Uses speech sounds to get attention

Listens when spoken to

Says 1-3 words

Uses nouns almost exclusively

Understands simple commands

Speech is 80% intelligible to strangers

Understands 1200-2000 or more words

Says 800-1500 or more words

Understands object function

Understands differences in meanings (stop-go, in-on, big-little)

Follows 2-3 step commands

Asks and answers simple questions (who, what, where, why)

Uses language to express emotion

Uses 4-5 words in sentences

Is conscious of past and future

Appropriately uses ‘is’, ‘are’, and ‘am’ in sentences

Uses pronouns (him, her, he, she, they etc.)

Tells two events in chronological order

Engages in long conversation

Says 3-20 words or more

Produces 2-word phrases

Follows simple commands

Produces mostly unintelligible speech

Combines gestures and vocalizations

Requests more of desired items

Uses words more frequently

Understands 300 or more words

Says 50-100 or more words

Starts to combine nouns and verbs

Begins to use pronouns (I and mine)

Is 25-50% intelligible to strangers

Answers “what’s that?” questions

Enjoys listening to stories

Knows 5 body parts

Follows 2-part commands

Speech is 50-70% intelligible to strangers

Understands 500-900 or more words

Says 50-250 or more words

Uses 3-4 word phrases

Asks 1-2 word questions

Verbalizes toilet needs

Requests items by name

Responds to some yes/no questions

Follows simple commands and answers simple questions

Enjoys listening to short stories, songs, and rhymes

Understands who, whose, and how many

Understands most things said to him/her

Uses vowels correctly

Uses ‘ing,’ possessive ‘s,’ and plural ‘s’