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Expert Q&A

	By Mindy Hudon Speech and Language Pathologist

How does language develop from 7 months to 12 months of age?

During months 7 to 12, your baby will start to enjoy Peek-a-boo and Pat-a-cake games. He starts to recognize his name and common words (i.e. "cup," "diaper"). His understanding of directions is emerging, and he begins to respond to requests such as, "Want more?" Also, his babbling has developed to include long and short groups of sounds such as, "upup, gagagaga." These babbles will form into what we know as words. Although the words may not be clear, if your baby consistently uses the same sounds to indicate an object or desire, then it can be considered a "true word." For example, if your baby always says "mo" to indicate that he wants "more," acknowledge this as a true word.

By 12 months, most babies have formed their babbles into one or two words like "dada, bye-bye," or even "mama!" It's hard to believe that in 12 short months, a baby starts to develop the ability to communicate with the world. From his first startle response to speaking his first words, speech and language skills develop rapidly. It's not surprising that research on brain development shows rapid growth occurring from birth to 3 years of age.

Continue to foster great speech skills by talking to your baby often. "Use the most of your immediate and surrounding environment to enhance your baby's speech, by going for walks and pointing out the different things you see ('dog, house, car, birds flying, mailman')," says Sharon Frank, M.A., CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist in private practice and mother of 4-year-old Joey. "Do the same with things inside the house, at the grocery store, at the park, etc."

During this time period, your baby is ready and willing to learn language, and you're his best source to stimulate these skills. By providing a rich, language-learning environment, you're providing your baby with skills that will last a lifetime!

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