My 14 Month Old Isn't Talking....

Hi have you tried eci? heres a number to rhondas desk. shes great and can help you in all aspects. ###-###-####. my daughter is ganna b 2 in april, and she says some words, but i have eci coming at 2 times a month and working w/ her. she does a lil more each time. eci is really great. good luck. T.

Don't worry. My son did not say any meaningful world until 18 month. Try talk to him a lot. My son starts to like to repeat my words when he is 19 month.

I too was getting worried when my child was 14 months and not speaking. ECI totally wasted six VALUABLE months trying to encourage him to articulate when all along he had a physical problem. My pediatrician noticed that his gag reflex wasn't quite normal so he referred us to have a Barium Swallow Study done. The results explained why my child was not speaking, why he wasn't drinking well out of an open cup (he would practically drown on a couple of sips), why he was therefore more suseptible to pneumonia (aspiration). Among other things, the pediatrician referred us to Kids Care for occupational therapy to strengthen the muscles that feed into the swallowing/speech mechanism. I told the pediatrician we already had ECI; the pediatrician strongly suggested we switch and thank God we did! Having worked now with both ECI (for 6 months with zero results) and Kids Care (for 5 months with tremendous results), I can tell you Kids Care is FAR, far better. Some of the early signs I missed: Unlike most kids, my child really preferred NOT to lay on his stomach while playing (that takes upper body strength he didnt have). If I put whipped cream around his mouth, he couldnt lick it off with his tongue. In fact, he could hardly stick his tongue out. His crayon coloring was very faint. All signs of upper body weakness (a developmental delay) that contributed to inability to articulate. Don't waste time. Get your child checked out. A simple Barium Swallow will tell you if there is a physical problem. If you want to call me and discuss further, just send a personal reply.

-A.

Please call ECI or a speech therapist. DO NOT WAIT and DO NOT listen to others who tell you not to do anything. EARLY INTERVENTION is the key. Listen to your gut!
L.

My daughter didn't either. I was getting upset because it seemed to me that every child I saw her age had a few words they were saying. I couldn't even get her to say mama or dada. However now that she is 2 she is talking up a storm. I think every child talks when they are ready. I wouldn't worry yourself just yet.

My husband didn't talk until he was 3 because he couldn't hear well and no one figured it out. Once he had tubes installed and his tonsils and adnoids removed, he began to talk up a storm. He actually remembers hearing music for the first time. I think you might have his hearing evaluated and then not worry too much about it if everything checks out. Everybody is different. Especially since you say he is developing well in every other aspect. I did find an interesting web site about various speech delays and disorders:

http://www.apraxia-kids.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=c...

J.,
Does your son have lots of ear infections? Has his hearing been checked otherwise? My son was just like yours when he was little, very interactive with speech sounds, loved books and trying to communicate, but he only had a few words by 17 months old. The day they put tubes in his ears for the ear infections was the first day he ever said mama - at 17 months old. After that he learned words very rapidly. It could be that your son isn't hearing the distinctions in speech, only sounds. Our son's eardrums had burst so many times that they had to cut out scar tissue when they placed the tubes in hopes that the incision would heal less thickly than the burst drums had healed. Just something to check out. If not, I checked the internet and most babies say their first words between 12 and 18 months and they are approximations, like ca-ca for cracker, so don't worry.

He sounds fine. I have friends with boys who didn't say a full sentence until well after their 2nd birthdays. The docs don't worry about it until they're 3, so he's got some time! Also, kids the age of your son will often compartmentalize their learning -- if he's working on learning one skill, he won't focus on anything else until it's accomplished. And, like one mom said, it can happen overnight.
The bigger concern is whether he understands what you are saying to him. He should be able to respond to or at least understand simple commands or simple requests (come here, get down, do you want a drink?).
If you're concerned about his hearing, it's easy enough to hide from him and see if he responds to your voice or turns toward a sound, like turning the TV on (mine would come running down the hall for Baby Einstein or Elmo).
Rather than having an ECI specialist come to your house (they are, like many social support agencies, over worked and understaffed), you might simply take a look at their developmental chart. It's more realistic than what some pediatrician's say. For example, our Dr. handed me a list of things my child "should" do at 9 months -- it said they SHOULD be cruising furniture. Neither of mine cruised that young. The ECI charts include a wide range of "normal."

As far as ways to stimulate verbal development, the fact that you're concerned means you're probably already doing the right things. Just keep reading and talking to him. Narrate what you do throughout the day using repetition and a sing-song voice (Ok, Junior, we're going to the library, let's get in the car. Car, car, car. Time to go, go, go.). I noticed this making a difference with my son when we would wash hands. I would sing "wash, wash, wash" then hand him a towel and say "dry, dry, dry." It wasn't long before he was saying it too.

Songs in general are good ways for him to pick up vocabulary too. The Itsy-Bitsy Spider was the first song both of mine learned. They would wiggle their hands in the air singing "pie-duh, pie-duh."

Good luck!

I have 4 kids and all of them were slow at speaking. My first son didn't even babble until he was 5! He took speech and is fine now. My second son also is in speech now. My youngest son will be 3 in March and he, too, is slow with his speech but atleast he babbles all day long.

I teach in the 2 & 3 yo at church and most of them are the same way but you do get a few that speak like older children.

Your child is fine and will start when he is ready. Watch out he might start with full sentences LOL

It's normal for his age, at 14 months they should be able to say about 3 "words"...mine can say mama, dada & nana for food. Don't worry about it :) he's doing fine.

Don't be too concerned, the fact that he is verbalizing even though not articulating is perfectly normal. That is why sign language is such a helpful tool. It gives them the means to identify needs before they are able to articulate them cutting down on frustration.

Some kids are 2 and even 3 before they learn to use words. The longer we let them (at 2 &3) point and cry for what they want the longer they take to learn to use words if all else is developing equally.

Your little man will get there in his own time. Not to worry. My brother wouldn't speak to anyone but me (in a whisper so no one else could hear him) until he was 4. Not because he couldn't but because he thought it was more fun that way.

K. Willis
The Nesting Place

Don't worry my son didn't start saying words until he was two (he's 2 and 3 months now) and today he said "delicious" when I gave him juice. His vocabulary has just exploded in the last couple months. So your son is certainly understanding words at this point and one day he'll just surprise you.

J.- My little boy only said "kiki" (kitty) and "dada" until he was about 16 months! Then he started picking up words, and the talking never stopped. He's almost 4 now, and people always comment about how well he speaks! Your son will start using words eventually, and you won't believe how fast his vocabulary will grow! Good luck!

I am not sure if you have ever heard of ECI but they can come to your home and do a free evaluation to see if your child would qualify. If he does qualify they help you find ways to help your child. These are licensed and qualified Speech therapists. You can call 800-628-5115 or go to http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/index.shtml to learn more abou their services and find a program near you. Let us know how it all works outs.
J.

Have you ever heard of the PIP (parents in partnership) program through the Garland ISD? They have a AWESOME speach therapy program!!!! It is free to you the parents and REALLY did help my son develope in his speach problem :) We started with PIP from the age of 15 months and he continued to get help until he was 3 years. Let me know if you would like their information. Oh and they come to your house for the therapy :)
L.

Hi J.,

I am a speech-language pathologist, and have been practicing for about 15 years. It has been my experience that mothers have a great intuitive knowledge about their children. If you are concerned, you might want to consider contacting ECI, or a speech-langauge pathologist. An assessment will either put your mind at ease, or let you know what areas you need to address to help your child develop those important communication skills.

I have worked with so many families who have come for therapy once their children are school aged, and feel guilty for not addressing the issue sooner.

There is every possibility your child may not present with enough of a deficit to qualify. However, in that type of situation, the speech-language pathologist will usually give you a variety of suggested activities that you could do with your child - allowing you to use his strengths to develop those weaker areas.

If you are not sure what children should be doing with their speech and language at certain ages, I invite you to visit www.startherapyprograms, and click on the milestones button.

Good luck! Your child is very fortunate to have a concerned and proactive mother.

Best Regards,
S.

Hey J.,

Try singing songs during the day and also while in the car. Our little one really liked that. The wiggles dvds are great.

J.

My daughter's doctor told me that because my daughter WAS devloping so well physically and perhaps ahead of her peers that it is common for another area to lag just a bit. It's kind of like you can't do everything at once. I wouldn't be concerned about your son especially if his passive language is good. In other words, does he respond to your questions/Requests? Where is your ball? Bring Mommy your toy. Time to Eat!
Kids will learn language naturally by you talking to them. The only concern that I can think of is a hearing issue but your sure can talk to the Doc about your concerns! My daughter didn't say much until she was closer to two. A few words her first year but not much. It was like she knew she wasn't saying them perfectly so she just waited.
Kids are amazing!
Enjoy your little guy!
SimplyCami