When do Babies start Talking?
[mme_highlight] A baby shows surprising speech processing skills since birth. Lexical acquisition starts at the second half of the first year of life, before children uttering their first words. Learning the meaning of words requires advanced abilities, which starts at 14 months.[mme_highlight]
Language is a uniquely human capacity. Interestingly, research has shown that the functional organization of a newborn brain in terms of language processing is similar to the adult brain. A baby shows surprising speech processing skills since birth. Studies have proved what the daily life shows: babies prefer their mother’s voice over other female voices and their native language over foreign languages. Surprisingly, newborns are able to distinguish most sound contrasts used in language.
How is the language development during the first year of life?
During the first year of life, however, this ability is somewhat narrowed because babies usually only listen to their native language, but at the same time this ability is increased to discriminate sound contrasts of their own native language.
Nevertheless, some babies learn more than one language: how do they distinguish? Scientists believe the answer is in the babies’ sensitivity to language rhythm – this discrimination ability emerges as early as at 4 months of age.
Also surprising, lexical acquisition starts at the second half of the first year of life, before children uttering their first words. At 8 months, before start learning the major amount of words, babies discriminate a minimal pair of words and can associate them with two different objects. In fact, learning the meaning of words requires advanced abilities, which starts at 14 months.
What are the major language milestones?
The major milestones are listed in the table below. Expressive language refers to the ability of using language, while receptive language is the ability to understand it. Note that these milestones are based on the 50th percentile and, thus, they are merely indicative and intended for general developmental surveillance by primary care assistance.
[mme_databox]
| Age | Expressive Language | Receptive Language |
|---|---|---|
| Birth - 2 months | cry | Turns toward sound |
| 2- 4 months | Open vowel sounds: “ooh”; “ahh” | Social smile Attention to faces |
| 6 months | Repetitive combinations: “bababa” | Responds to name |
| 12 months | First word. Repeats sounds to get attention | Responds to “no” Follows simple verbal commands if made with gesture |
| 15- 18 months | Points to body parts when named | Follows simple verbal commands (one-step commands) |
| 18-24 months | Two-word sentences (e.g., “daddy water”) | |
| 24- 36 months | Answers simple questions | Follows two-step verbal commands |
| 36- 48 months | Sentences with 4-5 words; pronouns; plural | Understands placement in space |
| 48- 72 months | Complete sentences with grammar markings | Follows three-step verbal commands |
Adapted from: Sices, L. Use of developmental milestones in pediatric residency training and practice: time to rethink the meaning of the mean. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2007; 28:47.
[/mme_databox]
When should parents be worried?
Language learning is frequently viewed by parents and society with anxiety and there are a lot of associated myths. There is a significant variability in the normal range of development of language in young children. There are some identified risk factors that can contribute for language delays: poverty, if the parents’ level of education is low, prematurity and low weight at birth, family history of language delays, maternal depression and male sex.
As part of the general development surveillance, your family doctor can use screening validated tools at the main milestones and refer the child for further evaluation if considered necessary. Note that approximately 10 to 15% of the 2-year olds have language delay, but this delays remains only in 4 to 5% of children after three years.
Can I help my baby learn words?
Sure! Studies show that the quantity and quality of the language babies hear from their parents or caregivers influences the early lexical development. This implies that babies who are exposed to richer language may interpret words better and thus be able to learn more words.
Summary and Recommendations
- At 6 months starts the lexicon acquisition, as well as babbling using repetitive combinations; the baby respondes to name.
- The first words are said at 12 months in 50% of babies. Babies understand the meaning of certain words at around 14 months.
- Expect 2 word sentences from your baby by 18 to 24 months.
- Between the age of 2 and 3, your baby answers simple questions.
- Complete sentences with complex grammar are expected between 48 and 72 months.
- Note that 10 to 12% of 2-year-olds present language delay.
[mme_references]
References
- Mehler J, Gervain J. Speech Perception and Language Acquisition in the First Year of Life. Rev. Psychol. 2010. 61:191–218
- Swingley D. 2009. Contributions of infant word learning to language development. Trans. Royal Soc.
- Nereyda H, Virginia A M, Anne F. Does input influence uptake? Links between maternal talk, processing speed and vocabulary size in Spanish-learning children. Dev Sci. 2008 November ; 11(6): F31–F39.
- Sices, L. Use of developmental milestones in pediatric residency training and practice: time to rethink the meaning of the mean. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2007; 28:47.
- van Noort-van der Spek IL, Franken MC, Weisglas-Kuperus N. Language functions in preterm-born children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatrics 2012; 129:745.
[/mme_references]