Lucid Speech & Language Clinic Inc. is dedicated exclusively to the needs of pediatric patients. Knowing that each child develops differently, we place great emphasis on comparing test findings to speech and language developmental norms to determine if a true deficit exists. We also are dedicated to presenting parents with information regarding any diagnoses appropriate for their child.

Based on your child’s initial evaluation it will be determined if they are comprehending and using language adequately based on their chronological age. This will be done based on standardized measures, clinical observations and parent report. It is important that parents share all of their child’s medical and developmental history information with the assessing Speech Language Pathologist so that the most appropriate conclusion can be reached.

developmental guidelines

Your child should be able to demonstrate the following skills by corresponding ages. If your child is unable to do so, you should talk to your pediatrician regarding your concerns or call us directly to schedule an appointment for an evaluation.

Language Development Guidelines

The term of "language" refers to what a child is able to comprehend during conversation as well as what they are able to say independently. The following are guidelines only and are not meant alone for diagnosis.

age	hearing and understanding	expressive language
1 to 2 years	Obeys simple commands like "Put the truck in the box." Can point to body parts like nose and mouth. Recognizes pictures of objects. Listens to rhymes and songs.	Says first words and names objects. Repeats phrases like "all gone." Begins to use two-word sentences and questions ("Where kitty?" and "What's that?").
2 to 3 years	Identifies objects by function (i.e., "Which one do you play with?") Understands prepositions and adjectives like in, on, big, little.	Uses two to four word sentences. Vocabulary builds to around 900 words. Uses adjectives, prepositions, and pronouns.
3 to 4 years	Listens to stories. Follows two-step commands. Can match and sort objects. Remembers recent events.	Asks a lot of questions. Speech is understandable. Tells stories, shares ideas. Vocabulary increases to 1500 words. Uses most parts of speech. Counts to three.
4 to 5 years	Comprehends 2500 words. Understands common opposites (hot-cold, in-out, etc.) Follows three-step commands. Likes books and tries to "read" them. Can retell a story using picture clues.	Uses complete sentences. Produces "how" and "where" questions. Talks about imaginary things. Counts to ten. Can name items in a category (foods, animals, etc.) Has very few sound errors in speech.
5 to 6 years	Understands time concepts. Begins to differentiate between fact and fantasy. Understands humor, plot, and surprise. Can sequence four pictures to make a story. Comprehends 4,000 words.	Tells several things about an object. Tells sequence of events. Uses imaginative language in play. Will usually talk willingly to adults. Like to pretend and act out stories. Uses possessives, negatives, conjunctions, irregular plurals, and complex sentences.
6 to 8 years	Understands riddles. Anticipates story endings. Is interested in current events. Wonders about abstract concepts, like how things work. Understands some figurative language.	Gives short oral reports. Uses details in description. Uses most irregular verb forms. Creates conversation suggested by a picture. Names days, months, and numbers in serial order.

Speech Development Guidelines

The term of "speech" refers to the sounds a child is able to use accurately while talking and the vocal quality with which it is produced. The following are also guidelines only and are not meant alone for diagnosis.

age	phonemes / sounds which should be obtained
2 years old	[m, n, p, b, h, w] phonemes
3 years old	[k, g, f, t, d] phonemes
4 years old	"y", "ng",and "sh" phonemes
5 years old	"ch" "dg" and /v/ phonemes as well as [l, s, r] consonant clusters
6+ years old	[r, s, z] phonemes as well as voiced/voiceless "th"
Based on norms from the Articulation Proficiency Scale: 3rd Edition (Fudala & Reynolds, 2000)

LUCID speech & language clinic inc.	LUCID speech & language clinic inc.
Murrieta Location 25102 Jefferson Avenue, Suite D Murrieta CA 92562 951.461.1190 phone 951.461.7975 fax	Riverside / Corona Location 11870 Pierce Street, Suite 270 Riverside, CA 92505 951.808.5850 phone 951.808.5860 fax