delayed speech

keyshahart

Hi. My LO is almost 18 months and does not say anything. She will sometimes and mama or dada but does not use it with proper context, she usually just walks around saying it. Dr does not seem concerned but i am. She does not even trying to talk or repeat words. I read books with her and everything she points at i tell her what it is, but still nothing. Im sure this is a common thing and one day she will wake up babbling all day but anything i can do to help with her speech? Thanks everyone.

SummerBabyLove

I know that some toddlers have delayed speech and then somewhere around the 18-20 month mark, have an explosion with their vocabulary.  With that said, if you are concerned, trust your gut.  I would call Early Intervention for an evaluation.

Bensmom13

Have you had her hearing checked? That might have something to do with her speech.

Karlarae7778

My son is the same, but he thinks he's have a great old conversation with us! I have also heard that there will be an explosion from other moms who had just that happen. Be patient and enjoy the gobbly words. I bet we'll miss their cuteness one day :-)

BigPoppa22

Get it checked out.  Our DS had zero words at 18 months as well.  He understands and follows directions, but does not imitate at all and babbles mostly in vowels and mamamama gagagaga etc, but no jargon.  Only slight improvements by 20 months (finally shaking head yes and no, etc) and we did an early intervention evaluation.  He qualified for speech therapy (only) and it took about 6 weeks from start to finish from the eval to getting a therapist.  I wish I hadn't waited the extra 2 months, with that in mind.  Btw, at our 18 month appointment my pediatrician said "let's wait until 21 months", but when we saw him 2 weeks ago and told him we moved forward with the EI he said "that's great, you are smart to start it early..."  Doctors can be quirky. 

Given how long it can take to get into the system and how starting earlier is better, not much reason not to try EI.  You can always stop it if you don't think it's needed.

sassypants1982

Lurker here with a couple of questions. Are you a SAHM or is your lo in child care? Either way you know your child best. However, if your lo is in child care their teachers may be seeing/hearing things that you aren't at home, so it would be worth talking to them. My son had 8 words at his 18 month appointment, I wasn't really concerned but his doctor was a little bit. He is now 21 months and has around 40 words. Bottom line is if you ate concerned push for an early intervention screening (it can't hurt, you will find out if your lo qualifies or doesn't). Remember you know your child best. Your lo's doctor knows what is "normal" development for children at certain ages and is basing their opinion/expressing concern based on this information more than expressing or not expressing concern based on what your individual child is like. Yes, doctor's opinions should be valued but at the end of the day you are your child's best advocate and if you feel like there is potentially something wrong keep you need to basically keep pressing the issue until you feel like your voice has been heard (or find another doctor that will listen, if need be).

SharonB222

I have early walkers and late talkers.  At 1 year my DS can run, climb up step ladders and walk on narrow ledges, but he only babbles.  At 1 year my DD was dancing and doing somersaults, but only had 1 word "hi".  Clearly with all that motion there was no time to talk .  Even by age 2 my DD only used five words regularly.  I am big on early intervention and using resources, but my instinct was not to worry (too much) about this aspect (my mom said I was an early walker, late talker).  Then two days after my DD's 2nd birthday, she had her language explosion and then skipped an entire stage of speech (went straight to using pronouns correctly) - so now at age 3 she's fine.  That said, there is a girl in her daycare who was not speaking and also showed signs of sensory issues; she entered a program including speech therapy (and remains delayed).

PrimRoseMama

When in doubt get your LO evaluated.

DS is going to start speech therapy soon. He's almost 18 months & very limited sounds. His passive language & language comprehension is stellar. He can ID things, animals, colors & numbers. Just is a silent little monk.

Chatterbug6917

I had that same feeling when my first son was around that age and everyone said he would be fine, I ended up getting him evaluated he was in speech therapy through a private office before I found out about early intervention through the school district , best decision ever, he has come so far in the year and half I am so glad we chose not to wait!

Tess024

I'm currently having this issue. Just had DS 1yr. Dr. appt yesterday, and he is not saying any words, just babbling mostly. He doesn't point at objects yet either.

My husband is freaking out that maybe there is something wrong. I keep hoping that if I wait a little bit, he will be get right back on track.

keyshahart

Thanks everyone. She does follow simple directions and shakes her head no but no words. Just babbling. She is in child care but they have not voiced any concerns to me. I am hoping to get her into speech therapy soon once i can get a referral.

PrimRoseMama

@Tess024‌ : reassure your husband that freaking out is useless. Just evaluate & work together.

BigPoppa22

Tess -  1 year is too early for such concerns... see how things are at 16 months before even considering an upcoming evaluation.   I think that generally speaking, they do not like to even start ST until a child is 18 months old.

trj724

Hi popping over from the September 15 birth month board but I seriously could have written this post myself. My 17 month old son does not talk at all...dada once in a great while but never in context..he just walks around babbling all day. I have bought it up to his pediatrician and she said that at his 18 month appt if he's still not then I can start thinking about having him evaluated by EI and possibly a hearing testbut they usually don't really worry until they're 2 (at least this is what my doc tells me). And she said that since he makes eye contact, communicates by pointing and when I ask him questions he knows what I'm talking about. Some babies are just late talkers because they are too busy focusing on other aspects of growing that some things just take a back seat.