If any of the following are observed, speech-language screening is recommended. These are “red flags” for a speech and/or language disorder.
12 Months
- Does not point
- Does not gesture – such as waving or clapping
- Has limited or no babbling
18 Months
- Does not respond to “no” or “bye-bye”
- Does not use at least 10 words consistently
- Does not discriminate between sounds well – such as ball/doll
24 Months
- Less than 50% intelligible
- Does not use at least six consonant sounds
- Does not follow simple directions
- Does not imitate names of familiar objects
- Has a vocabulary of less than 50 words
- Relies on gestures and grunting to communicate
- No two-word meaningful phrases
36 Months
- Deleting consonants at the end of words and/or beginning of words
- Less than 75% intelligible – strangers can’t understand child
- Has not mastered the following sounds: p, m, h, n, and w
- Not using three-word phrases
- Difficulty understanding and therefore answering a variety of questions
48 Months
- Less than 100% intelligible
- Has not mastered the following sounds: b, k, g, d, f, and y
- Does not answer “wh” questions
- Not using complete sentences and/or able to carry on simple conversations
Other Behaviors to Consider
- Picky eater and/or gags on certain foods
- Has difficulty with transitions
- Demonstrates repetitive and/or odd behaviors
- Shows no interest in communicating
- Drools excessively
- Stutters more consistently and for more than six months
- Limited eye contact
- Skips a major milestone
- Doesn’t appear to hear and/or understand
- Limited body awareness