Talking... or lack thereof
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Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
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Topic: Talking... or lack thereof
Posted By: Jay_R
Subject: Talking... or lack thereof
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 1:25pm
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Joshua is 17 months old, but isn't really talking yet. He has a couple of 'words' he uses - ie we can understand him but others wouldn't, but according to a few sites I've looked at he should be saying 5-20 words by now.
Should I be concerned do you think? What were your childrens language skills like at 17 months? |
Replies:
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 1:31pm
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I'm in the same boat Clare, Jack is 21 months and should be speaking in 2 word sentences by now but isn't. Smoody said in another post that as long as they are speaking 2 word sentences by 2 they are OK. Jack has never really been a big noise maker (unless he wants something lol) and has always been busy running round or something so I think hes ahead in other ways.
In the past month or so Jacks language has really taken off, he probably knows maybe 30 words. If you are worried at all about his hearing it can't hurt to take him to the dr to make sure he doesn't have an ear infection or anything. |
Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 1:41pm
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Thanks Rach. I do tend to be a bit of a paranoid mother, but when I read that he should be using up to 20 words I was very concerned!
I'm not worried about his hearing - he understands us just fine, and can follow instructions well - like, "Joshie, please go and put that back in the cupboard" or "come and get your shoes on" so I know he can hear. But I am paranoid about autism as I have 3 first cousins who are autistic and anything that is slightly heading towards that tendency totally freaks me out. |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 1:45pm
| I know nothing about autism but I think Jack could talk if he wants to he just chooses not to. My mum calls him a typical male, says whats needed but nothing more lol |
Posted By: Kazzle
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 2:02pm
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(((hugsd claire))), rhiannon is excatly the same, she isnt talking much, she can say some words and not others, but she understands fine...we are taking her to get her ears checked on the 18th though via a specialist due to her being really clumsy and because im a paranoid mother...lol
I think as long as you are talking to him, and telling him what you are doing that he will be fine, and one morning he will jsut come out with something. p.s I am still awaiting your return phonecall...lol ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Peace
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 2:17pm
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I have recently come into meeting a couple of little boys that were exceptionally late talkers, both of them have left it until nearly the age of 2. I don't think boys are as equatious/articulate/social skills based as girls and in general are more focused on their motor skills.
I say give him more time. I think they have public testing that you can go through if they are not speaking in sentences by 2.5 or 3. Best of luck Clare! ------------- DD1 May 2006 DD2 March 2011 DD3 August 2012 |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 2:21pm
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I don't think you should worry at all Claire. My neighbour's little man was about 2 and a half before his talking really took off (he could understand clear as day what you were saying and would nod or shake his head, but didn't string words together).
I think if you were worried about his behaviour, other than the talking thing, and he was showing autistic signs such as being anti-social or fixated on certain things (I think these are signs of autism, too lazy to look it up again) then maybe you'd have cause to get a professional opinion. Seriously though, once he starts learning words he just won't stop. They seem to have big bursts of learning/talking, Hannah's ECE teacher had a word for it but I can't remember. If he isn't spending a lot of time with other kids then maybe that might spur things on...? 
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Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 3:01pm
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Josiah had a few words at 17 months - from memory "Mum", "Dad", "Kiya", "ta", "yes", "nope", "don't!" and a couple of others. My mum was paranoid he wouldn't talk (but that's a whole other story) but we weren't worried. He didn't really use 2-word sentences, just individual words strung together. Around the time of his second birthday something seemed to click and his talking took off.
I wouldn't stress too much, Clare. If he is understanding what is going on then he'll speak when he's ready. We realised that Josiah would listen carefully and then say whichever word it was when he'd figured it out. This meant that he didn't say new words very often, but when he did he pronounced most of them nearly perfectly (as well as he could, anyway - there's a slight lisp that most 2yos have) ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 3:13pm
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McKayla started saying nanna for mamma at 3 and a half months. At 6 months she could say daddy and only did it if Grant was there. Called the 3 cats by name. Called the dog by its name and then started saying mamma (the afrikaans for mommy.)
She went on and said Christmas tree and belly button before 1 year. And a few other words. She then totally stopped saying anything except mamma or mommy until about 15 months. Then the odd word came in as such. But not much. So I was freaked out. She had an ear infection but that cleared. In Grants family his dad was a later talker and his brother was so late that he actually had to go for speech therapy. On our side my sister also had to go. (but that was due to a nightnurse overmedicating her each night so she can sleep through and she had an attack which left her brain without oxygen for a few minutes) So I was really worried. Specially when I hear that some kids can say like one and two. And can start saying 2 sentence words. And that other people understand them. And they know the parts of their body or face and animals and animal sounds and some even with colours. I did work a bit with her as I think there is some weeks that I am too busy with studying and we dont play as much with educational stuff. She was still happy and just took in. And about a week later the words just came out. Watched the show zoo with daddy and she just started with words like giraffe ect and surprised us. I really wont be worried. Unless he doesnt totally understand what you are saying with basic commands. (that means that he might not be hearing so well) But if he does then he is hearing find and just taking a bit of time. Compare to some kids McKayla is still behind but jeepers they cant always be ahead with everything now can they? I think they seriously teach us some patience. (and I have like zero. Okay lie I do have a tiny weeny bit now) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 3:30pm
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james still isnt talking aswell as he should he can say nanan and mum mummy and outher words just when he wants to i was worried about him and spoke to his chidcare teachers and he is being asissed for his talking ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 4:21pm
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Quinn didn't talk until a month before his second birthday, and even then it was only to say no. I never worried about his talking although he was late.
There is no shutting him up now tho... ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 5:02pm
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boys really don't have as much verbal skill area as girls (of course there are exceptions) - does he have good gross motor skills? they usually make up forit in that department. I figure it to be that girls stay seated longer and therefore have to ask for stuff, hwile boys just get up and get it for themselves.
anyway, Jake was exactly the same, and a slow talker, but is fine now although still a little behind his peers. taine on the other hand is probably much more verbal than jake at the same age |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 6:31pm
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I wouldn't be worried. It's usually 2 word sentences at about the 2yr mark, and usually boys later than girls. At 2 you'll find that he'll pick up a couple of words a week most likely. -------------  |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 8:00pm
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Andrew wasn't big on talking at that age, but it was due to hearing and ear issues. Once he got the ears sorted he was talking a lot and talking fast. Now there is so no stopping him. I would ask to get his ears checked to get that ruled out. In general boys are slower than girls but that is not always the case (there are some girls at Andrew's preschool that aren't TT for their afternoon sleep and some that aren't big talkers), so best to get him looked at. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Helen21
Date Posted: 10 October 2007 at 4:15pm
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At that age Miya wasn't saying much at all just the real basics but as soon as she hit 20mths she really took off with her speech, I started repeating a lot of words back to her eg. when she was clearly wanting a drink I would said "would you like a drink? can you say drink?" just simple things like that helped hurry things a long. Now at 23mths I still have to encourage her to use her words went she wants to tell us something rather than just pointing and noises. I felt with Miya she seemed almost like she didn't see the point in using words when she could get what she wanted but showing us or making baby sounds that only we would understand.
Each child is different, some just need to be encouraged more than others. My older daughter Chloe was so fast to talk and now she never stops I think in some cases it's more about personality than it is about development. If he listens and follows instructions then I wouldn't be worried. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Chloe 12/7/03 Miya 5/11/05 |
Posted By: tashzmum
Date Posted: 10 October 2007 at 4:55pm
| tash wasnt a big talker. she started saying dad at around 8 months and cat came not long after then she just kinda didnt say anything for ages. she spoke lotsa gibbersh type stuff though from about 18 mnths. then she started saying more words but wasnt really interested in talking as such. then just before she was 2 1/2 she started talking and hasnt stopped. i was worried so i asked my paft lady and she said that as long as we kept talking to tash and introducing new words and stuff it was ok. some kids just arent interested in talking heaps i guess. |
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 10 October 2007 at 10:16pm
my 2 are an exception.....jack didn't crawl until after his 1st bday but was saying alot of words, charli has been crawling since 10mths but only says a few words........i wouldn't worry too much at this stage, i know a couple of kids who are just over 2 that don't speak very well yet ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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lizzle wrote:Posted By: Spudling
Date Posted: 13 October 2007 at 9:16pm
gosh i wouldn't worry at all. My DD hardly said anything until she was 2. Even at 2 she only had a few words, and never put two words together. The past month though she has gone mad and we can not shut her up  Its like she was just storing all those words inside her head until they couldn't fit anymore so they all came exploding out all at once
BTW, she is 2 years and 4 months ------------- http://tickers.families.com"> 
http://tickers.families.com"> 
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Posted By: megrac
Date Posted: 17 October 2007 at 11:15am
same as my emma she is 2 years and 3 months and every one comments on how much she is talking now ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: nicolaann
Date Posted: 18 October 2007 at 6:32pm
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Alex is 2 next week and is not saying anything! Not one single word. I was worried, but I know that he understands just fine. He will shake his head, and he will get things you ask him to, so he is hearing, and understanding. Just a stuborn male I think!! I have a feeling once baby is born he will start, and once he starts I bet I'll be wanting him to be quiet. I must admit I'm not looking forward to his 2 year old plunket check up though... I guess she will be expecting him to be saying lots of words. ------------- Nicky, Mum to Alex (5) & Sophie (3) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 25 October 2007 at 1:44pm
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I know what you mean nicola, i'm not looking forward to our next plunket visit. I do worry, especially when all the other kids in his antenatal group are all talking really well apparently.
It is very stressful!! |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 26 October 2007 at 5:05pm
Dont worry too much about Plunket. At playcentre there is a 2 and a half year old boy that literally also only say mamma, no or yes and chocolate. That is it. He understands perfectly but doesnt speak as such. I think he will just take off after a while. If you tell him something to bring to you he brings the said item. So definately understands. I feel sorry for his future wife however. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 26 October 2007 at 5:57pm
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Don't worry about it nicola, my friends boy is talking very much and has been told if by 3 he isn't then that is when to get help. But he has just started (at 2.2 years) started to say some words. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: bumblefoot
Date Posted: 29 October 2007 at 3:13am
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Hi Nicola, although there isn't mcuh to worry about just yet, there are a few things that you can do to help him along. Such as if he asks for something by grunting or babytalk, that would not be easily understood by an outsider (if he doesn't use the actual word, or attempt it) then don't give it to him until he uses the word, or attempts it at least. I know this would be very hard, but it does work, and I've seen a few sucesses with it personally. Another activity you could try is a naming game, where you can get flashcards at a the cheapie store, and they usually have animal, item, car, house pictures on them, and show them to him and point to the pic and say 'look, this is a cat, can you say cat? What sound does a cat make? Can you purr/meow like a cat?' Then just give alot of praise for any attempt he makes. I personally think that if he is up and running about, has good balance, good tactile skills when handling objects and can manage intricate puzzles (for his age) then I wouldn't worry too much. Indeed if he gets to 3yrs old and is still not communicating very much and you are concerned, then definitely consult your doctor. From the sounds of it he can understand you well and is just taking his time with words, and may well shock you when he does start talking at how well he can pronounce his words. You may find that he is taking in new words all the time, and is quietly building up hos vocabulary library, and will suddenly start yakking away as well asif not better than others his age. All the best to you, sorry for the big long ramble, but felt I needed to get it all said. Do keep us in the loop with how he is doing. I think you will find that once he finally starts talking you will want him to just be quiet for two minutes! Enjoy it while it lasts. |
Posted By: bumblefoot
Date Posted: 29 October 2007 at 3:19am
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Oh, and one other thing, does he use a dummy? Children of this age who use any sort of dummy or pacifier are usually less likely to be talkative, and when an attempt is made they usually keep the dummy in the mouth hence making it quite hard to interpret what they are saying. My suggestion for kids that still use a dummy at this age is that they are weaned off of it completely, and failing this at least ration it for just night times, then working towards getting rid of it completely. Good luck with him luv, I'm sure that he will soon start gabbling away, and will be onwards and upwards from then on. |