How many words does your 18 mos old know?

ShariJenn · February 2014

Hey Ladies,

It's been a really long time since I've been on these boards. I've been so busy with my two little boys and with work.

My DS2 who is just about 18 months has been recommended for EI. His communication is on the lower scale I guess. I feel like he's learning new words every day, but my DS1 was an early talker, and I can't compare them.

DS2 has about a dozen or so words. He understands everything I say and he responds with yes or no. He refers to DH and me as mama and Dada and asks to eat 400 times a day (he he). Other words aren't as clear, but I know what he's trying to say.

At 18 mos, how well does your LO communicate?

In the end they left the option up to me, and while I know it can't hurt, I'm just trying to see how abnormal or slow his communication really is.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Shari

www.sharijryan.com

Edited by mod

twinkletoes3126 · February 2014

Your son doesn't sound that delayed to me. Has he been evaluated or did your dr just recommend an evaluation? I would be very surprised with what you said that he would be approved for services.

My son is 17.5 months and sounds very similar. He doesn't even say Mama yet and cannot put more than one word together. Here is his list of words:

Hi/Hello
Meow/Cat/Kitty
Dog
Tree
Up
All done
Please
Milk
Car
Ball
Emma (his friend)
Dada
Baby
Help

That's all I can think of but he probably has about 20 words. He also can't say all of these words clearly (ie Hello is Hewwo).

MaggieF516 · February 2014

My son's words are: Dada, Mama, Nene (grandma in Turkish), names of 2 family members, car, tree, thank you, hi, bye, light, doggie (he says ga ga, but he's trying), cookie, tv, can kind of say his body parts like head, belly, foot and maybe a few more I'm not thinking of. I'm actually starting to get concerned. He doesn't seem to be saying any new words. He tries to repeat what I say a lot of the time though. He is cared for during the day by his grandmother who doesn't speak English so this could be effecting his speech. His father and I are also seperated so it is hard to be consistent about which words he is taught. He's still at the stage where he points at something and if he doesn't get it, he has a fit as opposed to saying the word.

ShariJenn · February 2014

He has been evaluated for EI and they said he was just below the cusp of average. While I hate to question a professional, DS2 wasn't exactly cooperating that day. He wasn't responding to his name, and he does normally. They took a lot of points off for that.

He says:

Mama

Dada

Thank you

I give

No

Yeah

Eat

Mickey

Baba

Cookie

Papa

Dee (Doggy)

I have no problem taking him to EI...I just feel like it's not necesarry..yet.

twinkletoes3126 · February 2014

ShariJenn said:
He has been evaluated for EI and they said he was just below the cusp of average. While I hate to question a professional, DS2 wasn't exactly cooperating that day. He wasn't responding to his name, and he does normally. They took a lot of points off for that.

He says:

Mama
Dada
Thank you
I give
No
Yeah
Eat
Mickey
Baba
Cookie
Papa
Dee (Doggy)

I have no problem taking him to EI...I just feel like it's not necesarry..yet.

I am definitely a huge supporter of EI but in your case I would definitely take a wait and see approach. There is many times a language explosion around 18 months. Also, your son doesn't honestly sound behind to me.

EandIMommy86 · February 2014

While she doesn't say them all the time, mine can say mama, dada, mmmm (if thats a word, she does it when she eats) birthday, bird, what, app (zap), uh oh, baba, bobo (i think that means bottle). She answers to her name and a few phrases as well. If I ask her "Where's your milk?" she will walk around trying to look for it. She knows "don't touch" but has not mimicked that phrase yet.

ashiscute · February 2014

DS is almost 17 mos and has about 20 words that are pretty clear and sometimes will put 2 together. He can also answer yes and no questions.

At 18 mos DD just started saying her first word (dada). She had been evaluated by EI and qualified for services. She started speech therapy (with no words) at 17 mos and in the next few months added about 3 words to her vocab.

Honestly, your DS doesn't sound like he needs services at this point but I would trust the professionals over the people on a message board. Comparing other kids doesn't always help (look at mine). I would talk to EI and see why they think he qualifies. I really enjoyed working with EI as it's more for the parent than the child in a way. Good luck!

emberlee3 · February 2014

DS had maybe 50-100 words at 18 months and was starting to use sentences.

DD is very, very talkative. She was speaking in full sentences before 18 months. She is almost 20 months now, and she uses hundreds of words.

An evaluation never hurts.

EandIMommy86 · February 2014

emberlee3 said:

DS had maybe 50-100 words at 18 months and was starting to use sentences.

DD is very, very talkative. She was speaking in full sentences before 18 months. She is almost 20 months now, and she uses hundreds of words.

An evaluation never hurts.

50 to 100 at 18 months? He is going to grow up to be a public speaker or something. That is great that he knew so many words!! What's your secret?

traveltheworld · February 2014

As PP said, there is a wide range of what is considered normal. DS, at 18 months, has about 40 words. We have a large group of same-age babies we see all the time. A few have less than 10 words, and there is one boy who has over 200 and can string together 4 word sentences! I think you DS sounds normal, but if a professional is telling you to get him services, I'd follow that advice. But I wouldn't worry too much.

Hennessy · February 2014

Whether there is an issue or not there absolutely NO downside to EI.. so you should definitely go. The therapists are trained to evaluate kids in your situation. They may not recommend anything further, but then again, they might. Plus, you have to remember you just simply can't compare kids to one another

At our most recent Dr appointment (DS is 17 months) our Dr indicated he wanted him to know in the neighborhood of 8-12 words. I didn't know what was "average" and DS seems to be a bit ahead, he is probably closer to 35-40 words. If the Dr had recommended we explore EI, I would have called the next day!

AlfiesMOM · February 2014

At 18 months she said over 30 words or animal sounds. She adds at least one new word if not more a week.

ashiscute · February 2014

theresat858 said:

wife07mom09 said:

take the referral! Why are you hesitating? If your pedi recommended it then GO. A little extra help won't hurt him and if they feel he is on target they won't recommend services. (says the mom whose pedi blew her concerns off and I self referred to ECI and found 50% delay and we are getting speech and development therapy. These things are difficult to navigate where to get help and I am in the medical field. It is challenging to start with ECI)

She's hesitating because her child is well within the range of normal and services should be used for kids who ACTUALLY NEED THEM.

Honestly you don't know this child so you don't know he doesn't need services. There are other reasons why kids qualify for services than sheer number of words. My DD scored at the 47th percentile for expressive language at her preschool evaluation. But only 2nd percentile for articulation. So clearly she needs services.

OP- please speak with your pedi and the EI specialists and see why they believe your child needs the services. And see what the services are. If most of his words aren't very clear that might be more where there concerns lie.

JulesDiane · February 2014

Normally, I would say if the doctor suggests EI that you go just because you never know. But I am really confused because that is a lot of words!

hmontty · February 2014

Um, your child sounds perfectly normal. I thought the standard was NO words, or maybe one or two, at 18 months to be recommended for therapy.

My DD was probably saying like 6-8 words at 18 months, and is now speaking in full sentences. No therapy required.

hmontty · February 2014

emberlee3 said:

DS had maybe 50-100 words at 18 months and was starting to use sentences.

DD is very, very talkative. She was speaking in full sentences before 18 months. She is almost 20 months now, and she uses hundreds of words.

An evaluation never hurts.

*cough* bull^%&$

emberlee3 · February 2014

hmontty said:

emberlee3 said:

DS had maybe 50-100 words at 18 months and was starting to use sentences.

DD is very, very talkative. She was speaking in full sentences before 18 months. She is almost 20 months now, and she uses hundreds of words.

An evaluation never hurts.

*cough* bull^%&$

No, it's not BS. I did not say it was typical or expected or make any kind of judgement about anyone other child's language development. I simply answered the question posted by OP with what my children did at that age. I am sorry if it sounded like i was bragging.

dns05 · February 2014

At 18 months, my DD could say about 15 words, but understood a lot more. Pedi said she was at the level of an average boy at that age. I guess girls typically are a little ahead of boys at that point. However, he didn't seem concerned yet. He would reevaluate when she turned two. Now that she's 22 months, her language has increased a lot. She had somewhat of an language explosion around 20 months. Now, she can use 2-4 word sentences and probably speaks between 100-150 words. I'm not sure if that is still considered behind for a girl this age, but I don't worry as much. I figure she's just a late bloomer with language. Not sure if that helps.

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