By age 3, most children speak in sentences of three or more words, and a stranger understands most of what they say. If your child mostly uses single words, or a stranger can barely understand them, it is worth calling a speech therapist, even just to ask. The guides below cover every age from 12 months to 5 years.
This is not a diagnosis and does not replace an assessment. Children develop at different rates, and not matching this list does not mean something is wrong. If something worries you - whatever it says here - call.
Child's age
Choose your child's age. You will see what is typical at that age and what is worth raising with a speech therapist. It takes two minutes and needs no sign-up.
These lists follow the widely used developmental guides (ASHA and the CDC) together with Bulgarian norms for sound acquisition. The ages are approximate - children do not develop to a timetable.
| Age | Usual at this age |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Responds to their name and understands "no" |
| 18 months | Uses between 10 and 20 words |
| 2 years | Vocabulary is growing fast - dozens of words, and new ones every week |
| 3 years | Speaks in sentences of three or more words |
| 4 years | Tells a short story in the right order |
| 5 years | Produces almost all sounds correctly. Bulgarian r, and sometimes l, may still be settling - for most children that finishes by around 6 |
The sound parents ask about most is Р. Here is when sounds typically settle in Bulgarian - and why English charts do not apply.
| Age | Sounds |
|---|---|
| around 4 years | С, З, Ш, Ж |
| after 5 years | Л |
| towards 6 years | Р |
These ages are approximate and specific to Bulgarian. English norms place Р considerably earlier, and by that measure a perfectly typical Bulgarian child looks delayed.
This is not therapy and does not replace an assessment.
Kneel or sit on the floor so you are face to face. Your child can see how your lips move, and you can see what they are looking at.
Not about what you want to talk about. Name whatever has caught their attention right now - that is how a word sticks to something real.
Count to five in your head before you step in. The pause is uncomfortable for an adult and exactly as long as a child needs to find the word.
If they say "woof-woof", answer "yes, a dog!". They hear the right word without being told they got it wrong.
It does not matter whether you reach the end. Turning the pages, pointing, and the fiftieth reading of the same favourite book all do the same work.
A television or music playing behind you makes speech harder to pick out.
This is not a diagnosis and does not replace an assessment. Children develop at different rates, and not matching this list does not mean something is wrong. If something worries you - whatever it says here - call.
Bilingualism does not delay speech and does not cause a speech disorder. Children growing up with two languages pass through the same stages as everyone else. Do not give up the language you speak most naturally with your child. What a child needs is a lot of language, not a particular language.
In Bulgarian, С, З, Ш and Ж are in place in most children around the fourth year. Л settles later and may still be unsteady at five. Р is the last - in most children it comes towards the sixth year. The ages are approximate and apply to Bulgarian: English tables put Р considerably earlier.
Appointments are booked by phone: +359 88 959 3098. I see children Monday to Friday, 15:00 to 19:00, one person per hour so nobody waits. Appointments can be booked up to three weeks ahead, and changes or cancellations need at least 24 hours' notice.
Call. If I think therapy is not needed, I will tell you.
Ray
the practice assistant
Hello. I'm Ray - I help you find what you need on this site: the services, what the first visit looks like, opening hours, how to book.
I cannot tell you whether anything is going on with your child - Sonia does that, in person. But I can tell you how to reach her.
Ray is an automated assistant. It gives no diagnosis and keeps no record of this chat.
