Verbal Development Delay?

I think it's very common for babies to focus on the new skill and "forget" the old skill while mastering the new one. Our son went through a phase where he really didn't talk/coo/babble - right about the same age your son is. He was really working on crawling at that point. DS also didn't fully belly laugh until he was 8ish months old either. It was really hard to even get a chuckle out of him before that. He was very social though and making eye contact etc. FWIW, he didn't raise his arms to be picked up until he was close to a year. He was just such an independent baby! There's also something called Word Mortality - though more common with older babies I think, maybe it could explain your DS's behavior. Babies will often learn a new word or sound, use it for a week and then "lose" it. DS still does this. It's perfectly normal (according to an SLP I know).

Anyway - DS is completely on target verbally and socially these days as well as physically. He talks (some real words & a LOT of his own language), signs, and shows emotions. He hugs, kisses, and asks to be picked up, though he did start these things later than some, he's more than made up for it these days. I'm confident that right now he's not on the Autism Spectrum.

BUT - what I've said is in NTBCAMA. And if you are worried, do talk to your pediatrician about it.

I have a 6 month old son, and I've kind of noticed this too. He'll still talk/babble, but not as much as he used to. My thought is that since it's not a new skill like it was 2-3 motnhs ago, he's a little bored with it and doesn't feel the need to do it all the time. Kind of like when he learned to blow raspberries - the first week or so after he figured it out, he did it CONTANTLY. Now I only hear him do it Maybe once a day. But like your son, he's got other "new" things to practice and keep him busy. Like how to roll under the computer desk to play with the cords ;-)

You can also call your school district's Early Intervention program. Each school district has a team that works with children Birth-3. They could come out to your house and take a look at your son and talk with you about what you're seeing.

Hi S.!

As a mommy we always need to follow our gut. If your gut is telling you that something may be wrong, call your Doc. Better safe than sorry.

My little guy was born with hearing loss and I've learned so much in the last 4 years. Not to worry you further, but you might suggest to have his hearing checked. All babies (hearing or not) babble and coo up until about 5 or 6 months. If they don't hear themselves, they tend to stop making the noises.

Again, you probably have nothing to worry about, but follow your gut.

Good luck!
M.

My daughter did the same thing. I was never really worried about autism... she did't display any other symptoms that go along with that. But she was babbling and cooing one day, and she just stopped for a few months - I mean barely a peep at all. Then she started up again and is now "talking" just fine. So don't fear, it is probably just a phase. If you are really concerned, you should talk to your pediatrician.

I really think it's too early to worry about it. Most kids with problems will present multiple things at once. I have a daughter that has Angelman Syndrome and I knew all along that there was a problem because she didn't act like other kids right from the start.
I know that there has been a lot of press lately about kids being able to respond to their name at 12 months. That's something that they said that kids with Autism usually won't do at all.
Again, don't worry about it right now. I'm sure he's just concentrating on other things. My youngest doesn't talk much and he's 21 months but he's got the rest of us to talk for him so he doesn't need to :o)
If you still have concerns at 12 months just call your local school's early intervention program. They'll come to your house and assess him and let you know what they think.
Best Wishes,
J.

I absolutely wouldn't worry. It's very common for babies to slow down on something they've already learned to focus on a new milestone. If he's crawling and sitting maybe he's more focused on that, like you mentioned. I think 7 months is a little soon to be diagnosing autism. From what I understand most children who do show signs of it don't get diagnosed until somewhere around 3 years of age. However, you are his mother and have to do what is right for your family. If you feel something is wrong talk to his doctor. There's no harm in asking. I am a "better safe than sorry" person and always ask questions when it comes to my kids.

Hey S.!
I agree with the other posts - obviously you know Ben the most, so if you're unsure about anything u can always mention it to the ped. I read most boys focus on motor skills first before speech, unlike girls. However- with a brother like Zach (perfect speech motormouth) Ben will catch up.

I think sometimes there is too much information out there and people tend to make things wrong when they aren't. Developmental guidelines are just that--guidelines. At 7 months I don't think any doctor would be able to make any kind of diagnosis for behavioral issues--things change too rapidly with babies. Medical problems--of course they can diagnose those. I agree with Beth and MH. Your child has probably stopped the language stuff to concentrate on motor skills. Babies can't multi-task yet.

Relax and enjoy what your baby IS doing and don't worry so much about what he is NOT. People always want to compare their kids as well. "My neighbor Suzy's daughter was walking at 9 months and speaking complete sentences at 10 months." As long as your child is healthy be thankful.

One last thing--the range for NORMAL is huge. The range for abnormal quite small.

WO WO WO hold on. There is NOTHING wrong with a 7mo. old not babbling anymore. I think your jumping to conclusions. Don't take that the wrong way. I don't think one is lucky to have a healthy baby I just think it's normal. Have you ever watched any of those tv shows on TLC like The Duggars they have like 16 children and ALL of them are just fine? On Monday nights usually they have shows about LARGE families and they're very very interesting and intriguing to me. This Monday is John and Kate plus 8. They have 6yr.twins and 3 yr.old sextuplets. One kid has glasses otherwise they're all healthy and fine.

I have always been told babies concentrate on one or the other gross motor skills or language but random do they concentrate with both at the same time. My daughter was that way she was babbling and cooing non stop or learning to crawl etc...But not both. She did signlanguage and was verbal here and there. At 15mos. I was freaking because she wasn't talking hardly. By 18mos she wouldn't shut up. At 2 years old she was a motor mouth with a huge vocabulary.

I care for a 9mo. old who use to say daddda, at around 6-7mos. and was extrememly verbal and she has been so dedicated to crawling and standing up she's been mute lately, not a peep. You can still get her to laugh and giggle and all but she's totally only focused on cruising around the house.

I don't think you can really diagnose autism and those other disorders til they're atleast 1 probaly more like 3. I know boys have a tendancy to talk super late sometimes too. I have heard of kids not talking til around 3 years old.

To me, it sounds like your son is perfectly normal and is just concentrating on developing other skills right now. My children have all stopped doing one thing in order to work on another (I remember being so worried that my oldest had stopped rolling over, for example). I would still call your pediatrician if you're really worried since advice from a professional can be the most reassuring.