Speech and Language Terms You Should Know
Articulation:
Refers to the clarity and distinction of sounds in speech
It is the production of individual sounds
By the ages of 24-30 months, an individual should have consistent correct production of all vowel sounds
Consonant sounds are developed sequentially, meaning that they are learned at different times in a continuing pattern of growth.
Most 3 year olds will have about 13 consonant sounds in their repertoire
A 3 year old child should be understood by an adult who is not their parent 75% of the time in spontaneous speech
Standardized testing for articulation usually does not occur before a child turns 3
By age 7-8, most children will have mastery of all consonant and vowel sounds
Receptive Language:
This is how a child processes and understands language that they receive
The capability to know and understand what was said
This also includes
Receptive vocabulary
comprehension of single words
Commands/Directions
Can they understand and follow them?
Questions
Do they understand what they are being asked, and are they able to appropriately answer?
Prepositions
Do they understand the difference between prepositions, i.e. in vs. out
Basic concepts
Do they understand feelings, time, locations?
Standardized testing for receptive language can be done at any age
Expressive Language:
This is how a child processes and communicates language outwardly
The capability to express their feelings, thoughts, and needs
This also includes
Expressive vocabulary
The use and labeling of single words
Phrases and sentences
The ability to put words together to form phrases and sentences
Questions
Can they ask questions appropriately?
Specific parts of speech
Do they accurately use pronouns, prepositions, and negatives?
Verb tense
Do they use the proper verb tense when speaking?
A child usually says their first word between the ages of 10-15 months
Children should begin to put two words together around the ages of 18-24 months
Standardized testing for expressive language can be done at any age
Jargon:
By around 1 ½ years, a lot of children will try to mimic their parents' way of talking, and this includes attempting to talk as fast as them. The result of this attempted speed is a result we call jargon
Jargon consists of lots of sounds and is incredibly expressive, however it is overall unintelligible
Do not worry if you do not see your child using jargon as some never do in their process of learning to talk
It usually begins around 12-15 months
18 months is often the apex of jargon use
By about 24 months you will see a significant decrease in the use of jargon, instead a child tends to favor meaningful phrases
It usually disappears by about 30 months
Echolalia:
Refers to the repeating of a portion or entirety of what someone else says
It usually starts very distinctly around 18 months
Echolalia does not happen every time a child speaks, however it is very noticeable when it does
Around 30 months, it will have usually disappeared altogether
