Checklist
for normal speech and language development at the pre-school examinationGenerally from age 3-4 years children:
- are rapidly progressing in their use of complex 4-6+ word sentences
- use past tense, negatives, plurals
- may not always articulate clearly in connected speech
- are using all vowels
- may have difficulty with th,sh,ch,y except in isolation
- can increasingly focus simultaneously on visual and auditory tasks
most 4 year olds:
- can perform tasks whilst listening to instructions
- use 5-6+ word sentences
- ask lots of questions
- use th and r appropriately
- may still have difficulty with consonant clusters, e.g. sp,gr
most 5 year olds:
- can follow and understand most everyday conversation
- are beginning to understand jokes, and to reason and criticize
- are good at listening whilst watching
- may still have difficulty with multisyllabic words
If the child is not progressing in this way, seek advice from the GP, Consultant Community Paediatrician, and/or S<,
Referral to the Freeman for audiological assessment is advised if there are concerns about possible hearing loss.
All schoolchildren should have a hearing screening test in their first or second year of primary school, by specially trained audiovisual screeners.