As a child gains more control of his muscles, he can make more and better sounds. A baby learns by watching adults and learning the subtleties of speech and language. At 18 to 24 months, children frequently have a vocabulary spurt from 5 to 10 words to more than 50 words. Children begin to use single words to communicate and eventually combine words. Children start understanding language a lot more when they are about 2 or 3 years old.
Children understand more language than they can express during their early years.
The following are problems to be concerned about. Is not saying words by 14 to 16 months of age. Has difficulty being understood by people outside the family after age 3. Has any unusual facial, vocal, or breathing behaviors associated with speech. Has noticeable hesitations or repetitions in speech past age 5 years.