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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
BetchySprout
member
What can I do to help my child talk more?
BetchySprout
member
Jack had ear tubes a little after one year and it is possible he had little to no hearing before that. We will never know, but I am kicking myself for not asking for a pre-tubes hearing test. Now his hearing is perfect.
Anyway, he is 18 months old now, and only has about 6 words. Bye-bye, tickle, (almost) kitty, no, ball and dada.
What can I do to help? Our doc wants to see us again in 3 months for a possible EI evaluation but I would like to avoid this if possible.
TIA.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: What can I do to help my child talk more?
Charlie is 18 months and only has about 5-10 words.
My pedi and another friend that is an EI specialist have both told me that 18-21 months is the big language jump, specifically for boys. Even moreso from 21-24 months.
I am kind of baffled at all of the EI evals going around so soon (I am glad they are having you wait another 3 months)I wouldn't worry, PPC. I know it's hard not to, but try not to
Thanks, this is reassuring. We go to a very laid back family practice, for which I am thankful. I have seen too many people with overcautious pedis who go to EI at around 14 months for speech!
DS is 18 1/2 months and has a very limited vocab (maybe 5 words?). His receptive language is awesome, though, so I'm not too worried yet. I figure he'll really start to talk in the next few months.
I honestly don't think there's anythign you can do to get him to talk sooner than he's ready. As long as you talk to him, read to him, do the standard things, etc, it's just going to happen when it happens.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with everybody.
As for someone who has worked with ECI on many occasions and is currently studying to be an SLP (so no, not an 'expert' per say but...) it NEVER hurts to be checked out by an ECI specialist. NEVER! I always thinks it's better to be precautious than it being too late. (If you don't mind me asking, why do you want to avoid it?)
With that said, my DS only had 2-5 (verbal) words at 15 months, which is concerning but also had signs (which counts as words, so long he is consistent with the commands) but he wasn't consistent so we started working with ECI. I can tell you it has made a BIG improvement working with ECI and an SLP. He is caught up now to his age and we only work with the SLP a few times a month just assure he doesn't regress.
The only suggestion I have for you is to name object more clearly to him. Sign language did wonders for us because those were other words for him that he was not saying (milk, please, more, cheerios, mommy, daddy). If his receptive skills are good, try ASL (if you are not already) it may be that he is not ready to talk yet but this is another expression of language.
GL! I hope things go well for you and DS in the long run!
I want to avoid it because doesn't everyone want to avoid intervention if possible?
Only 2-5 words at 15 months is concerning? Give me a break. A comment like that is probably going to have many mothers freaking out now.
My 2.5 y/o nephew is in EI and ST and that is not what I have been told by his ST or by my EI friend or my pedi for that matter.
Weird.
And I can see why PPC wants to avoid EI. Don't we all?? If there is something she can do to further Jack's speaking abilities vs. EI, I would definitely want to try as well!! Not every kid needs ST or EI because they aren't speaking at 15 months. That's just plain absurd if you ask me.
Narrate your day as much as possible. It feels awkward at first, but it really helps them learn - so when you're doing dishes "Mommy is washing the plate, all clean! Now mommy is washing the bowl" etc etc.
Label things as much as possible. Emphasize the sounds when you say them so he can really hear the differences between them.
Instead of asking him questions like "What are you doing?" say what you would want him to say, like "Playing with the truck!" That is really hard to do because it feels really natural to ask questions, but you want to provide him with the correct response, ykwim? Once he actually has the ability to answer you, then questions are more useful.
Set up situations where he has the opportunity to use language. For instance, when you're feeding him lunch give him a couple pieces at a time instead of the whole thing, so he has to ask you for more. When you're playing with a bucket of blocks, keep the lid on the bucket. Have him ask for blocks, put the lid back on, then have him ask for more. If he doesn't ask and instead gets frustrated then just model the appropriate response and give them to him.
Do a lot of "1..2..3..." or "ready...set...go" type things with toys or games. Hopefully after hearing you do it a million times they'll start to do it themselves.
Those are the best ones I can think of off of the top of my head. We have had ECI come work with Leo and these tips have helped us a lot
THANK YOU.
And Zoology - give me a break. You're going to start a speech panic around here. Please think before you post.
The Mouse ~ 06.12.08 | The Froggy ~ 02.23.11
I thought 2-5 words was normal at 15 months. That is what my daughter had and she probably has 50 words now so I don't think she has a speech delay..
PPC, I would keep naming objects and reading to him. I don't know what else you can do--just make sure he is hearing a lot of words. GL.
This is helpful. Thanks for posting, Rach.
I guess I forgot to add that he was saying mama, dada and apple before a year and then stopped using those words completely or inconsistently (like bye bye at random). Went dead silent on those words and by the time he was 15 mo old he really only had 2 or 3 words that he used consistently (bye bye, daa for dad, and sometimes pup). I guess bc of the regression is why I called ECI.
However, with that said, 3 months is a LONG time to wait to see a doctor. Obviously, keep up with it but I was told if DS did not develop more words in say another month or so (even 1 or 2) than it was to be of concern (at the time he was 15 months old.
I obviously know that it is wanting to be avoided to work with ECI but it should not be looked at as completely frightening because they also give great tips on how to encourage speech. I worked with an ECI before she even suggested an SLP. I guess it must vary on what opinions are given. But I was always told that a couple months is "too long" to wait. That is why I seeked multiple opinions. Just bc you contact ECI does not mean you automatically jump into ST, they do the evals and assessments to see what you can do/ how long to wait. After working with ECI, I honestly do not understand the whole big "scare" of them. It's a tool that is available and I'm going to use it especially since it is not available (for free) after 3 years.
While this is scary, its also COMPLETELY normal. So is 5 words at 18 months.
The Mouse ~ 06.12.08 | The Froggy ~ 02.23.11
My understanding, is that regression is also typical. Charlie will say a word one day, and then I won't hear it again for several days or even weeks.
Again, your DS sounds normal based on my own research and resources, but you had your reasons I guess. I tend to think from reading this board specifically, that EI is "over-prescribed" when it's done so early, but I am no expert.
Yep. I am reading these posts and going "Um, okay, this child is NORMAL."
I can't believe that he was evaluated and determined to even be eligible for EI at 15 months. That is absurd to me. Do a google search of "toddler's talking" and you get message boards, and articles and all sorts of stuff with REAL MOMS who have concerns but ultimately they have normal children who are taking their time in the talking dept.
I don't get it. I just don't.
My mom has been an SLP for 30 years. She's in charge of the speech dept. for a school district in San Antonio. When Jack regressed at 14 months from 5 words to zero words, I asked about EI and she laughed at me. No really, my mother LAUGHED at me.
He started talking again at 17 months with no issues. Also - my sister didn't say her first word until her 2nd birthday (literally) and went from that first word to sentences in like 2 weeks. So yeah ... I think EI at 15/18 months is kind of ridiculous.
The Mouse ~ 06.12.08 | The Froggy ~ 02.23.11
Yes, regression is "typical", however it was MONTHS before he said it again and now that is only bc he has been in ST for a few months. While he has more words now and is now developmentally on track, I don't regret taking him to see an ECI at all. But to each their own.
DS had a few words, they completely died and he would use words that were not used appropriately- in essence, not a word.
I also wanted to be precautious on this bc my SIL waited until her DD was almost 4 before formally seeing an SLP bc she could not say some sounds or would mix them up (ie. mix d and g's up, I kidding was I'm kigging to her). And plus she was not eligible to see an ECI.
I haven't been on the boards in some time but I can totally see how ECI is "over-prescribed" in a sense. It is not like DS was 12 months old with no words (which around that time, had no words) and I said OH ECI time. No, I had my reasons and concerns, got them checked out and have had a pleasant experience. I do think doing what you can is utmost more important but I tried what I could and nothing gave. But like I said, to each their own. It's a tool and a resource not the devil.
Rach, I could just hug you. Thanks for the info, I will give all of this a try!
Well I'm glad your DS picked right back up. Mine did not however. Or when he finally started talking again, they were not the right objects. For example, I would say let's go bye-bye, tell Scout (dog) bye-bye and instead would sign please. Ok clearly he did not understand what I said. I let it slide. But then would say bye bye at random times throughout the day in response to questions or statements. It's not like it happened one time, it happened all.the.time. There are other examples but that is the most recent one I know.
Clearly the specialists saw some sort of issue, otherwise they would not have suggested for me to see an SLP based on a 'hunch' that he was behind. I merely seeked for eval and assessments purposes because of concern. If it was not a concern for them, would they really have suggested an SLP for the heck of it? Probably not. I think it became beyond what ECIs are qualified for and advised for me to seek another resource. I am just saying that it is available when all that you try, does not work. Not at the first sign go and call ECI.
My DS is 18 months this month and he had maybe 6 words he uses. Ball, Mama, Dada, Dodo (for dog), Wow, and Ew (which I hope counts lol). They want to evaluate him this next appointment for speech therapy and I think they are jumping the gun. He can understand me, he knows what I am saying, and I think he will speak when he is ready. Sounds very similar to your situation.
Here are some things we are doing: We read to him (even if he won't sit down and listen) and point out things in the books, we take him on walks and point out what things are called, and we use flashcards.
And I'm not saying that EI is completely unwarrented in all situations. What I AM saying is that getting on a message board with hundreds of mommies with toddlers learning how to speak and telling them that 5 words at 15/18 months isn't normal is irresponsible.
The Mouse ~ 06.12.08 | The Froggy ~ 02.23.11
I see what you mean. I obviously did not mean to come across that way. But my child did not have 5 words at all at 15 months let alone 3. So for me, I seeked ECI. I never said that it was not normal. I only repeated what I was told for MY child not that it applied to everyone else. Which is why they would seek a professional on the topic. I gave my perspective, as everybody else did and I happened to be on the flip side than the majority. It does not make me irresponsible. I merely gave my side of the topic. I don't want mommies running out freaking out bc their child does not have 5+ words at 15-18 months but to obviously know that there are resources available. I'm not going to say that I am any more educated on the ECI benefits, but I certainly have a good idea of what they do as I have worked with them in the past other than for my child. I did not want to come off as snobbish as to why people don't use them but more that I encourage it if what the parents try, do not work.
This has come up on these boards before. I don't understand the hesitation in getting evaluated for EI if there is a gut feeling that something is delayed. I was concerned about DS' speech delay but my pedi was totally not worried. But she said I could contact the EI program for an evaluation and I did. Turns out that DS does qualify for EI and I figure if I have the 1) time and 2) money to devote to him getting therapy, I'm going to do it!
I don't understand why EI is something to be avoided -- it's almost like by waiting you are hoping the issue will go away or you are in denial about it? (Obviously if your LO is evaluated and does not need EI then don't do it, but what is the harm in getting evaluated?) I guess I just err on the side of being proactive.