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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Toddlers
Update:18 months old and not talking at all.
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amother
OP


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:13 am
My baby is just hitting 18 months and doesnt say a word.
He seems to understand a lot. But doesnt speak any meaningful words. He does babble.
For months I have been trying to teach him to point to different body parts but he never does it.
Does he need therapy or can I wait?
What would be the downside of waiting a month or two to see if he can get it on his own?

Eta: I started this thread a month and half ago. I am just updating on his current progress.
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amother
Oak


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:17 am
Does he say mama? Or things like baba, dada? The words don't have to be clear at this age. But if he's saying the first sound at appropriate times then it's considered talking. Like ba for ball. If he's really saying nothing I would evaluate him. It's best not to lose time if he really needs the help.
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amother
Firethorn


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:19 am
Hi OP.
Im an EI speech therapist.

I would not suggest waiting.
At this age, the brain is so malleable and adaptive, every day of therapy will help your baby develop the skills he needs to start talking.

Have you gotten his hearing tested?

Please write back with any questions.
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amother
OP


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:21 am
amother [ Oak ] wrote:
Does he say mama? Or things like baba, dada? The words don't have to be clear at this age. But if he's saying the first sound at appropriate times then it's considered talking. Like ba for ball. If he's really saying nothing I would evaluate him. It's best not to lose time if he really needs the help.


No he does not. As I said, he babbles, but I cant see any meaningful sounds.
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amother
OP


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:24 am
amother [ Firethorn ] wrote:
Hi OP.
Im an EI speech therapist.

I would not suggest waiting.
At this age, the brain is so malleable and adaptive, every day of therapy will help your baby develop the skills he needs to start talking.

Have you gotten his hearing tested?

Please write back with any questions.


Thanks.
I actually currently have 3 kids taking speech therapy, (2 for articulation and one for speech language pathology) so I ran it by the therapist and she said to get him evaluated...but I was just wondering what's the harm in waiting, since I imagine it will kick in shortly on its own...
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amother
OP


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:27 am
I should add that I talk to him all the time. I talk to him constantly, and repeat words. He definitely understands. But he won't say the words.
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amother
Grape


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:27 am
amother [ Firethorn ] wrote:
Hi OP.
Im an EI speech therapist.

I would not suggest waiting.
At this age, the brain is so malleable and adaptive, every day of therapy will help your baby develop the skills he needs to start talking.

Have you gotten his hearing tested?

Please write back with any questions.

What’s the line thar you say ok, the kid should be evaluated?
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amother
Amaranthus


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:28 am
SLP here...
The process takes a few months to go through. If he would qualify, I would say start the process now. Especially since there is a family history of speech issues.
And get his ears checked for fluid
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amother
Firethorn


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:37 am
amother [ Grape ] wrote:
What’s the line thar you say ok, the kid should be evaluated?


At 18 months we expect 50 words+. Of course language is a range and there are averages (at least 10 words by 18 months is the bare minimum).

If a child is not meeting developmental norms then I suggest an eval.

The process can take months. Best to start now and not wait for "him to grow into it"
You can contact your state's local EI program directly to ask for a screening and eval. Do not wait for your pediatrician's referral
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amother
Firethorn


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:37 am
amother [ OP ] wrote:
I should add that I talk to him all the time. I talk to him constantly, and repeat words. He definitely understands. But he won't say the words.


Wonderful! Keep doing exactly that
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amother
Grape


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:53 am
amother [ Firethorn ] wrote:
At 18 months we expect 50 words+. Of course language is a range and there are averages (at least 10 words by 18 months is the bare minimum).

If a child is not meeting developmental norms then I suggest an eval.

The process can take months. Best to start now and not wait for "him to grow into it"
You can contact your state's local EI program directly to ask for a screening and eval. Do not wait for your pediatrician's referral

Oh man. Almost 17 months and maybe says mama.
Ok gonna call.
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amother
Firethorn


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:54 am
amother [ Grape ] wrote:
Oh man. Almost 17 months and maybe says mama.
Ok gonna call.


Its just an average, children arent the same Wink there is a range.
Doesnt hurt to call.
Good luck!!
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amother
OP


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 12:59 am
amother [ Firethorn ] wrote:
Wonderful! Keep doing exactly that


Oh my....I guess I need that kick in the pants.

I will confide that my older son is on the spectrum and thanks to some Imas here who answered a question I asked a few months ago, I got him into therapy for pragmatic language. I did not realize I was supposed to be giving him that, but the Imas in the field urged me to get him the help he needs. Once I reached out to the therapist, It became all too clear that I missed out on many years. Meanwhile, bH, he is doing good work and we are addressing his socual issues.

Another son is already 14 but has a tongue thrust and terrible lisp that was never addressed. BH he is in therapy as well.

And I have another child with a minor articulation issue.

I guess I need to get the baby evalautated as well. (Sigh)
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amother
Trillium


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 1:06 am
What age did you and your DH start talking? What age did your other kids start talking? Genetics are an important factor here.
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amother
Firethorn


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 1:40 am
amother [ OP ] wrote:
Oh my....I guess I need that kick in the pants.

I will confide that my older son is on the spectrum and thanks to some Imas here who answered a question I asked a few months ago, I got him into therapy for pragmatic language. I did not realize I was supposed to be giving him that, but the Imas in the field urged me to get him the help he needs. Once I reached out to the therapist, It became all too clear that I missed out on many years. Meanwhile, bH, he is doing good work and we are addressing his socual issues.

Another son is already 14 but has a tongue thrust and terrible lisp that was never addressed. BH he is in therapy as well.

And I have another child with a minor articulation issue.

I guess I need to get the baby evalautated as well. (Sigh)


It's OK! Guilt is only useful if it helps propel you to do better and to change.

With a great speech therapist iyh your children will make strides.
I also work in a HS and work a lot on pragmatics. It is a lot of schmoozing too! Back and forth, emotions, role playing. Things you can easily do at the supper table.

Has your 14 year old son been taken to a orofacial myofunctional therapist specialist?

May I ask what articulation issue your other child has?
Often those are age dependent, and just requires a few speech sessions to correct.

It seems like aloooooot but in a few months from now you will be ahead of the game and your kids will iyh be meeting goals.
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amother
Broom


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 1:43 am
I had an 18 month old not babbling. We went to an ENT. Had tongue tie and partial hearing loss from fluid. Within 24 hours of the surgery for tubes and to snip the tongue tie, my child started babbling and saying words. Child needed speech to help catch up after.

Please get this checked out and do an evaluation at the same time.
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amother
OP


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 1:49 am
amother [ Firethorn ] wrote:
It's OK! Guilt is only useful if it helps propel you to do better and to change.

With a great speech therapist iyh your children will make strides.
I also work in a HS and work a lot on pragmatics. It is a lot of schmoozing too! Back and forth, emotions, role playing. Things you can easily do at the supper table.

Has your 14 year old son been taken to a orofacial myofunctional therapist specialist?

May I ask what articulation issue your other child has?
Often those are age dependent, and just requires a few speech sessions to correct.

It seems like aloooooot but in a few months from now you will be ahead of the game and your kids will iyh be meeting goals.


Ok. So the kid with pragmatic social issues is 18 and is not even home. He dorms at yeshiva. So I don't see him much, and I find every conversation with him to be rather difficult. He is a nice kid but his way of communicating is just strange and his sense of reality is off.

Next. The 14 year old has never been to that specialist. Never even heard of it. He has issues with the S, the R and with an unstable jaw. He made great strides with the S, and the R is taking longer. (He also needs help with pragmatics but is not receptive to it.)

The 7 year old cant say L properly. He says it like the guttural "ch" . Otherwise he speaks very clearly. He had a few sessions before the end of school and we will resume when school begins again.
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amother
OP


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 1:51 am
amother [ Trillium ] wrote:
What age did you and your DH start talking? What age did your other kids start talking? Genetics are an important factor here.


I dont know when my husband or I started talking.
I can't remember much about when the others started talking (is that terrible?) But I think they all hit their milestones. My daughter claims that my other kids didnt talk at 18 months but I think she is mistaken.
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amother
OP


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 1:55 am
amother [ Broom ] wrote:
I had an 18 month old not babbling. We went to an ENT. Had tongue tie and partial hearing loss from fluid. Within 24 hours of the surgery for tubes and to snip the tongue tie, my child started babbling and saying words. Child needed speech to help catch up after.

Please get this checked out and do an evaluation at the same time.


This is scary. But my baby does babble. Just not meaningfully.
I keep asking him "where's your keppy? " and I touch his hand to his head, and my head. Been doing it for over a year. But he is still not doing it.
All my other kids pointed to their head, their nose, their eyes etc.
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amother
Firethorn


 

Post Wed, Jul 14 2021, 1:58 am
amother [ OP ] wrote:
This is scary. But my baby does babble. Just not meaningfully.
I keep asking him "where's your keppy? " and I touch his hand to his head, and my head. Been doing it for over a year. But he is still not doing it.
All my other kids pointed to their head, their nose, their eyes etc.


OP I'm logging off now so Ill address the other post tomorrow iyh but please dont be scared.
You are doing the correct thing getting him evaluated. Please call first thing tomorrow and get the ball rolling. Better to address it now than later down the line.

Go to sleep knowing you are doing the right thing, as a caring and loving mother.
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