 months and as late as 18 months. All these children were developing normally. In the case of speech and language development at primary levels, acquisition of targeted skills can have a range to be considered within normal development.
In assessing normal speech and language development, the speech-language pathologist monitors not only the child’s ability to use words and phrases, but also his or her ability to make speech sounds correctly. Often the “errors” a child makes in pronouncing words and sounds is within the range of normal. Children entering first grade may typically evidence a developmental range in the mastery of the sounds in spoken English. Although one child in first or second grade can produce all spoken sounds correctly, it would not be atypical for several children in a class not have mastery of all spoken sounds. We observe typical developmental misarticulations to include /r/, /s/, /th/, /l/, as some examples.
The speech and language pathologist works closely with the classroom teacher to monitor the development of speech and language production. Several areas for consideration are:
- Is the misarticulation developmentally appropriate for the child’s age?
- Does the misartiuclation interfere with the child’s ability to learn and access the curriculum?
- Does the misarticulation interfere with the child’s ability to be understood?
- Is the sound in the stages of emergence and could the student benefit from a home program to foster development?
Any parental concerns should be shared with the classroom teacher and speech pathologist. Children can be screened and monitored for speech development. A variety of service options and plans exist to meet the variety of needs students present. Often parents find it reassuring to know their child’s “error” is simply part of normal speech and language development.
Linda Rutledge
Speech & Language Pathologist
