Speech Therapy Goals: What to Expect at Different Ages for Children with Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome can affect speech and communication in multiple ways. Understanding average speech milestones by age enables parents, caregivers, and educators to support the child and engage the help of a speech therapist when necessary.
It is important to note that children with Down syndrome may develop their communication skills at different rates, just as children typically do. A child who is not hitting their milestones can often get back on track with some assistance. Speech therapy is a beneficial tool for people of all ages - including children with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome Speech Milestones & Expectations
Infancy and Toddlerhood (0 - 3 Years Old)
- Babies with Down syndrome often start to babble at around ten months old, which is slightly later than their peers.
- Gestures and signs are a strength for babies with Down syndrome and typically begin between 6 and 12 months.
- The onset of first words varies greatly from child to child, with an average age of 16 months to 24 months.
- Average vocabulary of around 28 words by age 3
- By the age of 2-3, some toddlers with Down syndrome may be able to combine two words together to form simple phrases.
Preschool (3 - 5 Years Old)
- Between the ages of 3 and 5, children often begin to use short 2-4 word phrases.
- Speech may be difficult to understand.
- Articulation difficulties (due to low muscle tone that affects oral motor structures, differences in facial and oral cavity anatomy, hearing loss from frequent ear infections, and potential sensory sensitivities).
5 - 11 Years Old
- Many children will produce longer yet simple sentences.
- Speech often lacks grammatical markers.
- Language comprehension is often stronger than language production.
Speech Therapy Goals For Down Syndrome
As every child is unique in their development, speech therapy goals vary from person to person. They may include:
- Expanding vocabulary
- Working on speech sounds and articulation
- Improving clarity of speech
- Working on conversational skills
- Bettering expressive language skills
- Turn-taking Etiquette (People with Down syndrome often struggle with turn-taking in conversations.)
How Parents Can Support Speech Therapy Goals For Down Syndrome
Speech therapy is highly effective in treating the various communication difficulties that come with Down syndrome. You can read more about this topic in our blog post titled: Is Speech Therapy Effective for Down Syndrome?
Parents play a pivotal role in their child’s speech development. They are tremendous supporters in their speech therapy journey as they spend the most time with their child and know them better than anyone. Incorporating practice and strategies into daily interactions is important. Practical strategies include:
- Create a language-rich environment: talk, read, and narrate daily routines.
- Use gestures and signing: This is particularly important in the early years when vocabulary is minimal, helping to reduce frustration and keep communication open.
- Parent coaching - actively engage in speech therapy exercises.
- Having open communication with the child’s speech therapist.
The Benefits of Speech Therapy For Children With Down Syndrome
Yearly, about 5,700 babies are born in the United States with Down syndrome. This means that Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 640 babies.
Speech and language delays are expected for children with Down syndrome. Although typical, it is still important to seek guidance from a speech therapist early on when the delay is first discovered.
People with Down syndrome are often described as friendly with a drive to please others. With family support, they can reach their full communication potential and live happy, communication-rich lives.
If your child can benefit from speech therapy, schedule a free introductory call today!