Developmental Information
| Birth to 5 Months | |
|---|---|
| Typically Developing Children | Children with Down Syndrome |
| Reacts to sound Turns head toward sound source Watches face when parent speaks Vocalizes (coos, laughs, giggles, cries, fusses) Makes noise when talked to Begins to blow bubbles with mouth Fixes eyes on spoon or bottle Anticipates feeding when sees bottle Laughs when playing with toy Localizes sound source/speaker | Reacts to sound occasionally May not necessarily turn head toward sound source May not necessarily watch face when parent speaks Needs audiologist evaluation Minimal vocalization (cries, fusses) Ceases sounds when talked to |
| 6 – 11 Months | |
| Typically Developing Children | Children with Down Syndrome |
| Understands some verbal commands (“no-no,” “sh” – quiet) Understands gestures (“come here,” “look”) Babbles (says “ba-ba-ba,” “ma-ma-ma”) Waves “bye” Tries to communicate by action or gestures Points to objects and pictures Tries to repeat sounds Comprehends 10 - 15 words Extends arms to be picked up Sucks through a straw Sits unsupported Stands holding on Chews solid foods Seeks toys for appropriate play | May not demonstrate comprehension beyond “no-no” May not babble until 10 - 12 months Watches face when someone speaks Localizes sound source/speaker |
| 12 – 17 Months | |
| Typically Developing Children | Children with Down Syndrome |
| Produces 10 – 15 words Produces animal sound(s) Produces mostly nouns Comprehends 50 – 100 words Listens to simple stories Responds to yes/no questions Gives toy or object on request Indicates displeasure when toy is removed Gestures and vocalizes to indicate needs Initiates vocalizations to others Imitates familiar sounds and actions Brings object to show others | Uses limited manual signs to communicate Comprehends 8 – 10 words Able to blow bubbles with mouth Tries to communicate by action or gestures Stands holding on (at around 12 months) Chews semi-solid foods Understands some verbal commands (“no-no,” “sh” – quiet) Understands gestures (“come here,” “look”) Waves “bye” |
| 18 – 23 Months | |
| Typically Developing Children | Children with Down Syndrome |
| Produces 50 words Produces most familiar objects Says own name on request Verbalizes “no” Begins to use some verbs and adjectives Beginning of two word phrases Comprehends 300 words Asks questions by raising intonation at end of phrase Refers to self with pronoun Points to toes, eyes, and nose Follows simple one step commands Acknowledges others by eye contact, responding, or repeating | Identifies by pointing Comprehends 15 – 20 words Sucks through a straw Chews solid foods Walks (at around 18 months) Seeks toy for appropriate play Listens to simple stories being read Indicates displeasure when toy is removed Gestures and vocalizes to indicate needs Points to objects and pictures Tries to repeat sounds developmental information |
| 24 – 35 Months | |
| Typically Developing Children | Children with Down Syndrome |
| May omit final consonants Consonants mastered: p, m, n, w, h Produces 200 – 500 intelligible words Answers “where” and “what” questions Uses “a” and “an” in sentences Uses regular plurals (dog – dogs) Some pronouns emerging Uses some three and four word sentences Comprehends 500 – 900 words Listens to longer stories Carries out two stage commands Understands concept of first | Comprehends 25 – 40 words 40% will have oral motor deficits similar to dysphasia Gives toy or object on request Initiates vocalizations to others Imitates familiar sounds and actions Produces animal sound(s) Brings objects to show others Acknowledges others by eye contact, responding, or repeating
|
| 36 – 47 Months | |
| Typically Developing Children | Children with Down Syndrome |
| Uses 800 intelligible words Consonants mastered: b, d, k, g, f, y Comprehends 1,200 words Listens to 20-minute stories Matches colors Knows in/on/under; big/little Developed routines for bedtime Answers “who, why, where, how many questions” Asks simple questions (what’s that?) Repeats sentence of six or seven syllables Engages in short dialogues Uses language in imaginative ways Requests for clarifications Narratives are heaps: collection of unrelated ideas | Produces first 10 – 15 words Dysphasia group produces only a single word Comprehends 50 – 75 words Says own name on request Verbalizes “no” Points to toes, eyes, and nose Follows simple one step commands Listens to simple stories Responds to yes/no questions Gives toy or object on request |
| 48 – 59 Months | |
| Typically Developing Children | Children with Down Syndrome |
| Very intelligible speech Recognizes most primary colors Counts 10 objects Repeats four digits Uses “what do… does” questions Comprehends 2,500 words Classifies according shape, color Uses 1,500- 2,000 words Asks meaning of words Tells long stories Uses terms such as this, that, here, there Narratives: unfocused – sequence of events but no central character of theme Recognizes icon symbols like McDonald’s arches, stop sign | Comprehends 100 – 500 words Produces 20 – 30 intelligible words Produces most familiar objects Dysphasia group produces most vowel and some back consonants: k, g May omit final consonants Answers simple questions Limited sound/symbol associations Listens to longer stories Carries out two stage commands Understands concept of first Beginning of two word phrases Asks questions by raising intonation at end of phrase |
| 60 – 71 Months | |
| Typically Developing Children | Children with Down Syndrome |
| Consonants mastered: t, ing, r, l Comprehends 13,000 words Understands opposites Understands more/less, some/many, several/few, most/least, before/after, now/later Knows half and whole Counts 12 – 20 objects Names letters of alphabet Knows first, second, third Names days of week Uses all pronouns Uses comparatives (bigger) and superlatives (biggest) Uses 6 – 7 word sentences Narratives: focused – central character with logical sequence but ending is unclear Reads 15 – 20 words | Uses 3 – 4 word sentences Produces 100 – 400 intelligible words Comprehends 500 – 900 words Dysphasia group produces many omitted sounds in initial, medial, and final word positions Non-dysphasic group produces substitutions and distortions of fricatives (f, v, s, z, sh, ch, zh) Uses “a” and “an” in sentences Recognizes most primary colors Counts 10 objects Uses some verbs and adjectives Refers to self with pronoun Uses regular plurals (dog – dogs) Uses some pronouns Asks simple questions Engages in short dialogues |
“We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson