Speech and Language Milestones: Causes of Delays and Implications for Learning

Language Milestone Timeline Chart
Age Range

Typical Speech/ Language Milestones

Potential Causes of Speech/Language Delays

Implications for Learning for Children with Delays

Evidence-based Learning Strategies for Supporting Development in Children with Delays

Birth-3 Months

1 The baby is quiet or smiles at people
2 Baby makes a cooing sound
3 Seems to recognize a people’s voice
4 Cries change for different needs.
(KIDSENSE, 2016)

1 Developmental speech and language impairment
2 Hearing loss
3 Acute environmental deprivation.
4 Premature birth
5 Auditory processing disorder
6 Neurological difficulties such as TBI, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, autism, apraxia of speech, and selective mutism.
7 Trauma or genetic disorders
(Laule & Ryckman, 2022)

1 The baby will take a long time to grasp the first language.
2 Incidents of difficulties making eye contact.
3 Difficulty using gestures and sound.
(KIDSENSE, 2016)

1 Communicate more with the baby through singing.
2 Expose the baby to multiple sounds such as singing, stories, and music.
3 Seek treatment for ear infections.
4 Stop the medication that may result in diverse effects on the child’s development.
(Fitriani & Prayogo, 2020)

4-6 Months

1 Baby looks in the direction of sounds with their eyes moving
2 Reacts to changes in voice tone
3 Takes notice of toys that produce noises
4 Is receptive to music
5 When playing alone or with someone, the baby coos and babbles
6 Makes babbling sounds that sound like pa, ba, and mi
7 Laughs and giggles
(KIDSENSE, 2016)

1 Developmental speech and language impairment
2 Hearing loss, occurs mainly in babies with incidents of severe middle ear infection.
3 Acute environmental deprivation
4 Premature birth
5 Auditory processing disorder
6 Neurological difficulties such as TBI, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, autism, apraxia of speech, and selective mutism

1 Difficulty with eye contact
2 Difficulty with sounds and gestures

1 Subject the baby to looking at pictures
2 Look at the picture in books or chats
3 Speak to the child and use songs

7 Months-
1 Year

1 Attracts and maintains attention with sounds and gestures.
2 Babbles long strings of sounds, like mimi upup baba dada.
3 Shows people objects by pointing to them.
4 Makes motions such as waving goodbye, reaching for "up," and shaking his head no.
5 Can imitate a variety of speech sounds.
6 Says a single or two words, such as hello, dog, dada, mom, or uh-oh. This will occur around his first birthday; however, the noises may be distorted.
(Feldman, 2019)

1 Developmental speech and language impairment;
2 Hearing loss
3 Slow development
4 Intellectual disability
5 Autism
6 Selective mutism
7 Cerebral palsy
(Laule & Ryckman, 2022)

1 May have difficulties socializing with parents and joint attention
2 May affect muscle tone in the face as babbling helps to strengthen the muscles

1 Play si...