Speech, Language, Oral Motor & Feeding

Milestones

To accomplish each developmental milestone, whether gross and fine motor, speech or oral motor and feeding, a child needs the right combination of muscular strength, coordination, sound development and especially determination. While every child is unique, if your child is not reaching some of the below milestones, early intervention is encouraged. Early intervention into your child’s developmental delay is critical. If you recognize that your child is not reaching the below milestones, contact Speech Castle.

By Three Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Establishing a feeding routine that is typically stress free and showing adequate weight gain.

Language

  • Briefly gazes at people.

  • Quiets when picked up.

By Six Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Enjoys mealtime.

  • No longer loses liquid during sucking from bottle or breast.

  • Showing interest in others food.

Language

  • Babbles for attention.

  • Turns and looks in direction of sound.

  • Makes many different sounds.

By Eight Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Has begun taking soft solids from a spoon.

  • Is using a primitive chewing pattern with soft foods.

  • Can be fed sitting with some support.

Language

  • Responds to name.

  • Produces 4 or more different sounds.

  • Listens to own vocalizations.

  • Tries to imitate sounds.

By Twelve Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Liquids are primarily from a cup even though may still be breast or bottle feeding.

  • Eating coarsely chopped table foods, including easily chewed meats.

  • Enjoys cookies, crackers and cereals for snacks.

Language

  • Using 2-6 words other than Mama and Dada.

  • Imitates familiar words.

  • Understands simple instructions.

  • Recognizes word/object relationship.

By Fifteen Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Sitting unsupported for meals.

  • Foods now include most meats and many raw vegetables and fruits.

  • Drooling is not a problem unless teething.

Language

  • Word usage is increasing.

  • Asks for “more”.

  • Waves bye-bye.

  • Begins to point to pictures.

By Eighteen Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Enjoys most table foods safely.

  • Self feeding with some assistance.

  • Drinking from an open cup with some assistance with minimal loss of liquid.

Language

  • Uses 10-20 words, including names.

  • Points to toes, eyes and nose.

  • Imitates words and sounds more precisely.

By Two Years

Oral Motor Feeding

  • No loss of liquid when drinking and cup is removed.

  • Chews and swallows with no food or saliva loss.

  • Swallows solid foods, even those with combinations of texture with lips closed.

Language

  • Has about a 300-word vocabulary.

  • Listens for the meaning of words.

  • 2-3 word sentence length.

  • Asks “What” and “Where” questions.

  • Asks for drink, toilet or food.

By Two and Half Years

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Eats the same foods as the rest of the family.

  • Drooling is not present.

Language

  • Has a 450 word vocabulary.

  • Gives first name.

  • Uses past tense.

  • Likes to hear the same story repeated.

  • Talks to children and adults.

  • Can name common pictures and things.

By Three Years

Language

  • Has a 1000 word vocabulary.

  • Uses 3-4 word sentences.

  • Can relay or tell a story or idea.

  • Can stay on task for 8-9 minutes.

By Four Years

Language

  • Uses 4-5 word sentences.

  • Asks “who” and “why” questions.

  • Identifies some colors and shapes.

  • Stays on task for 11-12 minutes.

By Five Years

Language

  • Uses 5-6 word sentences.

  • Knows full name and address.

  • Uses all speech sounds correctly.

  • Asks questions to get information.

  • Uses all types of sentences.

  • Understands spatial relationships.

By Six Years

Language

  • Has correct articulation for speech sounds.

  • Uses adult grammar in conversation.

  • Beginning to read simple words.

  • Names days of the week in order and counts to 30.

  • Asks loads of “Why,” “What,” and “How” questions.