Speech: Birth to 12 months

by Teresa McEntire | More from this Blogger

27 Jun 2006 11:01 AM

Babies begin by hearing other people make sounds. In the beginning the tone and pitch of the voice is most important. If your voice is calm and soothing your baby is comforted. It is important that you vary the pitch and tone of your voice so your child learns voice inflection.

By about 4 months he is starting to listen to the actual sounds that you are making. At this age a child usually start to babble, trying to imitate the sounds she hears you make. When your child makes a sound listen to him and talk to him throughout the day. We he makes a recognizable sound expound on it turn "ma" into "mama", "mouse", "mirror", and other "m" words.

At about 6 months your child will begin making more sounds and trying to imitate the sounds of speech. It is common for a child to repeat the same sound over and over. She might try to repeat the sounds that you make. Imitate your child's speech then introduce a new sound and encourage imitation. By twelve months your child should be able to use at least one word attached to a specific meaning such as "ma" for mama or "ba" for ball.

Between six months and a year your child begins to comprehend many simple words. Point out common words like baby, cat, dog, ball, book, and blanket in books and your child's environment. Use words like go, hot, walk, and drink to describe everyday events.

At this age children are not expected to be able to verbally communicate their desires and instead cry, but even when crying babies are learning to communicate. Most parents can tell between a cry that says, "I'm hungry or tired" versus one that says, "I'm hurt." Responding to a child's cry teaches them that they have the ability to communicate.

As a parent you should be concerned if by the time your child is six months he or she does not:

• Respond to sounds
• Turn their head in response to your voice
• Respond to their name
• Coo or babble

For more information read my blogs on other Speech and Language Topics: Child Speech and Language Development Speech and Language Delays Causes of Speech and Language Delays Speech: 1-2 years Speech: 2-3 years Speech: 3-4 years

Learn more about Teresa McEntire

Teresa McEntire grew up in Utah the oldest of four children. She currently lives in Kuna, Idaho, near Boise. She and her husband Gene have been married for almost ten years.

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