Is that Normal??

I hear this one a lot, so I want to set some bounds of what is and is not "normal" by outlining speech basic speech and language development.  This doesn't have every milestone, but it will give you a general idea of what communication skills we see at each age.

For those who want to cut to the chase, here is the too-long-didn't-read version:

By age 5 most kids are 100% understandable (or intelligible, referring to speech sound errors) and sound pretty much like an adult (referring mainly to grammar).  If your child is not one of those two things, its probably NOT normal. 

I was going to create an awesome info graphic about language development based on the norms given by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, but I found this one and why reinvent the wheel?  I found it at North Shore Pediatric Therapy's website.

 Take a look and find what your child CAN do, then go through and see what they struggle with.  The last section has some ways to improve your child's language skills, and will will go into more depth on those techniques as the year goes on.

If you have specific questions about diagnosis, you should really consult with a speech pathologist.  This is just a great way to identify possible areas of need and make you aware of communication skills your child has already mastered.

Let me know what your main area of concern is.  What skill is your highest priority when working on speech goals this year?