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The first 3 years of life, when the brain is developing and maturing, is the most intensive period for acquiring speech and language skills. These skills develop best in a world that is rich with sounds, sights, and consistent exposure to the speech and language of others.

The first 3 years of a child's life are the most important for learning to talk. Share this resource to help parents watch for signs that their children are learning to talk on schedule.

The first 3 years of a child's life are the most important for learning to talk. Share this resource to help parents watch for signs that their children are learning to talk on schedule.

Quick Statistics About Voice, Speech, Language

Voice (or vocalization) is generated by airflow from the lungs as the vocal folds in the larynx are brought close together. Speech is the precisely coordinated muscle actions of the tongue, lips, jaw, and vocal tract (or speech articulators), which together shape air flow to produce the sounds of one's language.Language is a shared system for communicating and exchanging knowledge, feelings, thoughts, and beliefs.