Speech delays and ear infections?

jonesie2010

Hello. I'm starting to get a little worried about 13 mo DD. AT her 12 month check, she didn't have any words yet but she was babbling and saying mama and dada without association. Pedi said that was normal. Now, a month later she still doesn't have any words and her babbling is drastically reduced. We have had lots of problems with her ears. Finally got tubes in January and STILL have had several ear infections since then. She is actually just getting over an ear infection now so I'm hoping that was the cause of her not babbling. I probably wouldn't feel like talking either if I had a bunch of fluid in my ears.

So for those who have had lots of ear infections, did it affect LO's learning to talk? DD seems to understand things that I say, she can follow simple commands, and she is REALLY good at the point and grunt game. Her motor skills are great. She is not walking yet but pulls up and cruises. I talk to her and read to her a lot, and I always name what she points at. Not sure if I should wait until her 15 month well check to talk to the pedi about this or if I should call now. (Can you tell I'm a paranoid FTM?)

ashiscute

I'm sorry your DD is still having ear infections after getting tubes.  That is super frustrating.  My DS got tubes at 10 mos but has had no issues since (that was last August).  He has no issues with speech and started saying words almost immediately after his surgery.  

My DD does have a speech disorder (but no tubes or history of ear infections).  At 13 mos your pedi is unlikely to do anything about your LOs speech.  It is considered normal to not have any words at 13 mos.  And even for her babbling to have reduced since she could be concentrating on her motor skills.  My DD had no words at 15 mos and our pedi wasn't concerned.  I pushed for an evaluation with EI and she did qualify for services and it made a huge difference for us.  But even at 15 mos, with no words and very limited babbling, I had to really push to get her evaluated.  At 13 mos I would assume your pedi would just want to re-evaluate again at 15 mos.  Good luck.  

MrsWindyCity

DS1 had a ton of ear infections, and he was an early talker.

DS2 has only had 1 ear infection and he is exactly where your DD is - no real words at 13 months. We talked to the pedi at the 12 month appointment and she said to wait until the 15 month appointment, at which point we would see if he had any words and possibly do an EI referral. 

I'm a STM and I'm paranoid, so don't worry. It was pretty hard on us having an overachiever first, lol. It sounds like her receptive skills are good, though, and that is also a question the ped asked us at 12 months. Personally, I would probably wait until the 15 month appt.

My nephew's doctors do say his speech delay could be caused by fluid in his ears, however, so it's obviously possible. 

jonesie2010

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I was thinking the pedi might want to wait until 15 months to do anything anyway. Guess I've got a couple of months of anxiously awaiting LO to speak ahead of me...

mb314

DS had tubes put in at 13 months because of multiple ear infections.  However, he really didn't have discernible words until 17 or 18 months, when he went through a burst of talking/new words.  I think your LO is still young, and you don't need to be concerned yet.  Give it time, continue to read/sing/talk to your little one, and I bet the words will come by 18 months.  DS didn't even say Mama or Papa to DH and me until 18 months. 

=Lee=B

My little cousin had constant ear infections and did have a speech delay and needed speech therapy for awhile...now as a teenager he's perfectly fine.  If your little one got tubes already then it shouldn't have a lasting speech delay BUT if the ear infections do continue I would keep tabs on where she is at language wise and push for some help if you feel she needs it.  When it comes to language the earlier they receive help the better long term. 

 

As the PP's have said, at this age it is perfectly normal to have few to no words...then a language explosion takes place and they are suddenly saying many words.  This is especially true for the children who are focussed on physical tasks right now.  But, do keep tabs on it  as the ears can impact the speech. 

rakle99

I'm a teacher of the deaf, and yes, recurrent ear infections can sometimes cause a speech delay due to having a fluctuating hearing loss. . If you are concerned, you can go to a pediatric audiologist (sometimes called an educational audiologist) and discuss this with them. In my experience, sometimes pediatricians wait too long to refer.

jonesie2010

Thank you all for the replies. This has helped ease my mind a bit.