Watching your child grow and development is one of the most exciting things that being a parent involves. You child is now 18 months old and you’re wondering if their speech and language is where it should be. The age that children learn language and start talking varies, but learning more about speech and language development will help you determine if there is a cause for concern. Here’s what to expect when they hit that 18-month milestone:

Expressive language (what your child is saying)

• 20 different words including nouns (“cat”, “baby”), verbs (“go”, “eat”), prepositions (“up”, “down”), adjectives (“hot”, “sleepy”), and social words (“hi”, “bye”).
• Uses a variety of sounds
• Talks rather than uses gestures
• Imitates words overheard in conversation
• Points to show you something
• Shakes head yes/no

Receptive language (what your child understands)

• Identifies 6 body parts
• Recognizes some familiar names (people)
• Identify objects in a book
• Follows simple 1-step directions
• Understands 50 words

Who can help?

If you are noticing your child is unable to do some of the skills listed above, they may be considered a “late talker” or may benefit from seeing a speech-language pathologist (SLP). You could wait and see, or you could seek an assessment. Option 1: express your concern to your paediatrician and they can refer you to a public health SLP. Option 2: find a private provider who can complete an assessment. A SLP is able to evaluate your child’s understanding and expression of language and the sounds your child is using to determine where they are compared to where they need to be (if there is a delay). Further, a SLP is able to provide strategies to use in everyday life to surround your child in a language rich environment to help them learn language faster. It is also important to get your child’s hearing tested to ensure they are hearing appropriately to learn language.

3 ways to enhance language:

1. Choices– give your child choices when deciding what to play with, what to eat for snack, etc. For example, “do you want banana or apple?” Giving your child a choice will allow them to express what they want by vocalizing, pointing or imitating the item they desire. This shows your child the power of communication and takes the pressure off saying new words.
2. Expansions– follow your child’s lead and listen closely. When your child says a word, repeat and add 1-2 words onto it. For example, your child says “cow” you respond with “brown cow” or “big cow.” Keeping your message simple provides a language rich environment that is easy to understand and imitate.
3. Self and ParallelTalk – talk about what you are doing during play and what your child is doing during play. Keep your language simple and consistent during that activity, so it is easy to understand. For example, if you are playing with cars and a ramp here are some things you can say: “go car,” “car up/down,” “fast/slow car,” “car goes beep,” “blue car,” etc.

Written by Kristen Lipp, Speech-Language Pathologist (Provisional) with Wildflowers