When it comes to toddlerhood, a lot is going on. Communication development, motor skills, coordination, cognitive, and social-emotional skills come simultaneously. Toddlers are learning their preferences, developing personalities, and just loving life. In this post, we will talk about ASHA’s speech and language milestones for 3-year-olds to 4-year-olds, including speech development stages in toddlerhood.

These milestones were created so that we (clinicians and parents) have guidelines to measure toddler development. As clinicians, we use this information along with the standardized assessments to determine if a toddler qualifies- or would benefit from speech therapy intervention services; this information is resourceful for choosing and writing goals and helping us manage our expectations. It also provides an opportunity to educate parents/caregivers on ways they can encourage development in their toddlers.

Speech vs. Language

What’s the difference between speech and language in speech therapy? Here’s how the American Speech and Hearing Association [ASHA] distinguishes the two:

Speech is how we say sounds and words. Speech includes:

• Articulation: how we make sounds using our mouth, lips, and tongue
• Voice: how we use our vocal folds and breath to make sounds
• Fluency: the rhythm of speech

Language refers to the words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want [communicate]. Language includes:

• What words mean
• How we make new words
• What we should say at different times

It’s important to distinguish these two concepts because between 3 and 4 years old, toddlers can present with a speech delay, language delay, or both.

Links mentioned in today's podcast: 

Prelinguistic Skills Episode

Toddler Toolbox

Love the podcast? Help other SLPs find it by sharing this episode and leaving a rating or review!