[kmf1524]

I'm trying to figure out how worried (or not) I should be with this.

My 16 month old daughter says "mama" and that is pretty much it (and doesn't even say that on a regular basis). She does however understand everything I say to her and will even follow 2 step directions...like "take off your socks and then put them in the laundry basket". And she will get it right!

But just recently I started getting the "raised eyebrows" (you all know what I'm talking about) when I'm asked by other people how many words she says and my reply is "none really". She does know about 5-6 signs and uses them regular basis and in the correct context.

I also have a 2 1/2 yr old daughter who talks alot and who my 16 months old follows around all the time.

So what do you all think?? Time to call EI or just wait it out a few months and see what develops?

Thanks!
Krista

[my2guats]

we just went through this with my son who is 20 months. at 19 months he finally started saying "mama" and that is really his only word. he does a few signs and tries to say please and fish. i have a 4 year old whose language skills are off the chart and he is home with the two of us all day so i thought maybe that has something to do with it. anyway, i decided that i would have him evaluated though our early intervention program and see if he qualified. i too feel that he understands most of what we are saying to him. he knows several body parts, makes animal sounds, knows who all the important people are in his life. he will get his shoes if i say we are going "by by," things like that.

They evaluated him about a month ago and found that he does have a minor speech delay. everything else seems fine and he scored at age or above in all other areas. so....we will have a speech path. come to our home once a week to work with he and i to help move his speech along. again i don't think there is anything wrong with him but i just felt if there is more i could be doing to help him then i'm going to.

they come to our home and i'm with him the whole time. the program is really great and everyone is very helpful. i say if your worried then get her tested. it can't hurt. mom's always know their kids better then anyone else. hope this helps.

[carlam]

I don't have professional advice, but just wanted to let you know that my little brother (I shouldn't call him little at 6'8") didn't talk until he was four. Not a word, my mom and dad said he wouldn't even make a sound. Well, he started school like normal speaking like everyone else that started tot alk years earlier. They ended up testing him in first grade and he was considered gifted. He graduated top of his class in college and now is an engineer. My dad said the doctor told them that he'll talk when he had something to say.. he's still the same way.. listens but talks only when needed. But he's extremely intelligent. Perhaps you have a talented child and just doesn't have much to say quite yet!

[DBNose]

My child was evaluated by a speech pathologist from Early childhood Intervention (ECI). What she told me iwa that a child who understand everything will eventually speak, and that the real concern is if a child does not understand. I say this to give you peace of mind. I think that a 16 month old who is following 2-step directions is doing well. Nonetheless, I agree with the person who advice you to have her tested. It is free and out there for you. Find out how to contact ECI in your hometown and call them.

[airstar98]

I don't think you need to worry yet, lol, cause if you did I should be worrying too.

My little girl is 17 months and she's said mama from 8 days old, but that is her only word I can recognize, and all the rest is baby babel.

I talk to her and she will babel back and then while she's playing, she'll do the same thing. That's all that really needs to happen right now.

Her having an older sister is excellent for her, because she will learn to talk from her too.

[CEB]

First and foremost, if you are really concerned, trust your instinct and there is no harm in calling EI to have her evaluated (at minimum to put your mind at ease). Also, again trust your instinct and do not worry about others raised eyebrows - kids differ in their developmental pace (my now PhD cousin did not speak a word until 3.5).

All that said, my DS was in the same place (except it was dada and mama) at 16 months and our pediatrician recommended that we wait until at least 20 months when he would have been home for a full year and hearing english for that entire period - and call if things did not improve by then (actually he said he would wait until 24 months but had the feeling I would be too stressed to do so, but really wanted me to give him a full year).

Now at 20 months all he had dada, mama and appa (for apple) so I called. The evals were done in early February and just this week I had the results meeting with our local EI group. He is in fact delayed enough in expressive speech to qualify for service (they have him at 12 month level) and slightly delayed in receptive speech (16-18 month level) as well, but is at or ahead of norm in all other developmental categories. So we will have a speech therapist coming to the house 2 times a week for 45 minutes starting in late March. I think it will be great for him, and I am not too concerned as I think he will learn (they evlauators even noted that he has good focus for his age and seems to learn well from repetition).

[Saya]

At 16 months, all Anabel said was "up" and "uh-oh." We decided to call EI, and we qualified for services (she also has some OT issues).

At 22 months now, her vocabulary is so big I've lost track long ago of how many words she has and she's starting to do sentences, eg "Where are you Mommy?"

I love our speech therapist, but honestly I think Anabel probably would have made the same steps forward without EI. EI was just a little push. So I think nothing bad can come out of an eval, but it doesn't sound like you have to worry too much.

[Justhavfaith]

Sorry to jump in on this thread but, DS is now 2 years old and is severely behind his peers in daycare with regard to speech. Can anyone tell me how to contact EI for an evaluation?

Thank you,

[mjmom]

Teri - The name of the program varies from state to state. Google your state name and the words "early intervention" and you will likely find it. For KY, it is called "First Steps". Like other posters have mentioned, the evaluation is free. In KY, the therapy fees are on a sliding scale based on family size and income...and extremely reasonable. Good luck!

Michelle

[iammonikasmom]

I have two who are now in the special ed system. I am a firm believer in seeking and testing early. IF there is an issue, the earlier they are addressed the better. The other side is it gives you a baseline down the road. Hope this helps....Nancy

[JustBarbara]

In my state - MA - my ped said she would contact EI for an evaluation if we decided it was worth an evaluation. Remember it is first an evaluation to determine if your child would benefit from the various therapies they provide and each state is different. DS at 18 months had 10-12 words and I was really rounding up. So the ped agreed to schedule a 21month visit and if at that point there was no progress we would schedule an EI appt. At 21 months DS had about 35 words ... now at 23 months at least 150 words - stringing words together so there are no concerns. Every day there is a new word or improved pronunciation and I can hear him trying out various sounds. I say if it will give you peace of mind then ask for an EI appt. The folks who provide EI are wonderful.

[missylaw]

Teria---in Oh it's called Help Me Grow and they are wonderful. We were referred through the International Adoption clinic. The great thing about this program is that your income level isn't even questioned. It's all free. Our problem getting PT without it is that our income is over the accepted limits, but with 4 kids we couldn't pay for it out of pocket (and insurance isn't a help). Anyway, Maya has received PT,OT, and has a "teacher" who will follow her until she is 3. I don't know where you live, but you might Google Help Me grow too.

Missy

[DPline]

Originally Posted by DBNose

I think that a 16 month old who is following 2-step directions is doing well.

Amen to that! My 9-year-old can't do that some days!

Like the others, I would agree that there is most likely no problem if she is hearing and understanding, but utilize your early intervention program for an evaluation if it will put your mind at ease. My son came home at 20 months old and we had his speech tested at 27 or 28 months. He was only saying about 25 words at that point and still scored within the 'normal' range and did not qualify for services. (Just to give you an idea of what 'normal' is at that age.)

It is hard when you have other children to compare to. (Even though we shouldn't compare! ) My other two were speaking in full sentences by age 2 and to me that was normal. So the EI evaluation was a real eye-opener to me.

Good luck!

Justhavefaith - Try contacting your local school system. Ours is run through our public schools (maybe they all are?) but at the very least they should be able to direct you.

[annaguat]

My oldest son is just like this. Anna

Originally Posted by carlam

I don't have professional advice, but just wanted to let you know that my little brother (I shouldn't call him little at 6'8") didn't talk until he was four. Not a word, my mom and dad said he wouldn't even make a sound. Well, he started school like normal speaking like everyone else that started tot alk years earlier. They ended up testing him in first grade and he was considered gifted. He graduated top of his class in college and now is an engineer. My dad said the doctor told them that he'll talk when he had something to say.. he's still the same way.. listens but talks only when needed. But he's extremely intelligent. Perhaps you have a talented child and just doesn't have much to say quite yet!

[makarios79]

Originally Posted by kmf1524

I'm trying to figure out how worried (or not) I should be with this.

My 16 month old daughter says "mama" and that is pretty much it (and doesn't even say that on a regular basis). She does however understand everything I say to her and will even follow 2 step directions...like "take off your socks and then put them in the laundry basket". And she will get it right!

But just recently I started getting the "raised eyebrows" (you all know what I'm talking about) when I'm asked by other people how many words she says and my reply is "none really". She does know about 5-6 signs and uses them regular basis and in the correct context.

I also have a 2 1/2 yr old daughter who talks alot and who my 16 months old follows around all the time.

So what do you all think?? Time to call EI or just wait it out a few months and see what develops?

Thanks!
Krista

I was told my oldest son did not talk until he was 2 y/o by his birth family. I got placed with him at right at 2 1/2 and his speech still wasn't that great. But after about a month or so, he started to talk more and more and NOW (almost a year later) I can't get him to shut up! He still has trouble pronoucing some words, but what kid under 5 doesn't? He has never had a speech class.

My nephew also didn't talk until he was 2. His speech is perfect now at age 6. His really didn't get better until he started preschool at age 4. Also never had a speech class. As a matter of fact when he was evaluated for it, we were told it wasn't necessary.

On the other hand, my middle son could talk in complete sentences, could understand and follow directions at 16 months.

My youngest son has always been a "talker." he's been saying words such as mama, dada since he came to live with me at 6 months old. Now at 17 months, he is a pretty advanced talker for his age. Sometimes I wish he wouldn't talk at all - He told his daycare teacher to shut up the other day.

I'm saying all that to say that each kid develops in their own timing....But if you are worried I would have her evaluated for your own piece of mind.