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1-2 Years

A baby girl wearing a pink dress smiles while holding a hand to her chest.

1-2 Years

First Words and Growing Vocabulary

Between their first and second birthdays, your child will learn lots of new words and will begin putting them together into short phrases or sentences. It’s an exciting time for language growth!

The Michigan Language Milestones for Deaf/Hard of Hearing are written to highlight typical language development for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), regardless of language and communication modality. However, it is recognized that English and American Sign Language (ASL) are different languages with unique features. Therefore, milestones specific to ASL are in bold and those specific to English are italicized. Any use of “word” refers to spoken or signed words.

1-2 Years: Overview

  • 12-18 Months

    Receptive:

    • Recognizes own name and the names of family members.
    • Follows simple commands (e.g., come here, show me your nose, roll the ball).
    • Understands simple who, what, where, and yes/no questions.
    • Points to at least five body parts on self or a doll when asked.
    • Looks around and points when asked (e.g., where’s your blanket).

    Expressive:

    • Uses gestures to answer yes/no questions (e.g., shakes head no, nods head yes).
    • Uses jargon with more true words developing.
    • Uses exclamatory expressions (e.g., oh no, uh-oh, oops).
    • Uses simple handshapes of C, A, S, 1, 5, and/or uses consonant sounds, including b, m, p, d, t, n.
    • Uses words for common objects, some actions, and people in their lives.
    • Uses single words to communicate wants and needs (e.g., mine, no, more, drink, hungry).
    • Uses 10-20 meaningful words.
    • Imitates new words.
    • Answers basic who, what, where, and yes/no questions.
    • Uses communication to get attention.

    Pre-Literacy:

    • Turns several pages of a book in a sitting.
    • Scribbles with crayon and/or pencil and uses one to two words to label their work.
    • Points to a picture in a book when asked (e.g., where’s the ___).

    Michigan Language Milestones for DHH: 12-18 Months [PDF] 

  • 18-24 Months

    Receptive:

    • Follows two-step directions (e.g., get the spoon and put it on the table).
    • Understands 250-300 words.
    • Responds to simple who, what, where, and what-for questions.
    • Attends to simple stories or rhymes.

    Expressive:

    • Uses early pronouns like me, mine, and you.
    • Asks where and what questions.
    • Uses two-word phrases (e.g., my milk, mommy shoe).
    • Uses 50-100 (or more) words, primarily labels for people, food, animals, toys, and action words.
    • Asks for help.
    • Uses basic handshapes and simple movements (e.g., straight forward, up, down) and/or early developing sounds and single syllable words.

    Pre-Literacy:

    • Brings books to an adult to read.
    • Looks at and pretends to read books.
    • Makes marks to draw or scribble.
    • Recognizes favorite book by its cover.
    • Recognizes the first letter of their name.

    Michigan Language Milestones for DHH: 18-24 Months [PDF]