18 Months and Not Really Talking

I wouldn't worry yet. The language explosion happens at about 2 years old. My first child was a talker -- over 100 words and starting sentences at a year old. My second made barely a peep at a year old. At her two year old appointment I was planning on asking for speech help for her. She wouldn't even attempt words (I'd say, try to get her to repeat and she would shake her head no). I knew the language explosion was supposed to happen at around 2 but after such a talker the first time around I was worried. About a week before her appointment she started with words, trying to repeat everything. At the appointment they asked if she had 10 words. Normal at 2 years old is at least 10 words. Thanks to her little explosion the week before she had way more than 10. I even laughed and told them that if they had asked a week ago I would have said no! Now at 2 years and 1 month she has tons of words and more and more every day. I would wait until her 2 year appointment and explore it then if she still isn't talking. At least around me, places won't do speech interventions until 2 years old.

Good luck! She sounds absolutely normal and very smart to follow such complicated directions. Enjoy her! Once she starts talking, she'll never stop!

E.

M.,

My daughter is very similar. She seems to be doing the same thing - she is 17 months old. She has been in EI since 11 months for gross motor delay and her social worker says she is very quiet as well. Just last week she was re-evaluated for EI and does not qualify anymore, even with her not really speaking during the re-eval. However I spoke to her social worker about the slow to talk phase she seems to be in and she said that she is going to give me some pointers to work with her on but since she is babbling that basically she is processing everything and that she will speak when she is ready. I feel the same as you. I feel like she should be saying more - all her friends are but I know that she will get there and since like your daughter she isn't the 'go get em' type that she needs to do what she needs to do for herself.
If you are worried at all you can always have her evaluated by EI and see what they say. If nothing else they can answer your questions about delay and what is appropriate for the age and maybe some tips to help her along.

Good luck,
L. M

My son was exactly the same way as your daughter. I did worry and started bugging his doctor at 15 months because his older brother was a late talker at it caused lots of problems for him. He finally got to see an ENT and the problem was he had fluid in his ears that turned into a sticky glob of gunk(those are the words they used). It wasnt anything that bother him because he was used to it but they said it was like pressure in the ears. He had no hearing loss because but he was just hearing things different. He went through 3 different antibiotics in about 2 months and it didnt do anything for him so finally he had tubes in his ears and a few days later he started picking up words. The first night when he was in the bathroom he covered his ears because the fan in the bathroom was a new noise for him and he didnt like it. That was 3 1/2 months ago and he is still pretty far behind for his age but he talks so much more.

Call up early intervention and ask for an evaluation they come to your house and the evaluation is free and they give you the outcome right there. My son understands what is said to him but he was saying maybe 10 words at 18 months and received early intervention 1 hr a week. Especially where she was a late babbler I would really consider giving them a call.

This is one subject I feel that I can help with. My son was 2 and still not talking. It was almost like he was too lazy to talk. I brought him for an evaluation at the locale Children's Hospital and they assured me that he was completely normal; just as I thought.....he was just observing the world of speech before he really wanted to attempt it. They told me that one day he would just start talking. Well, that day came and he wasn't just talking, he was talking in sentences. It was amazing but that is how he is today. Observes before giving any input. Don't worry, and if time goes on and she still is not talking when you think she should be, call your locale Early Childhood Education center and they will help you with any resources they think can help you.

My older son, now 3 1/2, didn't really start talking until he was 2 1/2. He had said a few words here and there but didn't really repeat anything. He did not mimic, and he would not repeat things if we asked him to (even if he had said the word on his own previously). He mostly said "anh" and pointed when he wanted things. I wasn't worried at all because, like your daughter, he understood everything I said, and I had heard him make a variety of sounds and knew it wasn't an issue with the ability to talk, just with the desire to do so. It was also clear that he was bright, as you say you can tell with your daughter. There is such a large time window of when children talk, and I wouldn't really start to worry about it at 18 months unless you have some other reason to expect a problem. Talk to your pediatrician about it, certainly, but there are plenty of late talkers out there. At 2 1/2, my son suddenly underwent a language explosion, and now we can't shut him up! He was also interested in reading very early and is now reading short stories, so being a late talker does not necessarily mean a child will not end up being verbal.

I will mention that my pediatrician actually was concerned about the late talking by the time my son got to be 2 (not really before that). I was completely unconcerned (by 2, he could identify, although not say, all the letters of the alphabet and knew what sounds several of the letters made -- he could make the sounds but never put together words). My pediatrician wanted to send him to early intervention, but I declined and now am glad I just waited it out. Early intervention is a nice option and probably can't hurt, but it does take time, of course, and pediatricians are probably biased toward sending you there. So I guess my message is that ultimately you are probably the best judge of your daughter's needs because you are around her all the time and can better judge whether there are any real issues, aside from the not talking. If you are worried, you should take her. It will make you feel better, and it can't hurt and might help. But don't feel pressured to take her, either, just because all the other kids are talking already.

My DS is now 22 months and didn't really say many words for a long time. His younger cousin can talk in complete sentences, so I was starting to worry a bit. But in the last few weeks, DS has had a language explosion and now will say almost all sounds correctly and will repeat most words well. I would say if she is understanding things and starting to say some words, then she's probably right on track for her own development and will surprise you with complete sentences very soon!

Hi M.,

At 18 months, I had a conversation with my brother, who's daughter was 20 months at the time. His daughter was little chatty Kathy, with all kinds of words that she said. I was so jealous and kind of worried about my princess because her only real words at that point were mommy, daddy, papa, kitty, and a few others. Then, in the next four weeks, it was like she figured out this talking thing and the lanugage started to flow. We were driving down the road about a week later and I noticed a police officer and when he passed me I said "I thought you were a po-po". Out of the back seat comes the sweetest little "po-po" you ever heard. We nearly had to pull the car over because we were laughing so hard. Her language skills have gotten so good now that she actually says "Einsteins" for the Little Einsteins and "Freeze Pop" and she's using 3-word sentences like "I go potty" and "Aubree at school". When we went to visit my brother last month, his daughter was not talking nearly as much as mine - tee hee!!! I think your daughter is progressing very well and it is great that she is so helpful with your son. My pediatrician told me not to worry unless she really wasn't talking by age two - which she will be on the 20th of this month. Just enjoy what she's doing now and know that it is coming - she sounds totally normal to me!

M., I have a 20 month old and a 3 month old. The 20 month old is a late talker too, but like your daughter she understands everything. I remember when i told her to get something and she just went and got it and gave it to me....i was so surprised since i wasn't really expecting it. Anyway, at this point there is not much worry i think at 18 months they want them to be saying at least 5-10 words and the fact that she is understanding is very important. My sister didn't talk much either, so my mom says, and she is very successful. I would enjoy her, keep doing what your doing and reasess at 24 months. Then maybe see Early Intervention....at least that is road i will be taking for my daughter...good luck.

I would suggest contacting your local Early Intervention office. I'm not sure where you are located but Enable and Thom Neponset Valley are both located in Norwood. It sounds like it might be worth it to have them come out and evaluate her. If she doesn't qualify for services then it will give you more piece of mind that she's doing ok. If she does quality then it just means that she will get some help she needs to move her language development right along. I teach preschool in the public school and work with a number of children that are language delayed. As your daughter gets older she may become frustrated if she is unable to make herself understood. This can effect her interactions with other children as well. Lot's of times children may receive services from Early Intervention for 6 months or a year and they have caught right up to where they are supposed to be.

I would definitely talk to your pediatrician for advice on what to do as only an expert can really answer your question. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about when children should talk and read.
But, in my opinion, if this is your only concern, I don't think that you have anything to be worried about because your child is able to say a few words at 18 months. If at 24 months your child is not saying phrases then that is something to worry about then. My ped told me that it is normal for an 18 month old to speak in a language that is approximate to ours and it is normal to say the beginning sounds of words, etc. at this point.
Now, if you have other concerns or red flags in addition to this then there would be something to worry about. But, if your child is playing and interacting with you, and is pointing and attempting to communicate, then to me she sounds like she is developing very normal and there is nothing to worry about.

Hi M., I wouldn't worry just yet. My son is 21 months and he only says 3 clear words and mumbles and babbles constantly. He will sit on the floor and "read" a book, just making lots of gibberish sounds as he turns the pages. He understands everything I say to him and reacts to what I am telling him. My Pedi told us not to worry. She said just to keep reading to him and if we are on a walk point out everything, trees, puddles, people, dogs, etc. She said the more we talk the more he will process. She said one day it will click and then he will just start talking and we will wonder how to get him to be quiet. :) He is finally starting to repeat things that we are saying, it's not clear, mostly just sounds close to what we are saying. We are going to wait it out for a little while longer and see what happens. Good Luck and remember you know your child the best so go with your instincts.

I know it may seem like everyone else your DD's age is talking and she is way behind. I sort of felt that way at the time. I didn't want to worry because I knew there is a huge range of normal, but of course I still did worry. My DD didn't say much at all at that age. We did sign so she could communicate just fine but there were very few words. I remember thinking when playing with a child 3 mos older that there was NO WAY DD would be speaking like her in 3 months. Between 19 and 20 months a switch flipped for her and that was that. It was literally over night, she started speaking, and has never stopped. She is 2.5 now and speaks very well, better than that older child, in fact. At her 2 year check up the doc asked how many words I thought she had and I thought, I couldn't possibly count.

So of course I cannot tell you not to worry. But really she is still very young and within the normal range. If you are concerned though you should talk to your pedi.

My oldest (now 10) only said uh-oh and mama dada at 17 months. She never had babbled. We contacted birth to three and they tested her and she qualified for speech therapy. She actually received speech until she was 5. She didn't really start saying much until she was 2 and then it was just one word phrases. We started out teaching her some baby signs. It helped relieve the frustrations. You would never know now she had a speech delay. Now my 20 month old son was actually in birth to three for motor issues from the time he was 6 months old. He was discharged at about 18 months after being tested because I was concerned about his speech. They said it was all within perfectly normal range and at 18 months they figured he would flourish, but if I ever had any other concerns I could contact them. Over the past 2 months his speech really has taken off. We also use baby signs with him. He signs more and please, but he can say more and please as well. A lot of it is just the beginning sounds, but we just elaborate on what he's saying. For example when he says please he'll actually say pea so we just say please very slowly and clearly for him. I think everyday it gets a little more understandable. She is probably just focusing on other areas of her development right now. It's not a huge deal. However, if it's something you are really concerned about you can contact early intervention. You don't have to be referred by the doctor or anything. They'll come to your home and test free of charge. They'll ask you all sorts of questions about her development and medical history and such and observe her through play. Just continue encouraging her as you have and do not give in to whines. Even if you know exactly what she wants try to get her to attempt to say it. Even if it's just the first sound that's good and you can always elaborate on the word and say oh you want your cup or whatever you're trying to get her to say. This is also where the baby signs come in very handy. You just put your hands over hers and help her make the sign when you know she's all done or wants more and you say the word you are helping her sign and then give her whatever it is she wants after she signs it (even if you are putting your hands over hers). It helps her to see that there's a link between the spoken words and the words she hears. You'll probably see a lot more growth now that she has hit that 18 month mark though and you'll look back and wonder why you worried. And before you know it she'll be chatting up a storm and you'll wonder why you ever wanted her to talk to begin with ;).

My two children talked late, yet both of them had great receptive language (expressive is talking, receptive is comprehending). My firstborn daughter said nothing really until 18 months - then suddenly she was reading letters on signs in the car one day @ 18 months. From there she took off with expressive language. My son, however, was 22 months and still not saying much. The dr. in both cases told me not to worry until they hit the 2 year milestone because all kids develop differently and if they aren't doing something (walking, talking, etc), they are working on something else. In both cases, my kids were learning letters, colors, numbers, and shapes, unbeknownst to me. Once they started talking, it was amazing what they actually knew.

I had my son tested at 22 months because he was getting very frustrated that he couldn't express himself. Literally, at the meeting to determine if he was eligible, he was saying the letters on the blocks to the 3 specialists. They were shocked at how advanced he was in every area, with the exception of expressive language. While it was determined that he was talking at the 16 month level,they felt he was on the cusp of breaking through with his expressive language, so they denied services. And one week later, he exploded with his expressive language. I was very worried with him - and now (just turned 3) he talks clearly and carries on complete conversations. AND, he is actually reading (and has been for 9 months) - sight word books, but he's reading by himself - no kidding! He apparently was working on other things instead of talking!

It sounds like your child will be absolutely FINE!!! Following commands is the most important part. And she's only 18 months old and is talking, just not extensively. She's working on other things in her development right now! And don't forget, she's already saying some words ... Don't worry!

You should talk to your pediatrician. They will more than likely order a hearing eval to rule out hearing loss and then recommend early intervention come out to the house to assess. The earlier she gets started in early intervention, the better off she will be. Yes, she should be saying a few more things by now, but let early intervention decide how far behind she really is and if she qualifies for services.

I have a few different sides to come from on this. First, as long as shes trying to imitate and mimic, i wouldn't worry about any developmental delays. (my son is autistic, and at 23 months, still only says 10 words, few clearly)

I agree with the first post about the ENT. Sometimes you THINK they can hear fine, which they can, it can just sound like everything is under water or muffled, making it hard to repeat. Our Birth To Three speech therapist suggested getting a referral to a children's hospital where they are better trained with small children.

Third of all, i still believe some kids are later to talk than others! Our pedi said as long as they can say 3 words by 18 months, things should be fine. I bet she'll start spitting out words and no time! Some children do that.. seem to be a bit behind, and blast ahead in a day or two. Some children even skip the one words and go right to two word sentences. I wouldn't be concerned if shes hitting all of her other milestones and doesn't seem to have issues in any other department.