Language is divided into two areas. There are receptive language and expressive language. To test receptive language you want to look at how well a child understands language. This means pay attention to how well they can identify objects, follow directions, identify body parts, recognize actions, recognize opposites, and identify uses of objects. Testing a child’s receptive language ability is usually easier for the child because the task requires that the child point to the correct answer or follow a direction. Normally a child’s receptive language score would be greater than their expressive score because children typically understand more than they can express.

To look at expressive language abilities you want to notice how many words your child is saying and if they are adding any words together and how many they are adding together. Do they ask questions by raising the tone of their voice at the end? Are they able to ask for what they want even if it is just one word? Can you understand your child? Does your child demonstrate frustration when they aren’t understood?