**sigh** reassure me

redhotchili83

Im sure you guys remember me from each board and that I do this about every 3-4 months....  Im totally aware that Im being a jackkass, but play along anyway

 Kai is  going to be 1 on the 17th.  He can walk holding onto fingers, stand on his own, and cruise on furniture.  He just learned how to clap yesterday and he can inconsistently wave.  He also babbles up a storm, but nothing sounding like real speech.

Of course, because Im an idiot (and also a special ed teacher, which skews my thinking), Im worried because he's not pointing or talking yet. He has had chronic ear infections, which has caused him to have a moderate hearing loss since 4 months.  He had tubes put in his ears last week, which should helpfully remedy his hearing.

Humor me and tell me he'll be fine.

AfterAll

He'll be fine.  My son is 13.5 months and doesn't walk.  He can take steps independently and stand on his own, he cruises at a running pace, but he doesn't walk.

The only "word" he says besides "mama" and "dada" is "hello" which sounds more like "ewoooh?".  And that only started a few days ago.

I honestly noticed a big change in him between 12 and 13 months.  He seemed to have some kind of developmental explosion where he started clapping, pointing, mimicking us, following directions, helping us get him dressed, etc.

I know me telling you not to worry will not keep you from worrying, but seriously... don't worry.  Yeah it is annoying that all of his friends are walking and he isn't, but such is life.  There are some areas where I think he is advanced, like with his fine motor skills, and his ability to manipulate people, haha.  Every baby develops at his own pace, and by the time they go to kindergarten they are all walking and toilet trained.

groovygrl

Neither of mine pointed at a year, maybe around 13-14 months or so DD started & DS later than that & still doesnt do it a ton compared to her (they're 16 mos). I also was a little worried b/c the milestone things say pointing by 12 months but our pedi never even asked about it & they were doing pretty much every other thing they expect at 12 months that I didn't really worry much. 

Talking, well, that isn't actually normal at 12 months except maybe like 2 words (often mama & dada although in our case they did not say mama then even) so I wouldnt worry. I think they just want a few words by 15-18 months. Plus, typically boys are less verbal than girls too & this is totally the case in my house- DD is way more into trying to say words than DS.

Don't worry ! 

jnk062602

We had EI evaluate dd for a completely different issue (eating and drinking and choking issues) at 7 months and again at 14 months.  Both times, they did an overall evaluation of her gross/fine motor and communication and social skills (and maybe something else I think?).  Anyway, besides her eating issues, she has always passed the other areas.  And she only just started pointing this last week (so after the 14 month eval), and didn't clap until 13 months.  She was walking at the 14 month eval, but if your ds is cruising now he will most likely be walking by then too.

I will grab the paper and list some other stuff they looked at.  But keep in mind this is for a 14 month old.

And also know that at anytime you can call Early Intervention and have them come take a look at your ds.  Maybe run your concerns by the pedi at your 12 month appt.  But it doesn't hurt anything to have him evaluated.

jnk062602

Ok.  Other things they looked at on their report (but for a 14 month old).  But maybe this will help you keep in mind the wide range of things they look at.

Fine Motor: holding an object in 1 hand and transferring to the other, dropping/picking up toys, bang objects together, stacking/nesting toys, placing and removing smaller toys in a bucket, placing and removing pegs, build tower of 3-4 blocks, scribble with crayon.  She completed about half of these and still got a within normal limits.

Gross Motor: Go from standing to sit/squat to look at object. And they noted that she walks.  They wrote in the next few months she may begin to walk into a large ball as an attempt to kick it (haha I thought that was pretty funny), get on and off a ride on toy and move it, crawling up and down stairs.  This area was actually her highest score.  So I think that with him already standing and cruising he should be great here.

Social/Emotional Skills: Self play for short time periods, favorite doll/stuffed animal/blanket, how they react at the word no (she stops but then continues to do it anyway and I have no idea if that is "correct" or not bc all they wrote is what she does), temper tantrums, how they indicate what they want (dd just grunts and says eh eh, but I think they were looking for her to point or pull a person's hand), eye contact.  She got within normal limits on this too, so I don't think you should be concerned about the pointing at all since she wasn't doing it at 14 months and they weren't concerned.

Self-Help: Uses spoon/fork (she doesn't), cooperates in dressing (she fights it, although does help push her arms thru the sleeves), can remove socks/shoes. Uses a sippy cup/straw cup/open cup.  (Can not without choking, but that is why they were there).  Surprisingly, she passed this too, so apparently pushing her arms thru the sleeves while dressing really helped her since she couldn't do anything else.

Cognitive Skills: Curiosity and manipulation of toys, looks towards person or specific toy if named, understands simple commands such as "come" or "up".  Things they thought she may be able to do by 18 months- give toy to adult upon request, point to picture in book when named, point to some body parts upon request.

They did not assess Articulation due to her age, but did note that she has different vocalizations and gestures.  She does have a handful of words (but is also several months older that your ds).

 

So hopefully this helps to calm you.  There is such a huge range of things they look at, and even in areas where she could do less than half of the things, she passed.  And things he can't do now, you will suddenly realize in 2 weeks that he is doing them!  Also, if you have concerns don't hesitate to call EI.  The only "cost" to you is the time spent with them.  Even if you do not qualify for services, they will give you lots of tips and tricks to help in some areas.  And the lo doesn't know at this age anyway - they just think someone is playing with them.

 

ridesbuttons

Not only will he be fine, he is fine.

He's one.  No walking and no talking is perfectly typical and acceptable at this age.

Enjoy your one year old!!!

Assembly_Reqd

He will be fine. My son has hearing loss as well and you need to consider your son's milestones (especially communication ones) from the point that he had his hearing issues "fixed".

For example, Nate got his hearing aids at three months old so any communication milestones I don't expect from him until 3 months later than most kids start doing them.

Since Kai seems on top of his gross motor stuff, I bet the communication will come in leaps and bounds now that you know the hearing is fixed. You have to be able to hear speech clearly in order to replicate it.