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Communication Milestones: 9 Years

Every child grows and develops in their own unique way and at their own pace.

 

Milestones are simply helpful guidelines, and it’s okay if your child reaches them a little earlier or later than others.

 

If you have questions or just want reassurance, we’re here for you—please feel free to reach out.

9 Years

Speech Fluency: 

  • Disfluent less than 10% of the time

  • Uses fillers (“um”, “uh”)

Articulation:

  • Speech is 100% intelligible

  • Accurately produces all vowels and consonants, including triple consonant blends (spr, str)

Speaking & Expressive Language:

  • Uses topic-related and academic vocabulary

  • Gives correct directions and clear summaries

  • Organizes information well

  • Adapts detail level based on listener’s knowledge

  • Uses wide verb range (cause/effect, thoughts)

  • Uses complex grammar & sentences for summarizing, planning, clarifying

Listening & Understanding: 

  • Forms opinions based on information heard

  • Listens for specific purposes (to learn, enjoy, or convince)

  • Recognizes when to ask for clarification

  • Infers meanings, reasons, predictions

  • Understands some figurative language, jokes, riddles

Early Literacy Skills Ages 5-6: 

  • Uses dialogue, transitions & descriptive details to enhance writing

  • Reads complex texts fluently with expression

  • Begins to use research and note-taking skills

  • Edits for grammar, punctuation, and spelling

  • Uses context clues, roots, prefixes, and suffixes to determine word meaning

Social Communication & Play:

  • Participates in group discussions

  • Uses language for questioning, arguing, joking

  • Uses language to build and maintain social status and friendships

  • Provides conversational repairs and clarifications

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