OT: when do kids start talking??

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I will add to my post via a second post and I say I agree with checking it out if you are concerned.

My daughter failed her hearing test at birth (due to no audiologist on staff and a persnickety machine that was sensitive to the sound of my eyes rolling LOL!). She had another hearing test when she was older (passed with flying colors).

I did ask our family doctor.....and everything indicated that she was just a slow to talker--not at risk for LD based on everything else. Sure enough, he was right. (her passing the second hearing test at an older age at least ruled out that she wasn't deaf or hard of hearing).

 

[grlpwrd]

However, I do have a mild hearing impairment and my brother has a severe hearing loss in both ears. We both have hearing aids.

Definitely get him evaluated. The formative years are so important and I would sign with him if you can, too.

GL!

 

[Pixiedust34]

As a speech pathologist, I would recommend an evaluation through your early intervention system. Usually by 18 months a child has at least one word used correctly. How does your child do with following simple directions? Pointing to pictures or objects when named? My personal opinion has always been to take action early, so that if there is truly a problem, you are working on it early. If your child is going to catch up, a speech therapist can only help and once your child doesn't need help anymore, they would be discharged.

There is a wide range of normal, but generally first words are spoken by 18 months.

I agree. My 9 y.o. ds has apraxia of speech and has been in speech therapy since age one. My motto about speech concerns is, "When in doubt, check it out!"

I've met too many families who put off getting a speech evaluation and miss precious time in getting therapy when their children are young.

Many times, there is nothing to worry about. It could be a delay and nothing more than that. He could be chatting up a storm in a few months. But, just in case it *is* a disorder instead of a delay, the sooner you get help, the better.

All the best to you!

 

[Kahana-ri]

Every child is different as I am sure you have heard. My son started to say the basics mommy, daddy, ball etc at twelve months or so. Now that he is almost two he vocabulary is just accelerating. He now does sentences and we are consistent with teaching him how to ask saying please and thank you when he needs things. Sometimes he will just blurt out a full off-the wall sentence. Recently, we were throwing a ball around. It rolled away and DS so matter of a fact said, 'I'll get the ball daddy." Usually we have to coach him to say things. At this age he also repeats EVERYTHING. Sometimes that not such a great things.
Talk with your pediatrician, read to your child often, and be patient.

 

[beattyfamily]

I say get the evaluation. My PCP was on top of this and when my younder DD was 16 months and not saying one word, she suggested the free evaluation through Early Intervention. My DD qualified and had a therapist come to our house once a week for free till she was 3 years old and then the town took over; she qualified for the town's pre-school and stayed in that till Kindergarten.

She taught her sign language to ease my DD's frustration at not being able to talk yet. She also worked with her (using toys and books) to teach her tongue/mouth all the different letter sounds.

Now she's just a regular kindergartener. You wouldn't even know she had the speech delay.

Why not go for it if its free?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

That is the thing that is amazing. He KNOWS the words for EVERYTHING. We can pick any object in the house and say, for example, "Oliver where is the tape?" 2 minutes later after searching the living room he finds the masking tape and brings it to us. Even words that are not related to toys. He will bring me the remote control if I ask for it. If we say "You want to go potty?" He runs to the bathroom and opens the door (he goes with us, he isn't using the potty yet). He usually gets us to do stuff by grabbing our hand and leading us where he wants to go and then pointing at what he wants. It is like he is purposely not talking. My husband is not much of a talker but I never shut-up and have been that way since the age of 2. However, I do have a mild hearing impairment and my brother has a severe hearing loss in both ears. We both have hearing aids. That is the only reason I'm concerned.

My DD knew everything also. She was even starting to potty train and never said a single word. She knew exactly what she wanted and even though she couldn't or wouldn't say the word, she would figure out how to tell us what she wanted.

When she was speech tested at 23 months, her other learning levels were at a 27-30 month range. But her speech was at an 11 month range. Here in PA, anything over a 25% delay qualifies them for treatment, both through early intervention and private.

I also had people tell me all the time, you're talking for her, make her say the word, don't just give her what she wants. I tried that a few times, but she didn't know how to form the word. So she became very frustrated and started screaming until she got it.

Now I make her say the word. But after receiving her therapy for 5 months now, she can usually figure out how to say what she wants.

A couple days ago, she was looking at our pics from Disney and said "minnie" for the first time pointing to Minnie Mouse, It was a proud mom moment.

 

[belle&beast]

I am a speech pathologist and I now work with preschoolers but have done early intervention with infants and toddlers. While it is true that all children develop at diffierent rates and there is a broad range of "normal", sometimes waiting to see can just prolong the inevitible and makes it more difficult for you and your child. Please don't wait if you are concerned. It will not hurt him in the least to find out that he is within the average range after an evaluation, but if he is delayed and you wait he will just be farther behjind by the time a delay is recognized. The first 3 years are critical for language learning and if you can help him now, he may not need a lot of intervention in the future. I read a post that said the speech center in the brain does not work until kids are 2- this is entirely untrue. All the sounds babies are making from crying to cooing to babbling are prerequisites for language and speech and it teaches them to communicate. Go with your gut instinct and get an early evaluation if you are concerned. Good luck and if you have any specific questions feel free to send me a PM.

 

[cornflkgrl]

wow, now I feel like it was a bad idea to even ask this. I was hoping to here other people say "yeah, that is normal, my ds or dd didn't talk until 20 mos. or didn't talk until xyz etc." I wasn't expecting so many responses telling me that there is probably something wrong with my son. Now I am totally freaked out about it. I wanted to really talk to the ped. about it at his last checkup about 2.5 weeks ago but my son screams non-stop from the time we step into the office until after we drive out of the parking lot and I have a very hard time hearing the doctor to discuss anything. The ped. did say that if he isn't saying anything in 2 months to call back and make another appointment. He told us to act like we don't know what he wants when he points (ie. He is pointing at the crackers so we pick up the cereal and say "you want the cereal?" and he shakes his head and points some more and then we say "you want the .....apple?" and he shakes his head more and then finally we give him what he wants. This is supposed to encourage him to talk but it doesn't work because when we say "you want the xyz, not the thing he is pointing at, he takes that instead and walks off so he really doesn't care all that much what we are giving him so he doesn't feel the need to make sure he verbalizes it and is specific) Also, if we try to act like we don't know what he wants when he wants us to go somewhere (when he is taking our hand to take us where he wants) he gets very angry and throws himself on the floor and rolls all around and gets really upset. I usually try to ignore tantrums altogether because he chills out quicker if we go about our business and don't give him a lot of attention for that behaviour. Doc said unless he is hurting himself not to give him attention for tantrums.
I am such a verbal person and we have read to him every night since he was 6 mos. old. I cannot understand why he won't talk and I don't want to put too much pressure on him because he will just resist more.

 

[mom2riceboys]

Neither of my boys were talking at 18 months old. My youngest had a hearing impairment. I thought he could hear because he would turn around at sounds behind him, etc. But, when we had his hearing tested, he had a significant hearing loss. He is 5 now and has been receiving speech therapy since he was 2. I can't shut this kid up now! My oldest son wasn't speaking at 18 months. I took him to the pediatrician and was told not to worry about it. Finally at 2 1/2, he still wasn't talking and I took him to a developmental pediatrician to have him tested. She determined that he was mildy autistic. We started extensive speech therapy and occupational therapy. He is almost eleven now and is thriving. He hasn't had speech therapy or OT for almost three years. I am amazed at the change in him. One would never know he had problems when he was younger. I think a mother can sense when something is not quite right. I should have went with my gut with my oldest son and not listened to the doctor telling me not to worry. I say, if you have a concern, get him tested. It can't hurt anything. Good luck!

 

[tiff211]

My nephew will be 2 in 3 weeks and he says 2 words. My sister in denial and says he talks. He is around me at least 1 or 2 a week and I have heard him say "Barney" and "mommy". My Godson is a week older and says about 50+ words and can form 2-3 word sentences. My 4 girls were all talking basic sentences by 18 months.

Go with your gut, your concern is genuine. I think I would rather hear "everything is normal", then not have my child tested and there be something wrong. Ease your mind! Wishing you the best!!

 

[alisonbestford]

My son, who is now 18 years old, hardly spoke at all until he was about 4!
Basically he was lazy (still is ) and let his big sister run around after him

The health visitor suggested speech therapy but I refused as I knew he understood everything and was able to talk - just couldn't be bothered

Now you can't shut him up but, I have to say, it would have been easy to become, unnecessarily (as it happens) concerned about him as he followed in the footsteps of my eldest daughter who, from a very young age, never stopped talking
Think he probably couldn't get a word in edgeways

Think I'm going crazy - just noticed I've already contributed to this thread
My apologies

 

[ESN]

I have a 2 yr dd and 4 yr old ds.

My son did not speak a word (not mama, not dada) until after 2yrs old. He really did not babble - or make a lot of sounds. He used to point and basically grunt at what he wanted. On the other hand, he was literally RUNNING at 10 months - and could climb a ladder.

I was freaked out - got him a speech therapist, etc. My mom (who had 5 kids) told me I was neurotic (prob true!) and to leave him alone. She also told me that my brother did not really speak until age 3 (successful college grad and gainfully employed now!)

Needless to say - DS is now 4 - has an incredible vocabulary - and will not shut up. I think this has more to do with his being ready than anything else.

A lot of this is highly variable from one child to the next. My daughter spoke in full sentences before age 16 months.

There are some interesting books on children with late speech development - Seems this is often associated with children of scientists/engineers/musicians etc - and does tend to run in families.

If your child responds to instructions and understands simple sentences - I would not get too nervous.


Check if your area offers "early intervention" or some thing of that sort. This may be free (and prob the best use of your tax dollars you will ever get!) -In my opinion - it can't hurt - and if the child does have a problem - you won't regret getting help early!

Good luck!

 

[mickeyfan2]

He will talk when he has something to say. My sister was way older than you son when she started to talk, and guess what, she has never stopped. The Dr. said that kids will speak when they cannot get what they want without it. She pointed and we gave her what she wanted. She was communication but not with words.

 

[cwnhokie]

Hi there! I read your last post that you are getting freaked out. If you are worried and would like to put your mind at ease get an evaluation. Especially since there is a history of hearing loss in your family. I work in my state's early intervention program. If you need help finding the one for your state, let me know and I can take a look or you can ask your pediatrician. In our state the program is free, it is not free in all states but it is available in all states because it is federal law. Once the evaluation is completed, if services are reccommended it's still up to you if you want to participate. Good luck to you.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Hi there! I read your last post that you are getting freaked out. If you are worried and would like to put your mind at ease get an evaluation. Especially since there is a history of hearing loss in your family. I work in my state's early intervention program. If you need help finding the one for your state, let me know and I can take a look or you can ask your pediatrician. In our state the program is free, it is not free in all states but it is available in all states because it is federal law. Once the evaluation is completed, if services are reccommended it's still up to you if you want to participate. Good luck to you.

It isn't that there is possibliy something wrong with your son. Chances are there isn't. The thing is on the off chance there is it is better to know about it head of time. As you know hearing loss can be managed rather well, but not knowing is the worst thing. So can other reasons for your son to be non verbal at this time. Also there is a chance it is just him and he is "working" on more phsycial things at this time. If she only said 2 or 3 words but used them alot then I think the situation would be differnt. Also the family hx is important.

I agree, the purpose of getting an evaluation is to put your mind at ease, not freak you out. It sounds like you son is doing very well. He is smart and understands what is going in his world. That is great. However on the off chance that something (hearing loss or other) is getting in his way it best to know about it and have every opprotuntiy to help him early. These years are important and waiting 6 more months is really too long. Just think IF he does have a hearing loss that is 6 months of lanuage acusation that is lost.

Reglardless of his hearing I think introducing ASL (american sign lanuage) is a great thing to do with tolders, especially non verbal ones. It will only incurage his lanuage development, he will be able to transfer to verbal words later.

Best of luck. You sound like a great mom that just wants to be sure you are doing every thing you can for your son to assure you gets all the opprotunites to learn and grow he can.

Please give us an update and let us know how you guys are doing!

 

[Pixiedust34]

wow, now I feel like it was a bad idea to even ask this. I was hoping to here other people say "yeah, that is normal, my ds or dd didn't talk until 20 mos. or didn't talk until xyz etc." I wasn't expecting so many responses telling me that there is probably something wrong with my son. Now I am totally freaked out about it.

Please don't freak out over this. As a mom who has a child with a speech disorder, I *always* recommend a screening to any parent who has a concern about speech development. I'd just rather they be safe (most of the time, that evaluation gives peace of mind--a child could be just fine and taking his own sweet time to speak up) than sorry if they put it off only to discover that there were issues which could have been dealt with earlier.

If you get an evaluation and he's fine, then all is well! You'll be thankful for having that peace of mind. If you get an evaluation and they recommend speech therapy, then that's OK, too. Your ds will be getting a boost he needs. Either way, it's a win/win situation.

If you'd like to PM me, please feel free.

 

[nliedel]

If you are a mom who anticipates your childrens needs they will talk later. We noticed number 4 is slower on the talking than one was because he has an army of people catering to him all day long. Someone always gives him whatever his heart desires. So he does not need to talk. He is talking (and better than the almost three year old which tipped us off about his deafness) but probably has 15 words or so (he is 19 months but think 17 months because he was a preemie).

Work with your little one and give it a month. If he is understanding your words, pointing at things you describe etc then it is probably not a big deal. If he does not turn his head when you talk to him you might want to watch him very closely. Neither of my preemies walked anywhere close to on time. Herne was almost 2! But once he got it he was running and he certainly made up for lost time.

As for concern that you are not getting reassurance it is better to get your little one tested than wonder and hope but have a problem later. Your local school system probably has a program that will test him for free. Like Early On (here in MI).

 

[3mickeys&me]

Our first son talked fairly early. Then he never stopped talking So when Son # 2 was born he didn't have a chance to talk because #1 wouldn't stop talking!! LOL

He did start talking at about 2 1/2 and has followed in his big brothers shoes of never stopping! LOL

 

[mom2alix]

DS only said mama and (sometimes) dada until his 15 month appointment. At that time they sent me home with one of those "what to expect at this age sheets" that said he should have 10-20 words! Ack!

Anyway, long story short, DS wasn't developing his speech because he is a pacifier addict. In just a month of limiting the pacifier he's gained 10 words and he definitely communicates more (mostly letting me know that he doesn't appreciate me taking his pacifier). I really didn't realize how often he had that darn thing in his mouth until I was trying to get him to talk. DD wouldn't have anything to do with a pacifier so I'm a novice on breaking the habit, but we're trying. Just thought I'd share my experience on the off chance you have a pacifier addict of your own.

 

[DisneyPhD]

In just a month of limiting the pacifier he's gained 10 words and he definitely communicates more (mostly letting me know that he doesn't appreciate me taking his pacifier)

I can just see this.