Quick Update on page 4! Should I be concerned my 21 month old is not talking yet?

[jellyd]

Hi All,
Serious lurker Disney Dad here. My youngest of 3 kids who will be 2 in the end of December has not started talking yet. Should I be concerned? She babbles non stop and can follow directions. We can tell her to bring this or that to Mommy and she will go in to the next room and do exactly as told. She also nods yes or no to questions about her wants. Our pediatrician told us they do not get concerned or provide resources until the 2nd birthday but I'm starting to get worried. Have any of you had experience with this or are their any speech language therapists on the board that can put my mind at ease?

Thanks,
Jelly

 

[mhsjax]

Hi All,
Serious lurker Disney Dad here. My youngest of 3 kids who will be 2 in the end of December has not started talking yet. Should I be concerned? She babbles non stop and can follow directions. We can tell her to bring this or that to Mommy and she will go in to the next room and do exactly as told. She also nods yes or no to questions about her wants. Our pediatrician told us they do not get concerned or provide resources until the 2nd birthday but I'm starting to get worried. Have any of you had experience with this or are their any speech language therapists on the board that can put my mind at ease?

Thanks,
Jelly

Hi

I have 3 kids. 2 boys. the boys didn't talk until they were 3 years old. My pediatrician and the school system told me that here in Florida they don't evaluate until 3. They have speech therapy and they are fine.

I will tell you what my pediatrician said. They are finding that kids who don't speak until later on, usually have extremely high IQ's when it comes to math and science. So far it is proving true with both of my boys. Einstein didn't talk until he was around 4 or 5. So I wouldn't worry too much. Also if she is the youngest they usually don't talk as early as the others, they get out talked by their siblings.

 

[Wonders10]

Hi All,
Serious lurker Disney Dad here. My youngest of 3 kids who will be 2 in the end of December has not started talking yet. Should I be concerned? She babbles non stop and can follow directions. We can tell her to bring this or that to Mommy and she will go in to the next room and do exactly as told. She also nods yes or no to questions about her wants. Our pediatrician told us they do not get concerned or provide resources until the 2nd birthday but I'm starting to get worried. Have any of you had experience with this or are their any speech language therapists on the board that can put my mind at ease?

Thanks,
Jelly

I'm a speech pathologist!

It's normal to have your concerns and there could or could not be a language delay. Obviously I cannot diagnose over the internet It is very typical that her receptive language (what she understands, i.e. following directions) is "better" than her expressive language (what she says). Although at this point, I would want to see some true words - does she have any? What are they? When does she use them? How would she get your attention?

Another question - how old are your other 2 children? Immediately my mind went to this thought - she has 2 older siblings who probably do a lot of talking and therefore "talk for her". There are few opportunities for her to have to talk and ask for things, etc. so she doesn't get what talking will do for her. Try to increase opportunities for her to talk....i.e. if you are blowing bubbles, stop for a little bit and see if she says something, like "bubbles" or "more" or anything to get you to start blowing again.

In addition to that, model language for her. If she tugs on your leg with an empty cup, say something like, "Empty! More milk". Let her see your mouth and give her an opportunity to imitate you.

Because she isn't quite 2 years old and with what you described, my gut and training are telling me its probably not a language delay - she just needs more opportunities to "practice" her language. As long as she is attempting to communicate with you somehow and words are coming gradually, even word approximations, I'd give it a little more time before worrying further.

 

[JoiseyMom]

My oldest DS didn't talk until 3, I mean he said a few words and knew his letters, but he wasn't speaking. But when he did start talking he talked in full sentences.

If she understand what you are saying and following directions, then you know she hears you, which would be the first concern. I wouldn't worry about it.

Oh, my oldest never had any other issues and just got married!! Now his talking or lack of talking is his wifes headache!!

 

[Wonders10]

Hi

I have 3 kids. 2 boys. the boys didn't talk until they were 3 years old. My pediatrician and the school system told me that here in Florida they don't evaluate until 3. They have speech therapy and they are fine.

The schools do not evaluate until age 3, however private practices will evaluate. Often, at least an evaluation is covered under insurance, if not fully, partially.

 

[mhsjax]

The schools do not evaluate until age 3, however private practices will evaluate. Often, at least an evaluation is covered under insurance, if not fully, partially.

YOu know, now that I think about it,( it was along time ago) they may have done some evaluations. I know we had to have his hearing tested and he actually had to take some sort of IQ test among other things. They decided it was just a speech delay and they wouldn't start therapy within the school system until age three.

With my first there was no medical reason, so I waited until age 3. With the 2nd. he had some severe ear infections so my health insurance did pay part of his therapy before the age of 3.

 

[*Meagan*]

I'm a speech pathologist!

Another question - how old are your other 2 children? Immediately my mind went to this thought - she has 2 older siblings who probably do a lot of talking and therefore "talk for her". There are few opportunities for her to have to talk and ask for things, etc. so she doesn't get what talking will do for her. Try to increase opportunities for her to talk....i.e. if you are blowing bubbles, stop for a little bit and see if she says something, like "bubbles" or "more" or anything to get you to start blowing again.



.

hit the nail right on the head.. I have seen this happen in my family with nieces and nephews .. the older siblings speak for them.. so they dont bother! And my nieces and nephews did the same with walking.. siblings or parents would just carry them everywhere.

 

[disneybound2010]

My DS didn't really speak until he was 3. He would babble and here and there a word would slip out, but that was it. Just before his 3rd birthday, he started talking...in full paragraphs! He was carrying on conversations like he had been speaking for years. Every child is different and each child will reach these milestones at their own pace. I wouldn't be worried.

 

[h518may]

Early intervention, in every state, deals with 0-3. Then the school system will take over any intervention needed. Testing through early intervention is free, after testing if therapy is needed it usually has cost according to salary.

Also you don't need a Dr. to recommend EI to evaluate. All you would have to do is call EI and tell them you want her evaluate.


My idea is that Drs. wait to long to recommend testing. Your DD probably has nothing wrong, but speech therapy also can't hurt. Both of my children had speech therapy. DS had speech then just started talking in sentences at 3. DD on the other had is almost 5 and still not talking in sentences and we know she had a speech disorder. Without testing we wouldn't know one way or the other. DD's speech disorder was diagnosed at about 2 years old.

Just my thoughts.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I'm a speech pathologist!

It's normal to have your concerns and there could or could not be a language delay. Obviously I cannot diagnose over the internet It is very typical that her receptive language (what she understands, i.e. following directions) is "better" than her expressive language (what she says). Although at this point, I would want to see some true words - does she have any? What are they? When does she use them? How would she get your attention?

Another question - how old are your other 2 children? Immediately my mind went to this thought - she has 2 older siblings who probably do a lot of talking and therefore "talk for her". There are few opportunities for her to have to talk and ask for things, etc. so she doesn't get what talking will do for her. Try to increase opportunities for her to talk....i.e. if you are blowing bubbles, stop for a little bit and see if she says something, like "bubbles" or "more" or anything to get you to start blowing again.

In addition to that, model language for her. If she tugs on your leg with an empty cup, say something like, "Empty! More milk". Let her see your mouth and give her an opportunity to imitate you.

Because she isn't quite 2 years old and with what you described, my gut and training are telling me its probably not a language delay - she just needs more opportunities to "practice" her language. As long as she is attempting to communicate with you somehow and words are coming gradually, even word approximations, I'd give it a little more time before worrying further.

Not a speech pathologist but a preschool teacher working with kids 18 to 28 months old for 12 years and this is very similar to what I tell parents at the beginning of the year to parents who have concerns. I will also add that "normal" for this age is a very wide range, the normal range shrinks as kids age.

 

[creativeamanda]

Special Education Administrator and teacher here: You can ask for a referral to a speech-language pathologist and if I were you, I'd just go ahead and ask your doctor to do it just to put your mind at ease.

School districts have to evaluate around the age of 2.5, because if they qualify for services an IEP has to be in place by the time the child turns 3.

 

[DawnM]

My second didn't talk until almost age 3. Everyone else was worried. I was not.

He is now 10 and is doing very well academically.

Dawn

 

[Jaime4004]

My pedi loves to have ST evals on kids from 18 mos up. My first son had the eval done then, had ST until he was 3. For my 2nd son, Pedi mentioned it at 18 mos, then again at 24 mos and I decided to wait for the eval until he was 2.5. He has 2 older siblings so I wanted to give him a chance to work things out on his own. Within a few months, his speech has increased dramatically, though still not quite where most other kids his age are. IMO, around here, the early intervention eval is more thorough than the one done by the school (we have been through both) so I preferred to get the eval done before he turns 3, but at 21 mos, I wouldn't be worried yet. So we're just starting on that process now. He just had a hearing test.... Has to go back because he wasn't very cooperative.

 

[SandrA9810]

I didn't start talking till I was over 3. My brother doesn't speak at all because of syndrome G. He has a voice, but can't make words, and he can follow directions, so he understands language.

Well we had our own communication. We knew how to talk to each other, and i didn't feel the need to talk to any one else. And we're less than 2yrs apart.

Then I had a cousin come for a visit my age. That's when i started talking, and then lost the communication with my brother as i got older.

Maybe you can find a playmate that's her age who does talk. It might open her up to finally making the need for communication.

Or you could work on sign language. Many people says that helps open up the communication barrier. And just cause you're mom or dad, been there done that, already know what she wants. Don't let that be an excuse to not let her tell you what she wants.

 

[design_mom]

Early intervention, in every state, deals with 0-3. Then the school system will take over any intervention needed. Testing through early intervention is free, after testing if therapy is needed it usually has cost according to salary.

Also you don't need a Dr. to recommend EI to evaluate. All you would have to do is call EI and tell them you want her evaluate.

My DD is a "graduate" of our state's early intervention program. In our state, it's called Help Me Grow. I can't say enough good things about them. I had similar concerns about my daughter and had her evaluated at about 20 months. By the time she reached 3, she did not qualify for school services because she was back on track. If you have concerns, I would definitely get in touch with your state's Early Intervention team.

 

[Colleen27]

How are the older kids with the baby? My brother didn't talk much until well past his second birthday because he always had me talking for him. He just never had much need to express himself verbally. I was always around to anticipate what he wanted and "translate" for the adults. He was 2.5 when I started school and basically went from hardly talking at all to simple sentences overnight once I was out of the house all day and he was on his own in finding ways to communicate his needs.

I'd keep an eye on things and see if there are interaction patterns that might be removing the natural incentives babies have to start talking, and try to find unobtrustive ways to change those patterns (like encouraging the kids to help the baby "use her words", playing "repeat after me" songs/games, etc.). I'd give it the few months until her 2nd birthday and consult the pediatrician again if she's not at least starting to talk by then.

 

[luvflorida]

We had this same concern with our grandson, Carter. He did not talk AT ALL until about the age of 23 months. He would babble and make noises, but nothing that was even close to a word. His doctor didn't seem concerned, so my daughter and her husband didn't worry too much about it, especially since Carter had no trouble at all with receptive language.

Carter has always enjoyed doing the hand motions to kids' songs and poems (Itsy, Bitsy Spider, Five Little Monkeys, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, etc.) so we started teaching him to sign when he was 12 or 13 months old. He thought it was a fun game, and he was quick to pick up on signing. We also always said the word as well as signed it.

One of the first things he said, around 23 months, was "Bye, Mom". It was very clear and we were so surprised that he said two words together. He completely bypassed the "mama" and "dada", and went straight to "Mom" and "Daddy". The second thing he said was "has-bown" (hashbrown). He was in his carseat at the time, and his mom and dad had just driven by a McDonald's. And they hardly ever go to McDonald's.

Carter turned two a few weeks ago, and every day he is saying something new. And, he still likes to sign, although he doesn't do it as much. He surprised us the other day when we were out shopping. I reminded him to say "thank-you" when a cashier handed him a bag and Carter signed "thank-you" instead of saying it.

He hasn't yet put together a complete sentence, but I'm guessing it won't be long. As other people have said, each child has his/her own developmental timetable. I wouldn't worry too much, unless a child seems to be way off what is expected for his/her age.

ETA: Here is a link to the thread I posted about a year ago when I was concerned about Carter not talking. It has a lot of info from other posters about speech and signing that you might find helpful. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2269894

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would say...yes...concerned enough to have then evaluated. There is receptive lanuage--the part that shows your child understands things...and there is expressive language...the ability to express yourself through speech.

My sons total language score was fine, but when split, his receptive language was above average--but his expressive language was very below average.

We were in Florida. While public schools do not offer services until age 3, prior to that Early Steps tests and finds services privately and the state covers it. My son was referred by his pediatrician at about 18 months of age. Services are only available to the child when they show a certain level of deficiency. In Virginia, the program is Child Find.

In any case...babbling is good. My son could not babble.

Getting checked is not harmful and you are not obliged to go with recommendations.

 

[tiggger1]

Early intervention, in every state, deals with 0-3. Then the school system will take over any intervention needed. Testing through early intervention is free, after testing if therapy is needed it usually has cost according to salary.

Also you don't need a Dr. to recommend EI to evaluate. All you would have to do is call EI and tell them you want her evaluate.


My idea is that Drs. wait to long to recommend testing. Your DD probably has nothing wrong, but speech therapy also can't hurt. Both of my children had speech therapy. DS had speech then just started talking in sentences at 3. DD on the other had is almost 5 and still not talking in sentences and we know she had a speech disorder. Without testing we wouldn't know one way or the other. DD's speech disorder was diagnosed at about 2 years old.

Just my thoughts.

This!

 

[superme80]

I wouldn't be. My son doesn't talk a lot either. He understands a lot and is good at following directions. He just smirks, so I know he understands, but he doesn't feel like talking. My cousin didn't talk until he was 3. He would point and say "buh" and got whatever he wanted. When he was 3 he started talking. He is in college now doing quite well.