Listening and Speaking Milestones in Babies
Babies develop listening and speaking skills at different stages. Here are some typical behaviors most children exhibit at various ages.
Birth to 3 Months
- Show attentiveness to familiar sounds or voices.
- Respond to noise by startling, blinking, stopping sucking, crying, or waking up.
- Produce soft baby gurgles when awake.
3 to 6 Months
- Turn eyes and head toward a person's voice, such as talking, toy sounds, or dog barking.
- Begin making speech-like sounds like "ga," "um," "bar," and sounds of p, b, m.
- Respond to changes in parents' tone of voice.
6 to 9 Months
- Respond to their name when called and look for the source.
- Understand simple words like "no," "goodbye," or "juice."
- Use unclear words like "big big," "mom mom," or "dad dad."
9 to 12 Months
- React to soft or loud sounds.
- Repeat simple phrases and imitate animal sounds.
- Point to favorite toys or food when asked.
12 to 18 Months
- Use 10 or more words.
- Follow simple verbal instructions, like "Get the ball."
- Point to people, body parts, or toys when requested.
- "Jump" in response to music.
18 to 24 Months
- Use 20 or more words.
- Combine 2 or more words, like "Just also" or "What is that?"
- At the start of words, use many difficult consonants like b, g, m.
- Listen to simple stories and songs.
2 to 3 Years
- Use words in 2-3 word phrases.
- At age 2, others can sometimes understand what the child says (25%-50% of the time).
- At age 3, others can usually understand what the child says (50%-75% of the time).
- Follow two-step instructions, like "Go and put the ball on the table."
Differences in Babies with Cleft Lip and Palate
Compared to typical babies, those with cleft lip and palate produce fewer consonants and fewer consonant clusters or polysyllabic words. Relative to non-cleft peers of the same age, babies with cleft palate begin babbling later and tend to avoid consonants involving the roof of the mouth and tongue root. Their early consonants often do not require high oral pressure, focusing on nasal, gliding, and back-of-throat sounds, including "h" and glottal stops. Common consonants in these children include "m," with others like "j" and "w" also appearing.
Typically, the frequency and variety of vocalizations decrease significantly after cleft palate surgery, taking about 6 weeks to return to pre-surgery levels.
Formal language assessments are usually conducted when children use more vocabulary around age 2 and a half. However, if issues arise with speech in babies with cleft lip and palate, consult a specialist speech therapist for support.