Language Development - Addison, TX

If you have any concerns you can call Ready Start- they are an early intervention program for children ages 0-3. They do free evaluations and can help with therapy if needed.

I have a two year old that does not talk at all, not one word yet he knows his ears, nose,mouth and every thing you say. He just junts for it all. So it is normal and he will talk. Take care GingerW

I have been through it all with speech and boys. I have 3 boys ages 4.5 nearly 3 and 13 months and they all spoke a little later. My 13 month also only says mama and dada he is babling and trying but no other words yet. Give him some time he should start learning new sounds any day I would only worry after 18 months or if you have any other developmental concerns in addition to the talking. My 4.5 year old did not even speak in sentances until the age of 3 but now we can't shut him up. they really are all different. and as long as everything else seems on track then he should catch up soon on the speech.

Good luck, A. J

I wasn't concerned with my 2nd child until he was 3. At that point the pediatrician was concerned also about his speech development and we took him to speech therapy for a year and a half. It helped tremendously and taught us how to help him progress in his speech. Good luck. Don't worry too much too soon.

I think this sounds totally normal and you have nothing to worry about. My daught is 17 months old and has only in the last few weeks started saying Dada and Mommy. She says other thing s as well but only I can understand them. I have never even thought it was a problem.

Unles you suspect a hearing loss, I wouldn't worry. I had one talking at 1 yr partial sentences, one talking at 2 yrs partial sentences and the third child didn't talk until she after she was 3. The doctor said that if she could understand and follow directions, such as "go get the ball" and everything else was on track, not to worry. She'll talk when she's ready. Sure enough she did and hasn't stopped since. The three children were on track during their school years. I will say however that the third child had a problem with her "L's" and vowel blends such as bird was pronounced boid, church, chuch. So you might watch for those signs but I rather think his bablling is making perfect sense to him. Relax.

By one year old a child typically has a couple of words -- and your child does - Mama and Dada. That is great! I have been practicing speech-language pathology for 15 years, and a suggestion that I often give to parents who share your concern is just make sure that as you are doing various activities with your child, that you are giving him time to absorb, and maybe respond. Acknowledge all verablizations (respond as if in a conversation- giving value to his intent to communicate), and stay calm. If you do not see some sort of increase in his expressive output over the next several months, you might want to contact ECI or a speech-language pathologist. By 18 months he should have many more than 5 words, and by two children usually start to put two words together (i.e. "mo du" for more juice).

These are the same developmental patterns for boys and girls. You can visit my website, www.startherapyprograms.com, and click on developmental milestones. These are based on guidelines put forth by ASHA (American Speech-Language Hearing Association).

Have fun with your toddler!

Regards,
S.

As long as he's hitting the other milestones, do not worry. Next time you're at the doc ask about it. But otherwise don't worry.

Hi! My son is almost 13 months, and I have been wondering the same thing. He only says mama and dada. When we to his year dr apt, the nurse asked if he was saying atleast 3-4 words. I was like NO only mama and dada. They didnt seem concerned but I wondered also since they asked me that question.

My son (3 1/2 years old) wasn't talking fully until he was about 2 1/2. He developed the physical stuff first. Don't worry about it right now. :)

This is normal. In general, they say boys are slower, but my first was speaking in full sentences at 18 mos. However, he was much slower at the physical stuff. My second son didn't speak much at all until he was over two (i.e., like your son only a few words at around a year). He also was quite a bit slower in terms of developing maturity in his speech. So, at this point, there's nothing at all to worry about. Just respond to his babble with proper speech and eventually you'll be hearing that.

just keep trying with him. my son would say a few words for the longest then by the age of two he took off. i was worried too at the time. my son had really bad ear infections and i worried that caused a problem. it did though!! he had several hearing tests and ear tubes placed in but every doctor told me no matter what just keep trying with him and talk to him and he will talk soon. now my son is five and he won't shut up sometimes lol.

I wouldn't worry about it right now. Talk to your child's doctor about it. If he doesn't talk a bit more by 2 or 2 1/2, than worry. But he'll get there. But do talk to your doctor, I am not an expert in the subject.

I experienced the same concern when my now 4 year old daughter was almost 24 months and was still not speaking more than a few words. I was about to take her to the docotor and see what I needed to do. A friend of mine told me to wait so I did. A few weeks later she was talking up a storm. We joke and say she was just waiting until she could speak 3 or 4 word sentences. When she started to talk, she progressed quickly and now has a vocabulary beyond an average 4 year old. So.. I wouldn't worry too much. If he does begin talking after he is two then I would start to worry and look into likley possibilities. I hope this eases your mind.

C.

He's Fine...language developement varies in every child...by the end of he's 4th year he should be able to say 6 word sentences with strangers able to understand him. So, he's fine...relax and be more concerned aboout loving him and enjoying him than pressuring milestones.

13 months is way way way way too early to worry if everything else is developing just fine. Look at this chart, http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/language_..., they don't even have words listed until 18 months (and only 5 - 20 at that). Expecting him to intelligibly talk or hold a conversation at this age is highly unrealistic imo. Yeah, there's the occasional baby (usually a girl but not always), who does say a few words at this age but that is not the norm.

At this age, you want to promote language and some really good ways to do that is to turn off the tv, read lots of books to him (library story times are great), constantly narrate what you're doing and teach him to sign. None of these things will guarantee your son will talk and perfectly on schedule, but they will help foster his understanding.

I don't know if boys are slower to do everything. Mine started walking at 9 months, said a 3 word sentence at 13 but then didn't really talk until this May and after several months of speech therapy. He wasn't evaluated until about 29-30 months.

The fact that he is jabbering and babbling is really really good. Unless everything else is not going along fine, it is too early for you to start worrying imo. (Keep in mind too that these kids don't receive copies of those developmental milestone.) My son's Speech Therapist says it isn't until 18 months that you begin to look at speech and even then it's difficult to diagnose. That's why most wait until after 2 yrs or older to evaluate.

Hang in there. Kids develop at their own pace and all you can do is provide them the nurturing environment for this. If you are concerned, talk to your ped about what he or she recommends.