Talking - should I be worried

DS is 13 months old and doesn't talk. He makes noises but has no real "words" as such - makes sounds like mamamama, dadadada and says duck and star after us, but nothing that I can really claim as a first word.

He's social, plays games, waves, certainly understands what no means (even if he doesn't always follow it) but I'm starting to get worried.

Should I be?

Freckle's the expert on child language but at 13 months, I'd be happy with what he's doing.

DS is nearly 16 months and sounds similar to your boy. He has said the occasional word, but nothing consistently. He definitely understands what is said to him though. I wouldn't worry at all!

Bec Bella is the same, she says Mama and thats about it.

Caden has only just started to "talk" properly he was still babbling up until about 18-20 months.

At 13 months, I wouldnt really expect them to be talking to be honest.

My oldest has only just started talking so others can understand him and he is nearly 3. I was worried about him as he seemed "delayed" in his talking but now I can't shut him up.

It appears #2 will the same as he isn't even babbling a whole lot let alone attempting any words at all!

I don't have this but I was reading a toddler taming book the other day and they said that toddlers can't tune out background noise. I noticed that G often ignores what i am saying when I have the radio or the TV on and even though some of the time its coz she is being a monkey sometimes its coz she can't concentrate on what I am saying due to the noise. The book recommended switching off all background noise for at least half an hour a day and talking/reading to them to encourage verbal skills.

Jude doesn't really have any words. He does sounds like woof, moo, nah, mum and dada but I couldn't really claim a first word either. He is very good at communicatng via baby sign language tho

I wouldn't be worried. Some kids just don't talk until later on - my cousin didn't say a thing 'til he was four! (and when he finally spoke, it was a whole sentence )

DS has no words at all yet - not even Mum or Dad! Or no! And he is 19 months. Oh well, one day...

This is nothing to do with the OP as I do feel it sounds like he is well within the typical developmental range... but I just can't not say this sorry - I did try ... comments like "they get there in their own time", and "some kids are just late talkers" (not picking on anyone sorry as I know it's said all the time!) are often true, but sadly not all the time (I wouldn't have a career if that was the case). Sometimes there are underlying causes for the difficulties, such as; hearing difficulties, oral motor difficulties, anatomical problems, undiagnosed disorders, specific language disorders and so on that are only discovered when a child presents with delayed/disordered speech and/or language. More often than not the former is the case and they go onto catch up but occasionally help is needed to facilitate their development. Also the implications both socially and academically need to be taken into consideration when deciding to take a wait and see approach, and often with a little bit of help children can make great gains in a short amount of time especially when intervention is provided at a young age. Delays in speech sound development often lead to later literacy difficulties as well. In my mind (being totally biased as I am a speech language therapist with preschoolers ) I feel that if concerns arise with children meeting their speech and language milestones it is best to have an assessment even if it is just for peace of mind, and then if there is any causal factors they can be dealt with early...

Edited by freckle

freckle wrote: Delli - if he is saying those words independantly they are common first words! it becomes a word when it has intention behind it which I assume they do... Also I would never say a child with only a few words at 13 months is talking later There is a big range that is considered to be normal for speech and language development. Generally first words start appearing around 1 and by 18 months they typically have around 50 words, but 6 months either side of this is still considered within the normal range... so to have a few words at this age according to developmental norms is typical development not late at all

Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that 13 months was late! It most definitely is not What I meant to imply was that there is quite a while yet before the OP needed to worry about bubs not talking. Although, if my child was almost four and not talking as my cousin was then I most certainly would be concerned and would have had an assessment well before then (even though he was one of the ones who had no underlying causes and had no problems speaking after that - and they think he may have been practicing by himself without anyone knowing for a while seeing as his first words were a sentence )



Edited by Delli