Concerned about speech?

hmontty · January 2014

I can't decide if I should be worried or not.

My son is 12.5 months old and has no words. He does wave when someone says "hi" or "bye" and claps when someone says "yay!" He definitely knows his name and the word "no" because he responds to both like a champ (and has for many months). Other than that, there's not much language going on. He will sometimes say "ga ga" when he waves with the same intonation as "bye bye," but that's about it.

He's starting to figure out what things do (like he will pick up a phone and hold it to his ear and go "ga ga ga ga ba ba ba ba" like he's talking), and he's very alert and social and super smiley all the time with lots of laughs and social interaction.

Should I worry?

Litgirl77 · January 2014

Just to reassure you, my son is 12.5 months as well and has no words. He doesn't wave, doesn't "talk" on the phone, or anything like that. He has favorite toys that he will go get if we ask him to, so we know he understands a few words, but he has yet to say anything except babbles. We think he might be connecting Dada and Mama to us, but I can't be sure yet.

Anyway, I'm not worried and our doctor was very reassuring at his 12 month. Every child is different, but it's hard not to compare your LO to others. Right there with you!

DiveFrog · January 2014

DD was babbling and making lots of sounds at 12.5 months, but words didn't really start until after she mastered walking at 13.5-14months. If he is working hard on walking it is not likely that much language development will occur at the same time.

ashiscute · January 2014

Does he use lots of sounds when he babbles or does he stick with the same consonant and vowel sounds? Does he try to imitate you at all? I would be more concerned with those things than actual words at this point. My DD had no words at 12.5 months and I remember being a little confused and worried but not so bad. However, she made no progress over the next couple months and that did concern me.

If at 15 months you have noticed no progress with his speech then I would definitely bring that up with your pedi. It's hard not to worry but at this age I would just keep up with what you've been doing and give him some more time.

pb_bride · January 2014

DS is 14m and he still has no words yet. I wouldn't worry at 12.5m, and it sounds like your LO is babbling. I think the next stage is developing receptive language - does he seem to understand what you are saying? DS started to understand me around 12-13m period and he now knows quite a bit in 2 languages (we are bilingual family).

hmontty · January 2014

He pretty much does like "wow" and "ga ga" and "da da." That's about the extent of his repertoire. He doesn't really imitate much either. He imitates gestures, not so much sounds.

He does seem to have some receptive ability in that he responds really well to his name, waves at "bye bye," responds to "no," etc. If I say to point to mommy's nose, for example, he will stick his fingers in my face.

I always thought DD was a little "slow" (for lack of a better word) in speech, and even she had a couple words at 12 months (bye bye and dog).

He is working on cruising right now and learning to stand independently, so I know gross motor is on his plate right now.

ashiscute · January 2014

hmontty said:

He pretty much does like "wow" and "ga ga" and "da da." That's about the extent of his repertoire. He doesn't really imitate much either. He imitates gestures, not so much sounds.

He does seem to have some receptive ability in that he responds really well to his name, waves at "bye bye," responds to "no," etc. If I say to point to mommy's nose, for example, he will stick his fingers in my face.

I always thought DD was a little "slow" (for lack of a better word) in speech, and even she had a couple words at 12 months (bye bye and dog).

He is working on cruising right now and learning to stand independently, so I know gross motor is on his plate right now.

My DD had a very limited repertoire at this age. She more or less did ma ma, da da, and la la and none of it was in reference to us. She very rarely imitated (words, she did gestures). She was also very quiet during play (independent or playing with others). However, she never had any issues with receptive language.

Have him imitate facial expressions with you in the mirror being silly and then slowly begin to add in silly sounds. Does he sign at all? Basic sounds were huge at this age for my daughter. We concentrated on eat, more, all done, and drink. If you don't see any process make sure you keep up with your pedi. If you're concerned, you're concerned but just keep focusing on him. I know by the time my DD was 15 mos I was super concerned and no one really thought I should have been. But I'm glad I followed my instinct.

hmontty · January 2014

Well, we have a little progress even today -- my son started making kissy sounds in response to being kissed, like "mmmma!" This is the sound I make when I'm kissing him silly. So this is the first time he's imitated something I've said. Honestly, just hearing him do this makes me feel better. I've been kissing him all day just to hear him do it.

MrsT0514 · January 2014

Yeah, we're kind of in the same boat. My son is 12.5 months and doesnt have any actual words either. He does a lot of "mamama" "dadada" and "gaga" babbling, as well as lotsof smiles and laughing, but I ddon't think he actually says anything directly in reference to me or MH. Hes also not waving consistently or clapping yet. From what I've been told, theres not much need to worry now. They really start looking for more language development around 15mo.

Hang in there, mama! I know how nerve wracking it can be. Im right there with ya.

kc192 · January 2014

DS had a few words around that age and then all of a sudden stopped using all but one or two of them! (had me VERY worried) I could tell he understood what i was saying and would point to just about every body part if I asked him, he just refused to talk. My pedi said as long as he could say 1 word by 2 it would be ok. I had a hard time trusting it but right at about a month before his second birthday his speech exploded and he was saying all sorts of stuff, very clearly. Last night he talked almost non stop in the car for a good 30 minutes. No need to worry anymore!!

Some of it for him I think is his personality and I didn't quite see it as clearly at a year old. He is a little on the shy side and is a very big perfectionist. He doesn't jump into anything. He always waits and sees how things are supposed to be done and then he wants to get it right the first time. (gets very upset if it isn't) So I think talking was just one of those things. I know it's hard, but I wouldn't worry!

BLPL101 · January 2014

My DD is 13 months today and babbles, but no real words either. I'm not worried at all.

TheEditor · January 2014

My mother tells me I didn't really start talking until 2 years, and that was when my middle sister was about 6 months and started to utter a few words. Apparently I "translated" for my parents what she said.

My LO is a big talker, but in babytalk gibberish. Very few actual words.

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