Can only say first syllable of a word?

nikkisun54 · July 2014

DS is 16 months and has been on the slower end to talk, but still has about five he uses regularly, with some more coming more quickly than usual. Only, I can't help but shake the concern that he can only ever say the first syllable.

Mama is "ma", dada is "da", but down and done also sound like "da". He can babble mamamama or dadadada, so I'm not sure if it should be a concern. Someone mentioned apraxia to me on the playground, but I'm not sure at what age is transitions from being typical toddler speak to a greater issue.

=Lee=B · July 2014

AT 16 months I'd have no concerns at all. The fact he is using the first (even if it was a middle or last) syllable is perfectly normal.

My 16 month old has 20 words...the majority of which are either one syllable or are just not crisp and clear. They count as words as she clearly shows she knows what the word is, connects it properly and uses it to communicate.

You have many months before you need to start worrying.

minervacullen · July 2014

DD has more words than I can count, she too chooses which syllable or sequence of letters is easier and goes with that.
Example: Avocado is "cado", she leaves off the b in banana...

It's completely normal. One day your LO will be able to say the whole word. It's about knowing the word and associating their version of it correctly.

It's called toddler speak/language for a reason.

I will repeat back to my kids the word to them too. Like DD will say "mine eat anana." I will say "you want to eat a banana?" She doesn't know I'm teaching her, she just thinks I'm dense

ashiscute · July 2014

My DD has Childhood Apraxia of Speech. At 16 mos she had zero words, did not imitate, and had very limited babbling. She was evaluated by EI and qualified and began services at 17 mos. She was close to 2 before she had 5 words. One aspect of apraxia is that children drop certain sounds from words that are too difficult (usually the end) or they substitute an easier sound. DD is 3.5 and still does this with words. That does not sound like what you are describing to me.

Your DS sound normal. 5 words at 16 mos is totally normal and only having part of the sound is normal. At this age he would not most likely not qualify for EI. If he has not made any progress by 18 mos you will want to speak to your pediatrician. Until then just use the correct term in response. If he says "ba" say "ball". Etc.

I have to say I disagree about this being too early to be concerned. I was concerned about my DD and took the appropriate steps to get her help. I am very glad I didn't listen to people telling me she was too young to get help. I do not think your DS sounds like he needs help though.

hilsy85 · July 2014

My LO also only used the first syllable of the word (ta for truck, ba for ball and banana, ca for car). When he hit his language explosion around 19 months, he very quickly started saying the whole word. I would definitely not worry about it right now!

LyndseylovesHugh · July 2014

My DD is 22 months and can say plenty of full, multi-syllable words, but she still does this. She can say turtle and Popsicle but she still says da for dog. Go figure. Her pedi is not concerned at all, he said it is perfectly normal.

jonesie2010 · July 2014

I've been concerned about the same thing with DD. She is almost 16 months and is just finally starting to say a couple of words in the last few weeks. She says "uh" for up and "muh" for more. And she says "woof" but that one really just sounds like "fffff." She had an EI assessment at 14 months. At that time she did not have any words but she was not far enough behind to qualify for services. Pedi says we will give it until 18 months and see what progress she has made.

nikkisun54 · July 2014

Thanks, ladies. After reading these and thinking on it, I suppose he had more like ten words - but when "ma" means mama, milk, more, and Muggs (MIL grandma name) I wasn't even sure if I should count those.

Thank you all for your insight - first time mom, if u can't tell.

I'll keep repeating the true words to him and expect that soon, he'll catch on!

hilsy85 · July 2014

nikkisun54 said:

Thanks, ladies. After reading these and thinking on it, I suppose he had more like ten words - but when "ma" means mama, milk, more, and Muggs (MIL grandma name) I wasn't even sure if I should count those. Thank you all for your insight - first time mom, if u can't tell. I'll keep repeating the true words to him and expect that soon, he'll catch on!

My LO also did this (said ba for ball, banana, bus, book), but I could tell they were different words because he used them in the correct context. I wouldn't worry about it!

nikkisun54 · July 2014

hilsy85 said:

nikkisun54 said:

Thanks, ladies. After reading these and thinking on it, I suppose he had more like ten words - but when "ma" means mama, milk, more, and Muggs (MIL grandma name) I wasn't even sure if I should count those. Thank you all for your insight - first time mom, if u can't tell. I'll keep repeating the true words to him and expect that soon, he'll catch on!

My LO also did this (said ba for ball, banana, bus, book), but I could tell they were different words because he used them in the correct context. I wouldn't worry about it!

That's exactly what we're doing. Ba means soooo many things! Guess it's part of normal toddler speech development. He's started "saying" a lot more things, sometimes it's just hard to discern

Crequito · July 2014

DD is 15.5 months an while she has lots of words she's only using 1 syllable most of the time. And she still doesn't use Mama - I have no name! Daddy is Dada of course (daddy's little girl). Sometimes for 1-syllable words she'll leave out a letter. She was saying "uce" for the longest time pointing to the lights and I finally realized she was saying luce for light (bilingual home). I felt like the dumbest person in the world because I kept saying, light, light, every time she'd point and say "uce!" Isn't it great when your kid surpasses you in knowledge before they're even potty-trained.

Don't be worried. We had virtually no words other than dada and agua until just the last month and then all of a sudden she decided to start using one-syllable words. I think if your LO is making the connection between the syllable and the item then you're on track!

Stephorse · July 2014

I wouldn't be too concerned at this point. Our boy is the same way especially with new words, but about a month ago he is starting to finish his words now, (he is learning a lot of them a day even when he wasn't quite finishing some of them and some of them were complicated ones too), and he's now almost 23 months, so I would just keep anunciating your words and speak clearly and eventually he should be starting to finish his words.

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