Around 10 months of age, a typically developing child begins to express specific intentions by which means?

• A. Use consistent sound and intonation patterns as signals for specific intentions
• B. Reach for objects that she desires
• C. Establish joint reference with her caretaker
• D. Use recognizable words and phrases to express her intentions

Answer: (A)

Around this age, what matters most is how the child communicates intent through vocal patterns. By about ten months, infants begin to use consistent sound sequences and changes in pitch or intonation to signal specific wants or needs, and caregivers learn to interpret these prelinguistic signals as intentional acts. This proactive use of particular vocal patterns to convey meaning marks intentional communication before actual words emerge.

Reaching for an object is a useful gesture and part of early communication, but it’s not about signaling intention through sound patterns. Establishing joint reference involves sharing attention with a caregiver, which develops around this period but isn’t the same as signaling specific intentions with consistent vocal signals. Using recognizable words and phrases comes later, after the first year, when true words begin to appear.