paruchan

Hello, everyone! My son is now 18 months old. He's very active and healthy (even though he has asthma)! He can communicate through sign language and can understand instructions clearly (proof: he can follow them in a very satisfactory manner). So definitely he can hear us loud and clear... But I'm concerned that he only has 5 words that he can say properly... He talks a lot but we can't understand it (it sounds like a different language)...

Can anyone please give me an advise on what to do?

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Trina

Sounds normal to me. Neither of my kids started saying much, other than babbling, until about 18 mos.. Between then and 24 mos. it seemed their vocabularies exploded. I think it's too early to be concerned at this point, but definitely follow your parental instincts. Although my DD had a large vocabulary, it was difficult to understand her. Everyone told me she was fine, but I suspected otherwise. At 3 we had her speech evaluated, which confirmed my concerns. She had articulation delays. She was in speech therapy from 3-6 through the public school system. Currently 9, you would never know she ever needed it.

This web site is helpful concerning speech and language development.
Speech and language development in infants and young children Caroline Bowen

paruchan

thanks, trina! i'll observe his speech progress for another 3-6 months... the good thing is he can communicate with us in his own little way...

i just thought his not being exposed to educational shows like barney and dora is the reason why he's a little late in speaking...

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Trina

You're welcome. I don't think their exposure to TV has much to do with language development. I'm sure it can play a small part, but their real life exposure to language has much more to do with it. Also, even *if* he does have any speech/language delays it may be from something you have no control over. For example, when my DD required speech therapy I wondered if we had done something wrong. The speech pathologist assured me that was not the case.

Kaytee

Here is a general list of what they should be able to do, this is not an exact scince though, some kids just talk sooner then others


At age eighteen months old your child will...

* use 10-50 words, including names
* combine two words such as "all gone," "daddy bye-bye"
* hear well and discriminate among many sounds
* recognize pictures of familiar persons and objects
* use words to make wants known, such as "more," "up"
* imitate words and sounds more precisely
* point and gesture to call attention to an event or to show wants
* bring a familiar object from another room when asked to do so
* follow simple commands
* hum and may sing simple songs or tunes

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paruchan

thanks for the info!
hmm, the problem is with the 10-50 words/vocabulary...
he can tell us what he wants by talking (using language of his own) and sign language, and he can follow instructions at ease... he also loves to sing, but the one listening simply can't get any words out of it... he combines sounds in a different way... he's used to saying "mama" and "dada"... and "wala na" -- that's Filipino for "no more"...

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Kaytee

has he lost words?
My friends dd has been in speech therapy since she was 15 months old. She started to loose words and didn't babble.
Babbling is good so don't worry abou thtat. Have you talked to your pediatrician though? They can get you in touch with EI that will come out and evaluate him and then let you know if they fee he needs speech therapy

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Joy

I wouldn't worry just yet. Alexis tested slow in that area too at her 2 yr old check up and they said they were not concerned (although I was) and they never even tested her again until she was 3 and she tested fine.

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Xero

I think every kid is different. My little sister could sing her ABC's and talk in full sentences with perfect clearness among many other things between 14 and 18 months. And at probably about 18 months (before two, but after one lol) I could tell you all my vouls and when asked a certain letter, could pick it in a pile of cards marked with the ABC's, and would also sing songs and speak sentences clearly. I could also easily read the front of the newspaper by the time I was three. And my sister was potty trained by 16 months.

However, both of my brothers hardly said a thing until they were two, and weren't potty trained until they were three-ish. My friend's daughter will be two in june and all she does is babble and maybe say two or three not-so-clear words. (although I have a feeling it's because she never takes the binky out of her mouth, but that's just an opinion.) My brothers are just fine though, both smart and never had any trouble speaking once they got started.

Basically I think it just depends on the child, everyone is different, and I have also heard that boys tend to be slower than girls on average. It's really hard to tell if they actually have a problem until later on. I think he's fine though, just give him some time. I wouldn't worry too much over it, at least not for now.

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paruchan

thanks so much everyone, now I'm no longer worried! you're right, every baby is different, and I am not actually in a hurry for him to speak because he's so cute trying ; ) but guess what, he suddenly said "BABY!" last night in such clearness that I thought his father said it! then he started trying to say "Banana!" he got it right but wasn't able to do it again, I guess he needs a little more practice! The funny thing is he keeps on saying "baby" because he saw one on tv! I'm very happy!

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:cute: Proud Mother of Shaun Dante