Is your child making only short sentences or using incomplete sentences? These observations and more made by parents often lead to this question: "Is my child's speech or language delayed?'' Speech skills are different from language skills. Language refers to the use of words and sentences to convey ideas. Speech is the production of sounds that make up the words and sentences.

Using developmental milestones such as the one provided below, you can as a parent compare your child's development with that of the general norm for children in that age group. Read the description and ask yourself the questions listed. You can get an idea if your child's communication skills are about the same, higher than or lower than expected.

One point that needs to be made clear is that when applying any measure of development to your child, you need to account for individual differences, or special circumstances. This can be done by consulting with your school's speech and language pathologist or by checking with the Health Clinic.

Milestones of Speech and Language Development One year old children should be able to understand a variety of words and should be using a few single words.

By age two, words should be combined into two and three word phrases and sentences.

Between the ages of three and five, children learn to carry on a conversation, ask and answer questions, follow and give directions and speak alone in the presence of a group. These skills are important to success in primary school.

After age five, sentences become increasingly complex. Children begin using words like "when'', "while'' and "since'' to relate two or more ideas in a single sentence.

The language level used by teachers and textbooks assumes that children have this skill by the age of seven or eight.

As a rule, children use understandable speech by age four and use all speech sounds correctly by age five to seven.

When should I be concerned about my child's development? Both social and academic success depend on well developed speech and language skills. Your child may be having difficulty developing these skills if: 1. Your child has experienced ear infections or an unusually long stay (six months or more) in the hospital.

2. The child is not understood by peers or others outside the immediate family.

3. The child is frustrated when trying to communicate and the situation does not improve over a one or two month period.

4. There is a delay of one year or more in developing speech and language skills. For example, here is a sample of abnormal language development compiled by Beth Witt (Speech Language Pathologist ASLHA-CCC).

Three years old: says only one or two words at a time.

cannot answer "what'' or "who'' questions.

speech is not comprehensible except in context.

does not seem to hear or understand all that is said; seems to "tune out'' what others say.

does not start conversation. Speaks only when spoken to.

does not understand spoken directions without visual assistance from pointing and other gestures.

repeats what others say rather than responding.

Four years old: talks in only two or three word phrases. Word order is poor.

cannot answer simple "what'' "where'' or "why'' questions.

sentences or words are jumbled and disordered -- hard to understand.

does not talk to peers or adults unless prodded, and then talks as little as possible.

does not respond to simple two step directions: "Go to the kitchen. Bring me a spoon''.

cannot listen to two or three lines of a story and answer simple questions about what was read.

Five years old: talks in only three or four word sentences about present events.

cannot answer questions about "yesterday'' or "tomorrow''. Cannot answer "how'' questions.

poor articulation is still a problem. Child's speech is unclear.

talks a great deal, but remarks may not be relevant to the situation.

has trouble sitting and listening to a story of more than four or five sentences without "tuning out''.

If any of these problems exist, it is recommended that you have your child's speech and language skills evaluated or tested by a Registered Speech Language Pathologist.

After you have located a source of professional assistance, schedule an appointment for an evaluation. Then allow yourself a couple of days to think of and write down all the things about your child's communication that concern you. By writing them down, you relieve yourself of the burden of trying to remember them on the day of the appointment.

If you would like further information on any of these issues addressed today, please do not hesitate to call the Department of Health at 236-0224, ext. 325, and ask to speak to the Speech Language Pathologist.

Yvonne West Speech Language Pathologist