18 Month Old Not Talking

When my first was that age (20 years ago!), it was the same - he would point and sort of grunt when he wanted something, especially a drink, which he knew came from the refrigerator.
My pediatrician pointed out that Marc didn't NEED to SAY what he wanted because I always anticipated or knew what he wanted! So, fairly quickly after I stopped just giving him things, he started saying words. I knew he was extremely smart and when I said, "use your words, what do you want?", he caught on quickly! I think it's not unusual with first-borns or only children, but it could be a sign of developmental problems, so make sure your ped is aware and monitors him.

Good luck!
C.

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its normal, dont pressure too much, and keep going with the books and make sure you talk to him like a person not a baby. It'll happen!

yes, sign language is great!

in the meantime, I would make an appointment w/ you son's doctor & discuss you concerns. if you are still concerned (sounds like you are &, to be honest, I would be too & I'm not saying this to alarm you, just saying this so you can be proactive) then I would contact the 0-3 early intervention program. It's FREE until 3 yrs old, so I would get it now, while it's free...

here's the list of local offices:
http://www.cms-kids.com/ContactUs/EIPdir.pdf

~L.

I would not worry one bit! Lots of kids (especially boys) don't talk that much at 18 months. My son (20 months now) didn't say too many words by then and now, just 2 months later, he repeats every word you say to him. Your son is probably just concentrating on physical things now - he will start talking soon enough.

Don't worry!

I have had the same issue with my two sons, they were exposed to 3 languages and I was told that this could be the cause. Today TG they don't stop talking.

I HAVE BEEN DING SIGN LANGUAGE WITHMY SON -sorry- since he was born. Yeah I know he didnt know what I was doing or saying and half the time neither did I, but at that age it was more about getting myself in the habit of using sign than about him actually learning it. As he got older the signing became more natural and he started to sign back at about 8 month sold. now he is able to say over 10 words and has already began to put 2 word phrases together. He started with "uh-oh" then said "bye-bye" then came "bye-bye dadda" now he has a pretty good vocabulary for his age and still uses signing to fill the gaps that are stillnot being verbalized. I suggest trying to learn some of these most important signs and then incorporating them into your daily routines to help promote your son's vocabulary! Keep up the reading too, we read to our son all the time, since he was born we have read books to him at bedtime, and now he also enjoys having a good book rather than a tv show! Good luck--C.

Hey I.,
With my first child, I used to give him whatever he wanted when he pointed to it. I found out later, when he was in speech therapy, that you shouldn't do that. I thought I was just being accomodating but what I learned was that you are supposed to say the word to him a number of times when he wants it and repeat it until eventually he asks for it. This isn't going to happen right away but if he gradually tries to ask for it, then don't give it to him until he says the word. In other words, make him work a little for it every time. In my opinion, boys are a little slower in this area and one day he might just start talking. Try not to worry too much about it, my boys were slow talkers and now they talk just fine. It also helps that they are around other kids their age that talk well. I hope this helps.
Jenn

My daughter didn't talk much at that age either (and the doctor wasn't very concerned) At around 10 months old I started taking her to sign and sing (it is a sign class by kindermusic) and all the signs that we did do are the words that she has learned to speak first. I have now bought the baby einstein videos baby wordsworth (I have 2 of them but I think they have come out with a 3rd) She is now 26 months old and talks a lot!! She watches the DVDs in the car so I haven't really seen them much myself but she started saying and signing things that I didn't know yet (like table and refrigerator) I think that signing has a rang of benefits for children, it helps them communicate the words that they can't say and broadens their vocabulary.
Have you talked to his doctor at all?

Go to an ENT (ears, nose and throat) Doctor. My son had a lot of trouble talking also and we found out that he need tubes and he could not hear because he had fluid in his ears the consistence of jello. He has been going to a Speech Therapist and he is 3 now and starting to talk up a storm. So have his hearing checked. Good luck!!!!!

My son was (and still is) the same way. He turned two in March. I would share my concerns with my pediatrician. I did and we got hearing testing. One of my friends (she's no longer) said my son probably had autism. Which really scared me, but she said this the first time she has ever met my son. Myself, family, friends and my pediatrician (all of whom have known my son since birth!) assured me that this is NOT the case. The practitioner who tested his hearing also did a development assessment, and he was slightly behind in his verbal skills, but was considered a month or two advanced in his nonverbal.

My son is two and still refers to a car as "voooom" not a car. He LOVES cars, they're his favorite things. He just likes to call them "vooom". Boys often develop later than girls. It wasn't until he turned two (beginning daycare also might have had a hand in it)that my son started to verbally communicate.

If you really want to put your mind at ease, simple talk to your pediatrician about getting a development assessment for your son. If anything it will put your mind at ease. But from what you wrote I would say that everything is fine. He's showing you his knowledge of things simply in a nonverbal way. But I'm not a doctor, so I would speak to a professional just to be sure.

Hope this helps.

Albert Einstein did not talk until he was 4 yrs old!! do not rush anything. It will happen in time.
But if you need to be proactive, teach your DS Sign Language or find someone who does. Studies show kids who learn to Sign talk earlier and get less frustrated. And it is a cool way to communicate!

Hi I.,
I think Cindy had a great point! My son didn't talk until 20 plus months and then he would make a grunt sound for some things he would want to say! I thought he had a problem....not too worried though... He loved books like yours! He talked well after 2 years. Now he is my first born of three boys and is five years old. He is a little brain and so don't worry yet! Might be like Cindy said.... I probably anticipated what he wanted too much! My 19 month old son is great at talking, but I also treated him differently. I made him express what he wanted more and didn't give in right away.
Have fun with your cute little boy!
C.

Speaking to your child is great. My child took her time talking. We used simple sign language while we spoke. I had her hearing and vision checked just to rule out obvious medical issues. Then one day, she discovered her voice and has been talking up a storm ever since.

As long as he has been checked by a pediatrician, don't worry about it. If he still isn't talking by two, have him rechecked.

Call Child Find. They will have him tested for speech and if he needs it will be provided with Speech Therapy for free until he is 3. Starting him early is the key.

Dear Indie,
I had this "problem" with my second daughter. She was a late talker. When I say late, I mean she wasn't talking until she was well past 3 years old (saying some words only). The doc said that all children are different and to stop comparing my child to other children who were actively talking. I had my daughter's ears checked and her hearing was fine. Now I have an 18 month old son who has a limited vocabulary. He's not actively talking so I'm not concerned (he says mama, dada, ball, hi). Keep reading to your son (never stop reading), and something I was told to do with a speech consultant I had contacted when I truly was worried that something was wrong with my second daughter's speech was to talk to your child in front of a mirror. We put so much pressure on ourselves when our child doesn't act like someone else's child. You are doing the right thing to provide intervention now so that if there truly is a problem, you can address it early on. I hope that I helped.

Hi I.,

A family friend of ours has a son with the same issue. They took him to the doctor and he was diagnosed with autism. But not a severe case. The child was extremely intelligent and very social, so the parents were not satisfied with this diagnosis. They did some more research and found out that sometimes children who are read to a lot, especially if your child sits in your lap and does not see you reading, will have delays in their verbal communication skills. This child had been read to since he was born and his mother would read him 50+ books a day. I don't know if this is the case with your son, but I just thought I would share. Their son was 2 when he was diagnosed and by the time he was 4 his doctor said his case was not severe and has "cleared up" so-to-speak. He is a "normal" 5-year-old now, with no communicaiton problems whatsoever. In fact, he is advanced for his age and can read like a 2nd grader.

-T.

Try not to worry. He is still quite young. Lots of kids can't talk at this age. My 2nd of 4 kids didn't talk till he was 3yrs old. He's 7 now and is smart and healthy, and fine. Just be patient/

Honestly--all kids develop differently and this includes using language. Though some 18-month olds have a 50+ vocabulary others are less than 10 (and may just be sounds like da for dog or Brrr for car).
Does he know his name? Can he follow simple instructions? Understanding words is really more important at this age than actually being able to physically say the words.
My 22 month old is in that boat--at 18 months he was much like your son (no mama or dada or much of any words)--and now though he makes many sounds for things and understands A LOT--he says very few actual words--but they are starting to come and his understanding of what things are has vastly increased since even 18 months.
But do not fret! I've read a lot about the subject and all kids tend to catch up with each other verbally around 3 years. I was personally a late talker too (no real words until 3)--and had no problems at all in school-no developmental issues whatsoever, and mom my says once I started talking--i never stopped!
One thing that has helped us is teaching our son some baby sign language. "more," "banana," "dog," different animals, clothing items, etc-and it has made things less frustrating for all of us when trying to communicate.

S no you are not doing anything wrong! Keep up the reading and naming objects and he will talk--I promise! And if you are truly worried then ask your pediatrician-they will be able to see if other milestones are being met.