Stages of Speech Development

Stages of Speech Development

Babies innate ability to learn language. They are exposed to sound in thier environment from the moment they are born. They begin to react to loud noises by being startled and crying or becoming 'still' when a new noise presents itself.

Vegetative Stage

This stage is also known as basic biological noises. It occurs between when a baby is first born and the first four months of their life. This is where sounds of discomfort are formed connected to physical needs; also known as reflexive actions. This includes spluttering, rhythmic coughing, reflexive noises (when they are hungry or in pain/discomfort) and vegetative noises (such as breathing and eating). During this stage babies learn to turn to you when you speak and smile when they can hear your voice. Babies become quieter when crying once they cn hear your voice as it is farmiliar.

Cooing Stage

This stage occurs between four and seven months. Cooing is sounds of comfort and vocal play using open mouthed vowel sounds. By this stage they become responsive to music and rhythm as well as objects. Babies at the stage of cooing and laughter can also notice a change of tone in your voice and will resond to the word 'no'. During this stage, towards the later months, they produce vowel like sounds and often have a nasal quality. Cooing is important as it helps learn to control muscles in the vocal organs and tongue movements.

Babbling Stage

This stage is also know as vocal play and occurs between seven to nine months. Babbling is the repeated patterns of vowel and consonant sonds. This stage includes nasals (such as 'mmm' and 'nn') and fricatives (such as 'fff').…