My mom, who keeps my kids on the weekends happens to be concerned about my youngest daughter not talking enough, but when she is home with me, I kind of keep a list of the words she says and they are, sis, mama, dad, juice, stairs, it, nana, papa, and ow. She also points to things when she wants them, I return with telling her what it is she is pointing at and then giving it to her. She is communicating with us and although she has very few words right now, I know that she is learning more. She tells us a new word about once a week. My question is how do I know for sure that she is on track and since my older daughter has a speech issue how do I know that she won't have one. Also, how early should I worry about a speech problem. also, Mom thinks she should be talking in sentences at 20 months old, and I am going no. She shouldn't . What is the answer here?
After reading every one of the responses that you all sent in, I was able to find additional supportive information on the net to assist me in showing my mom that my youngest is developing quite normally with her speech. She continues to pick up new words on a daily basis. Here lately her favorite words are "nite nite" and "No" she has many others, those are just the ones she loves to use.
If you are concerned you can go to the American Speech and Hearing Association web site and get the guidelines for speech and language development. I am a speech therapist and it is a great web site for information or you can just type in speech and language development and get a list of typically developing language and speech milestones. MT
Mom of 3 crazy kids.
Just the words you mentioned seems like she is hitting the marks for being fine. My older boy I remember hit a word explosion around 22 months. I was worried about him at that point and the doctor was totaly not worried as he had more than 6 words. That was the magic number I guess. Words get added in large clumps as they learn to pronounce a letter/sound. I suppose some babies speak in sentences, but a large large large majority do not. Take note of what you say that she undrestands. I bet she knows a lot and just cant form the words yet.
If there are any concerns, I highly recommend getting in contact with Help Me Grow...a free service with the state. They will come out and do a free evaluation and provide free services if she is in need. They will also help with school services when they are ready for preschool. Just google Help Me Grow Ohio for contact information!
Each child develops differently. There is no exact timetable, just rough guesstimates for where 'most' children are at particular ages. I have a 22 month old who does not talk at all and is currently in speech therapy (not helping) and we're awaiting a visit to a developmental delay/autism specialist at Akron Children's Hospital. I would say your daughter seems to sound pretty normal. My oldest tended to not talk much around other relatives, but was a chatterbug at home. So that may be the case with your daughter. If concerned, though, you can enroll her in Help Me Grow in your area, and have them check in on her development, to ease any worries. You can also speak to your pediatrician about it, and get his/her opinion on the matter. At 20 months, I don't know many children talking in sentences. Putting 2-3 words together to get their point across, yes, but not full sentences. That's not typically the 'norm'. With what we've learned thru speech therapy, she sounds fine, because she uses words, she uses pointing to communicate. Pointing is something my son only just started doing in the past few weeks.
The speech milestone that I have been told is that a child should be putting two words together by 2 years. If you are concerned about your daughter's speech, I highly recommend getting a speech evaluation through Help Me Grow. It's free and they are really helpful. If they have any concerns, they can also help your daughter get speech help. I used them for my son and also have a friend who used them for her daughter.
D.,
You daughter seems right on track to me. Some kids especially second children sometimes take longer to talk because the older child is talking for them. I know that is the case with my daughter now (she's 25 months and is only talking in 2 to 3 word sentences, her favorite being I'll do it which pretty much sounds like one word), her older brother (5) talks for her all the time.
I think you are fine with the methods you are using and you will see that one day all of a sudden she just talking up a storm.
I would say however if by 4 years old your daughter is still having speech issue (the way she pronounces word) you may want to think about finding her a speech class, but I really don't think you have to worry.
good luck and god bless,
Mel
D.,
Your little girl may, indeed, be learning her language skills slower than grandma feels proper. This may or may not be cause for concern. Speech pathologists generally look for a vocabulary of about 40 or 50 words by the age of 24 months. Your daughter is, obviously, quite behind this. But, before you call a speech pathologist or run to the pediatrician to have your daughter assessed for speech problems, you might want to consider working more with developing her language skills.
Instead of giving her what she wants when she points to it, say the word and make her repeat it before you give her the object of her desire. Children learn quickly the minimum effort required to accomplish something. And, if you give in to her at this point, she is also learning one method of manipulating you! So, if she wants a cookie and points to it, or says "it", hold the cookie up and say "cookie". Make her repeat it before she 'earns' the prize.
Also, as she gets older - 24 to 36 months - you will want to start demanding more developed speech patterns such as formulating short, three-word sentences, "I want cookie", "I not sleepy", "I go potty." Don't be afraid to ask for more from her rather than less.
Remember, your second daughter is uniquely different from her older sister. She will develop differently, including her speech development. She may surprise you at how quickly she picks up new words once you start coaching her to use them!
Hi,
I have 9 children. My one son did not say any words until he was 2 and a half. Boy did I get "concern" from family/friends. I knew he was healthy and fine. He is 24 now and owns his own business LOL. He talks just fine! Every child is different. Your child talks more than most of mine at that age. Relax and enjoy your little blessing. People will offer their concern and advice probably forever. Relax, pray, talk with your hubby, and don't worry about what others say. Most is very well meaning, but you're their mom and God will direct your heart and daddy's to take care of them.
Blessings, B.
SAHM, mom to 9, ages 2 to 24
First off let me start by sayin each child is very very different. I have a 26 month old daughter who speaks in sentences, tells stories to us, sings to the wiggles and talks up a storm. But that is how I was when I was little too. And I am quite the talker, and she loves to read so she picks up lots of words through me and her books. She's accelerated for her age, but my boss has a almost 2 year old boy who has yet to say more then 3 words. My boss did not speak more then a few words til he was 4 years of age and the doctor told him that they did not expect him to speak quickly because of that trait. It really does depend on the child and maybe even the genetics. My pediatrician told me that at age 18 months she should have approximatly 50 words. And they don't have to be clear, they need to be attempting that many I guess. I would not be worried because she is trying and bringing new words each week, but if you are I would talk to the pediatrician about it. Maybe just call the nurse and see what she thinks. One suggestion I can make is flash cards. Baby Einstien has a wonderful set of "real life" flash cards. I used to let my little girl play with them, then when she was old enough I would go through them twice a day (of course at that time I was a SAHM and had time to do that). She picked up on those words really fast. Now she does the same things with books. It really is her memory kicking in, but she will turn to a certain page of abook and know what it says. Usually her favorite pages. But we read the books so much that she picks up on ALL the words. Dr. Suess (sp?) is an oldie but a goodie. I read his books to ALL of a my pre-schoolers constantly, and now my own little girl. It really does help. But again I personally would not be concerned because she is learning new words, at her rate.. no one elses! And thats a positive thing.
I think I just answered your other post! She sounds pretty normal to me! My mom told me that my brothers and I didn't talk till we were almost 2.Is her Dr. worried?? My son is almost 16 months and says NO words, so I just think it comes when she's ready, especially if she has an older sis who talks for her!
I also recommend you contact Help Me Grow in the county in which you live. It is part of the Department of Health and provides early intervention services for children from birth to 3. They will be able to answer speech and language questions you have about your child. Each child is different but there are milestones that help professionals determine if a child is on track. Between about 18 and 24 months children experience a language explosion where their vocabulary increases dramatically. At 24 months your child should have a vocabulary of about 50 words and should be linking 2 words together in a phrase "more juice" or "mommy sock", for example. If you think she may be delayed, or just not where she should be, then contact Help Me Grow and make arrangements to have her seen by a speech-language pathologist. The earlier your daughter gets help (if she needs it) the better off she will be. And if they tell you she is developmentally on track, then you can take that info to your mom and both of you can rest easier. Good luck!
D.!! we have so much in common!! if you ever want to chat further please contact me.
my son is 25 months & my MIL has been calling him 'severely speech delayed' since before he was 2. what upset me even further was she almost came out & called him stupid based on the fact that he's not talking. she couldn't believe he could do advanced puzzles & pick out a fire truck vs an airport fire truck from a picture book. (i could go on).
i asked my son's ped. at his 2 year wellness check about his lack of speech & she did refer me to 'help me grow'. i have begun the process but have yet to have my son evaluated. they're a wonderful org. & a good friend of mine went through the whole process with her oldest son. it's all free of charge & they help you until your child is 3 & then i think your school district steps in after that. help me grow determines your service by the county you live in. when you call, they'll ask you which county & then tell you who to go to.
it's funny, my mom is the total opposite of MIL. my son is #7 grandkid for in laws & the one & only for my mom. i don't think my mom even wants him evaluated!!
anyway, my son has only single words - no sentences. however, everyone (esp me) in his life overly interprets for him. he'll point to something & go "hmmm" & i'll say, "oh, you want those crackers?" & he'll say, "yeah!!" i'm trying to get better about asking him to actually tell me what he wants. he may not talk much, but he has been dribbling a basketball since before he could walk, he follows compound verbal directions (go put your cup in the sink & then get your shoes), he can do puzzles kids much older than him cannot, etc. also, my husband & i didn't talk until we were 3 so maybe it's genetic.
i have a feeling your daughter is just fine. i also agree with what all of the other moms have written. but help me grow is free, so why not take advantage. like someone else wrote, if they tell you your daughter is right on track then you can tell your mom she was wrong ;-)
p.s. is there a possibility of a hearing issue? we may go down that road with our son (depending on what insurance covers).
Kids develop at their own rate, my oldest son WAS talking in sentences by 20 months, but my best friends daughter would only say a few words for the longest time. Right after her third birthday, my family went on vacation for 10 days, and when we got back my friends daughter was like a whole new person~you couldn't get her to shut up!
So, my advice is that if you trust your doctor, then trust your doctor; and if you don't trust your doctor then you need to get a new doctor :)
Well always keep in mind that all kids develop at their own pace. My son (now 3) talked excellent before he was one....my daughter (almost 20 months) barely talks. She knows words just like yours but she just doesn't feel like she needs to talk all the time. She was a lot faster on things than my son. She was walking at 10 months, my son didn't walk until 18 months. All kids are different! You are doing the right thing by telling her what it is when she points to it.....One day she will amaze you and start saying all these words and you will be like "Where did she learn that". She might be an observer.....I believe that is my daughter....she watches everything her big brother does. If you really feel that she is having a problem like your oldest, then talk to you doctor. But don't worry....I am sure she will be fine! Good Luck!
D., if you have any concern about your child's speech please call your local county MRDD. They have a program called Help Me Grow. They will evaluate your daughter and see if she has a delay. If she does they will provide FREE service to her. They will come to your home for her speech therapy sessions. It is a WONDERFUL program if you child has speech or any other delays. They helped us with our middle son. They are wonderful people and have a great program!!
i am sorry. i think your mom is wrong. i have a 22 month. he says words and points but by no means does he talk in sentences. i have a four year old who is deaf. so we went through all of the speech process. kids develope at different rates and from what you are saying your child sounds about like mine. and he is fine. i also have a nephew who is 3 and they took him to a speech theripist because he is very hard to understand and does not always talk in sentences and it was at a public school and they said he was having little bit of trouble but nothing to be worried about at this point in time. and he is three. anyways your child sounds fine. look on line at the speech time line for kids. good luck
If you're concerned about her speech, bring it up with her doctor. My now 5 year old son was diagnosed with a speech delay when he was around that age, and the sooner you can catch it, the sooner therapy can kick in and help her to overcome it. Some kids are just slow talkers, some are fast (My oldest was talking full sentences by the time he was 2) But it's like that old proverb goes "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" or something like that. It may be nothing, it may be something, but it's defiantly worth getting checked out.
Hi D.,
I have a 2 yr old little boy who does the same thing. My first baby a girl (who is 5 now) talked excellent and a lot earlier than my boy does. I have asked the doc a number of times they say he is totaly normal. He says mommy, daddy, ouch, eww, mamoow, but he will point to something if he wants it. He knows what you are saying, you can tell him to put his clothes in the hamper and he will go do it, you tell him to pick up toys he does. He also knows all his body parts. I have been trying to tell him what things are more. Like this is a pop tart. I did ask his doc again at his 2 yr check up 2 weeks ago. They said he was still fine?? They did say there is this program if I wanted to be refered called "help me grow" they offer services if you need them or want them for kids up to the age of 3yr. My doc said she would refer me if I wanted her to so I did, maybe they would help me, help him to talk more?? They are threw the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Early Intervention Services. They lady just called me the other day and I explained that he wasn't talking that much and she said he sounds normal but she will meet with me for a evaluation, just be on the save side?. She said that it is good that he points to things and communicate with you like that, because that shows he comprehends what you are saying. The service is free, even if you are not on assistance. I thought is was something that went by your income, but it isn't so we will be able to do it if needed. They have a web site www.ohiohelpmegrow.org
Or by phone ###-###-####. I hope this helps, and remember that they are all different. My doctor said that he is also the second child and a boy, so that comes into play?? Maybe you could call and talk to someone at help me grow and see what they say! I like it because it is free and they want to help your child as much as you do!!
Best of Luck and God Bless
It is very encouraging that your daughter is using new words regularly. There is a wide range of normal speech development. Some 20 month olds may be putting words together to form 2-3 word phrases while others are not. However, since there are concerns (and some family history), I wanted to let you know you could get a speech-language evaluation at no cost to you through Ohio's early intervention program. Call Clermont County MRDD or your child's local school district. Then you'll know for sure and know what to expect. I am a speech pathologist and a mother of 3 young children.
In Ohio, you can work with an organization called Help Me Grow who will do a developmental evaluation on any child under the age of 3. They can help you determine if there is a speech delay and help you get the resources you need if there is one. The evaluation should be free.
D.,
some children at 20 m can speek sentences, some take their time. dose your older child do most of the speeking for her? if you and your husband is not concerned then wait. if you have any concerns then it would not hurt to get her tested. You can get her tested through your local help me grow program in your county. They helped my son get tested and get the help he needed. He was not talking but a few words and is now three and still need speech help. so it is never to early to get her tested. the sooner you get help the better. youcan also google milestones and make sure your daughter is hitting the mile stones for 18 m and if she dose then go to the 24 m milestones. you can also talk to your doctor and ask what him or her think.
good luck
M.
all children learn and develop at there own pace. your daughter sounds like she is doing just fine. but i have heard the children with older siblings do sometimes speak later because the older sibling often speaks for them.
i think she sounds pretty normal. i'm no expert, but i think that full sentences before 2y/o would be PHENOMENAL! however, if you have doubts, i highly advocate taking your child to a speech-language pathologist (check your local school system for help). i think that the very fact that she's picking up and using new words regularly is reassuring.
try getting her to say the name of the object before you give it to her to encourage her. say the word, repeat it with her if she says it, then give her the object and repeat the word again. hope this helps!
My pediatrician has us fill out a development form for our daughter each time we go in for a check-up. That easily shows us if she is at the right development level for a child her age. My daughter is within a month of yours and she is talking in short sentences like, "I want some drink." or "Pee Pee on the potty.". She also sings some songs like, "Twinkle, Twinkle" and partially the "ABC Song". But, my daughter has been at the high end of the spectrum since she was born. She has always been a step ahead of where she should be. I think she is probably fine as long as your pediatrician thinks so too. Your methods of reinforcing words are the correct ones and a new word each week seems about right. I believe that was what the pediatrician had said to me the last time we took my daughter for her 18 month check-up.
Each child is different and each child developes in their own time. If she doesn't have a need to use her words, then she isn't going to learn them as fast. She has an older sibling that she follows around and picks up a lot from. Sometimes the second siblbing talks later, sometimes earlier if they find they want many different things than the first sibiling. GENERAL milestones: 18 months 5-10 words and by 24 months using 2 to 3 words together such as "More Juice". I would not be worried about her speech, she seems to be doing a pretty good job. You have to keep in mind that milestones are general. Children develop in some areas faster in some areas than others. For example, my son talked early but learned to undress himself and potty trained very late. His half brother isn't talking much at 1 and half but undresses himself and can open up just about anything he needs to get into.
Hi D.!
I have been practicing speech-language pathology for 15 years. The good news is that you are doing a good job by giving your daughter vocabulary that she's missing. Typically, a 20 month old should have more words. As children approach 2 years, they should begin to combine words to create phrases. Continue to add words to her gestures. (ex. "Oh, you want baby!") Also try to talk about her daily routines so that she hears the same words each day. Routines would include bathing, eating, dressing, etc. Allow her to make choices so that you're supplying the words (i.e. "Do you want milk or juice?") Make sure you're praising her attempts to communicate. Several local agencies can conduct a screening/evaluation to determine whether or not intervention is warranted. If you have more questions, please let me know.
S.
I think your little girl is fine, but that is a personal opinion and not a professional. A lot of kids don't really start talking until they are about 2. My daughter turned 2 only 3 weeks ago. She does talk in sentences a lot of the time, but let me tell you she has a lot of ongoing medical care (she actually lost the part of her brain that controls speach and language)and every doctor is amazed at how well she is talking saying it isn't typical for that age. That would make me think you shouldn't be that worried since she is saying some words and is continuously adding new ones. My son didn't start talking until right after he turned 2. He also said a few words, but nothing elaborate. I don't know much about your daughters speach delay to know if it is something that could be hereditary or not, but if that concerns you then I suggest seeking help. It would be better to catch a speach delay early so you could start therapy earlier. The state of Ohio has a free program (regardless of income) for children under 3. This the same program my daughter uses and they will come to your home and evaluate her. If she needs therapy it will be provided for her until the age of 3. The program is called Help Me Grow. I don't know where you live, but I am sure you can find the number in the government section of your phone book. If you are in the Dayton area Help me grow is based out of Miami Valley Hospital so you could call them to get the number. Hope this helps and remember ALL children are different and progress at different times so try to not let your mom worry you too much that your daughter isn't doing what she thinks other kids are doing.
Your daughter sounds fine to me. Speak to your pediatrician at her 2 yr appt. If the doctor is concerned she may order a hearing test. By no means should she be speaking in sentences. The most children do around that age is put two words together like "want milk" or "no Mommy" and she may still be a little young for that.
My son didn't speak too much until he was about 5 (just before kindrergarden). He too was the second child and I thought for a long time that he was slow. I took him to the doctor's and specialists and they said he was fine. He is now an honor roll student in school. If your concerned ask the doctor.
If there is even a doubt in your mind that there may be a delay I highly recommend contacting the Help Me Grow program. This is for ALL children in Ohio and is not just for low income families. My daughter was very developmentally delayed at nine months old (showing little emotion, was not sitting up or rolling over, etc.) our pediatrician told us not to worry she was normal. I felt that was not the case and had many friends and family tell me they believed her to be autistic. I did my research and found out about Help Me Grow thru a Physical Therapist friend.
My daughter received speech, occupational and physical therapy until she was three years old at little or no cost to us. She is now a normal, happy, thriving three year old that has advanced thru therapy and is now at the level of a 4 year old.
If nothing else, have an eval done to prove your mother wrong and put her mind at ease.
I also have a 20-month-old daughter. She is way ahead of the game with the number of words she has (too many to count), but she is not yet talking in sentences. I would not be concerned at this point ... especially since you do take her to the pediatrician regularly. They'll see her in a few months when she turns 2, and you can address this with them then if you feel the need.
I would gently tell Grandma that you appreciate her concern, but to "butt out". ;)
