My 9-Month-old Can't Talk

Hi. My son has mild CP and also had trouble talking. He is now 6 years old but we just had to keep working with him on sounds. The speech therapist will help a lot. Another thing we tried also which was recommended because since my son couldn't talk, he would get real frustrated....teach sign language!! Just a little info too, my son talked, then stopped, then we had to teach him again when he was 3 and now he can say lots of things and even quit getting speech therapy when he was 5.

Good luck...it does take lots of patience but like I said, the therapist will help lots as well.

S.

Hi M.,

I am sorry that Angelina has to endure CP. While i do not have any helpful advice that you can use now, i did want to tell you that your daughter needs a speech pathologist NOT a speech therapist when the time comes. Most speech therapists do not have the knowledge or the credentials to treat your child but a speech pathologist does. Good Luck to both yourself and Angelina

Some children do their talking whenever that want to. I wouldn't worry to much about it until she gets older. Keep doing what you're doing. You're doing a great job, Mom

Here's possible food for thought:

A close friend of mine's son didn't talk (or spoke very limited) for the longest time and, according to his doctor (& two others), it had to do with the fact his big sisters 'did' the talking for him. Though they didn't outright say, "Mom, Noah wants this, etc.", their communication around him caused activity sufficent enough that he didn't really, well, want/need to add directly to it (unless he wanted something personal like food, changing, etc. and then it often resorted more back to cries, grunts, etc. more so than actual words). However, he grew out of it (and that's what the doctor's said he would - they, like you, just kept encouraging words).

I know your situation is different due to your daughter's CP, but maybe big sis may be doing enough for them both like Noah's sister's did for him!

GOOD LUCK!

J.

My baby doesn't have CP, but he is 8.5 mths old and just said mama for the first time last week. So far we have mama, dada, and dog but just very recently. I know many other mothers that have 9mth olds that haven't said anything yet so I wouldn't be too worried. It sounds like you are doing a fantastic job talking to her and exposing her to different sounds. Good luck!

Hi. I am not sure who told you that your 9 month old should be talking, but they were very wrong! It is VERY normal for her not to be talking!! Just talk to her, lots. Use real language, not baby talk. Eventually she will mimic you with syllables.

Hang in there- she is fine!!

Hi M.,
My child does not have CP but did need speech therapy and it was provided through a organization called baby net here in Horry county. Please contact them. They have wonderful resources that help children that need special services with things like speech therapy. We are very thankful for all that they have done for my oldest. He is now 4 and won;t shut up. They are listed in the phone book and based in Conway. Hope this helps.
E. B

M.,
I feel your frustration. But there are children who have no disabilities and who don't talk at 9 mos. My daughter is 6 years old and has no words. She is developmentally delayed, has microcephaly, and is midly deaf. She says nothing. I am sure you are getting early intervention. You mentioned Speech. Ask about a communication book. You take pictures of people, toys, food, etc. (don't make it big, she is too young) and you laminate the pictures & attach with velcro. On the front of the book, you put a pic of your daughter with a piece of velcro next to it and you try to have her point to the pictures. You can give her a limited amount of choices. Ask her what does Angelina want? Yogurt or apple sauce. When she pics the yogurt, you attach the picture next to her name.
I hope this make sense to you. The speech therapist should know about this. Also, if you pic up a baby sign language tape or book, you can start learning and teaching her some very simple signs.
Hope it helps.
K. M

Hey M.,
I would suggest sign-language! I started to teach my daughter to sign at 7 months and she picked it up very quickly! All it took was being very consistant and repetative. For example, the first work I taught her was "more". so whenever i was feeding her I would sign more and say it at the same time. As you know there are more words that we use more than others and this one definatley helped a lot. Instead of her winning or crying or fussing she signed! sometimes i would remind her but after a day or so she would get it! I found that when you are teaching a new word and the first time she gets it, a lot of praise goes a long way! I think that it makes it more fun or something so to this day she still signs more and milk and up and many other words and shes almost 17 months! She says the words too but signs them every time! Believe me it will make your life a lot less stressfull and the feeling of "proud" is so rewarding! good luck!
S.

I'm not sure if this would work but it was great for my God daughter who was slow at talking...Baby Einstein DVD's and Dr Titzler teaching baby to read...and some sign language...they taught her some sign language before anything...she could say more by putting her thumb and index finger together with the other one and clicking...more more...it worked..it was the boost she needed...the speech therapist taught that...pictures with words together and feeling books where you can feel the fur of an animal...all these she has loved and she is moving along great now...at 16-17 months she knew 4 words now at 25 months she probably knows 250 words...once she got going it took off...

I don't have any children with CP but my 10 month old doesn't say mama or dada. She squeals, growls, coos, babbles but doesn't say anything understandable. Have you tried using sign language with her? We've done that with our children and takes some of the frustration away when they can communicate what they need. If you don't want to invest in a book or video, look for simple words online. We use "milk", "more", "finished", "eat" to name a few. It may help her if she can do it physically until she has the verbal skills to talk. Good luck and don't stress about it too much. Each child develops at their own pace.

M.,
I agree with what has been said before. 1) some second children do not talk as soon as their older siblings because the older one does their talking for them. My son was this way. He was 15 months old before he would say MaMa in any way (even just babbling). His big sister would come up with what he wanted before he had the chance to process the thoughts to say what he wanted, so he didnt have to learn to talk as early as some children normally do. This could be the case with your daughter. If you notice her big sister saying "sissy wants her bottle" or a cookie or whatever, stop your older child and gently explain to her that her sister needs to learn to speak for herself. I know it can be hard to do but it may pay off in the end. Another thing you may want to start doing (something that I have done with children that have no words at 15-16 months) is show her sign language for some words. I started some of the children in my class with please and thank you. I think that might help with her not using words. I found that when the child is no longer frustrated with not being able to get what they want, they can take the time to think about the words that go along with the signs making it easier for them to say the words when they are ready. 2) A speach pathologist may be better than just a speach therapist. I would check with your local school system and see if there is an early intervention place in your area, that you can contact about having her evaluated. This is provided as part of the No Child Left Behind Act, and should be available to you with your daughter having CP. The best place to contact would be your local elementary school or school board. They should be able to tell you who you can contact. Or her pediatrician may be able to refer you to someone for services.

I wish you luck with this and please let me know how it all turns out for you!

hello M.,
I totally understand your issue, My 3 year old daughter has Down Syndrome and speech is a very big issue for her. She has recieved EI since she was born, but still speech is a big problem. A few suggestions.. you might want to try oral stimulation, like letting her chew on something that fits way back in her jaw, also facial massage seem to work a little, by this i mean rubbing a little firmly on her chin, cheeks, and under her nose. and keep up with repation, with say mama dada and so on...
I hope this helps and st will help so much..
let me know how things work out..

M.

My mom is a nurse for CDSA (Child Development Service Agency) in Harnett County. She could help you out with services or maybe even give you some tips on working with your child on speech. If you'd like more info, email me at ____@____.com and I'll tell you her name and work phone #! :) Good luck!