| Often when parents bring their children in for a | | | | range of what is typical for a same-age child, |
| speech-language evaluation, they say they know | | | | development that measures below the average |
| they shouldn't compare their child to other | | | | range can be identified. An evaluation may |
| children, but .... They are concerned about their | | | | discover an underlying condition that needs |
| child's apparent difficulties, but they feel guilty | | | | treatment, or, in the absence of a recognizable |
| about making a comparison to siblings or other | | | | cause, the speech-language behavior can be |
| children. | | | | described, and a treatment plan can be |
| Though each child is a unique person who will | | | | established to help the child. |
| grow and develop slightly differently than any | | | | Here are some general guidelines for |
| other child, it can be very helpful to a child who is | | | | speech-language milestones achieved by the age |
| struggling to develop skills if his parents do | | | | of 2 ½ to 3 years: a child typically |
| compare him with others. There is a difference | | | | understands approximately 500 words, expresses |
| between comparing people to be critical versus | | | | approximately 200 words, combines 3 to 4 words |
| comparing people in order to help a person in | | | | in simple sentences, and is about 70% intelligible |
| need. | | | | (understandable). The reader is referred to the |
| Let's look at an example from standard medical | | | | web site of the American |
| care that we are all familiar with and comfortable | | | | Speech-Language-Hearing Association ( to view |
| with. Babies and young children are measured and | | | | the chart, "How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?". |
| weighed, and their heights and weights are plotted | | | | If parents are concerned that their child's |
| on height and weight growth charts. Such | | | | speech-language development is slower or |
| percentile charts reflect what is known about the | | | | different than expected based on what most |
| broad average range of development and help | | | | children do at a certain age, they are encouraged |
| doctors find out if a child is too far above or too | | | | to schedule a speech-language evaluation. The |
| far below normal. A child's growth information, | | | | information received will either confirm their |
| relative to what is known to be typical, can help | | | | concerns or reassure that the child is on track in |
| doctors identify if a child has a metabolic disorder, | | | | his development. It will also provide a baseline for |
| food intolerance, or other conditions which affect | | | | measuring the child's progress over time. This child |
| a child's growth and which should be treated. | | | | study process will help parents figure out if their |
| Similarly, then, when comparing a child's | | | | child needs some help in order to acquire |
| speech-language skills against the broad average | | | | speech-language skills like a child his or her age. |