Speech Delay in 15Month Old

My son is now six and in Kindergarten, but he was not speaking well by the age of three. Our pedi sent us to a speech therapist who evaluated him and asked us questions. She asked things about our routine. When I'd get my son up in the morning, I'd have his breakfast ready for him at the table. As his milk cup got low, I'd refill it. I didn't make him talk to me. We started changing our habits and encouraged language more, and he started talking within months.

AS you do research, you will find Autism linked to language delay. DO NOT let this frighten you. It did me! I just knew my son was Autistic and our pedi kept reassuring me that my son was fine. Some kids just take longer and that can also be a sign of intelligence.

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I'm surprised speech therapists on this web board haven't responded to you, yet.

I think it's funny how many people are saying that speech delay is no big deal. It is a big deal. There is a communication problem between the child and everyone else. The child cannot communicate to the rest of the world -- that is a problem and a disability.
My son is speech delayed - he's 4 now and attending speech therapy at a Plano ISD early childhood school. He gets his therapy and preschool free because of his disability.
I know what it's like to have a child who cannot express his feelings or his wants or needs verbally. It's frustrating for the whole household. AND we tried all those suggestions all the time -- reading books all the time; pointing to things; using language all day long. It still didn't inspire him to use his own words.

It took the professional speech therapists, who are trained in how to deal w/this age group, to show me some interesting techniques and to get him motivated to use his own words. The professionals knew how to get through to him.

Yes, boys are slower to talk than girls are... but I'm sure you've been comparing notes to other boys his age, too. My son was delayed even compared to boys his age. And if that's the case with your son... please be proactive and get a FREE assessment from ECI (early childhood intervention) -- or your pediatrician's office should be able to recommend where/who you should call for an assessment for therapy. ECI comes out to your home and does the assessment and then makes recommendations on how much therapy your son should have -- if he qualifies having a delay at all.

ECI therapy comes to your home setting and does play/interactive therapy. Or you can choose to have private therapy from different speech therapists or other rehabilitation centers. A good thing about ECI is that your health insurance can help pay for it....and if not, there's a sliding scale for what you need to pay for services (based on family income/# of people in household)....so ECI is very affordable.

Early intervention is so important in helping your son gain confidence in his speech; and in helping prevent other speech problems later on -- (speech impediments, stuttering, etc).... if the help is available now, why not take it!? Speech therapy is fun and it can only help!! No pain involved. :-)

I am a little surprised your doc already has you concerned about this. My friend's little one will be two next week and he only says a few words--not more than 1 word at a time, so don't panic. One day--he's going to start talking so fast you won't get a word in edgewise! :) Good Luck and don't worry!

I have twins that that are in private speech therapy 2x a week and love it and have done great! They started at 10 months and now 2. One of th twins is now being marked at 2 years and 7 months. So she has passed her delays!!! We use a private compnay "Therapy 2000" and love the results and the people are wonderful. You can use ECI but they are so full you may only be seen 2x a month but ECI is free until the age of 3. Any other questions, I'd be happy to answer!

My twins, now 4 years old, did not start speaking consistently in sentences until they were at least 2 1/2. They just didn't need to talk. They were rarely around other kids and they could communicate with each other & with us just fine without speaking. When we put them in Mother's Day Out, their speech really blossomed. Their doctor didn't raise a red flag until their 2 year check up. My gut told me that they were really going to be o.k. Like your boy, they could follow simple directions, pick up requested items, etc, etc. I would listen to your inner mommy voice. My bet is that your boy is just fine!

Hi M.,

I have son who just turned two last month and he too did not say very much at 15 months. I too worried about this delay but he now says lots of words, some not as clearly as the other children at his daycare but I know that he will eventually catch up. It is common in my family for the boys to have a delay in speech. I read somewhere that boys are concentrating on their motor skills like throwing a ball or climbing things and this is why there is a delay. Just keep talking to your son as though he were talking back to you. Use lots of adjectives to that he can pick up the words. I also read to my son everyday. He really likes the books that show pictures of animals, cars, trains, colors, etc. We sit together and just keep practicing the words and the sounds over and over. I am sure that your son is normal and that he will be talking more soon. Just be patient. :)

There is a checklist for a one year old's speech pattern and it is general, give or take. Some kids observe more than speak and when they finally do speak, it is in full sentences. The thing that concerns me a bit is that he was saying them and now he isn't.

You seem like a pro-active mom...one that just doesn't like to sit back and take the punches. Kids learn speech best through singing and reading. Sing more, no matter what you sound like! My mom was tone deaf and I came out fine. I begged her to sing to me! "The woods would be a quite place if only the most talented birds were to sing" Henry David Thoreau.

Read, read, read, read and read some more. Talk to him as if he is a three year old and identify the world to him. But, most importantly, when he babbles his "not real words," babble back, because that gives him acceptance,encouragement and the acknowledgment that you understand him. Then at 18 months, if the doctor says he is speech delayed, you can say, "Hey, I gave it my all!" and throw the towel to a professional!

Don't Wait! My son was 20 months when I finally contacted ECI. He had the speach of a 10 month old. With ECI they evaluated him and decided to start with sign language. within three days he was saying the words that he had learned to sign. We were told that he was frustrated trying to talk so when he realized we could understand his signing he would also say the word. He eventually started trying words he didn't know the sign for. after ten months (at 30 months)he had the speach of a four year old. He talks very well. Now everyone that hears him talk can't beleive how well he talks. I am very glad I called ECI.

Honestly it may make you feel better to have him evaluated, but if you anticipate him, and do everything for him... it may be he doesn't need to speak.
Here is what I would do...and when I say these things I am NOT insinuating that you don't... I am sure you are a great mom or you wouldn't be asking...
Get those little board books that have one pic/one word on each page. They come in sets of 24, are about 2x2 square and he can walk around with them. Go over them with him a lot.
Get flashcards, peg puzzles... talk to him CONSTANTLY...Sing to him...
Also - www.babybumblebee.com has vocabulary DVD/VHS that are fantastic. I have a friend who's son was last, he was a prince/spoiled/doted on... never spoke. He was 4 when she finally had him evaluated. I bet he had less than 20 words. Well, she worked with him DAILY when a professional finally told her what she had "done"... and he is a thriving 1st grader,not delayed at all.

Hi. I think that 15 months is a bit too early to be diagnosing a speech delay. he is saying some words, so obviously he comprehends. I have 5 children and I will tell you they all develop at different speeds. My first daughter was walking at 8 months, talking at a year, and I thought was always advanced. My second child, a son, didn't even bother to walk until 14 months, nor talk until 2. Once they were school aged, you couldn't have guessed which one walked or talked first, etc. Now, my youngest is nearly 3 and was talking early, but my neice is exactly 12 months older, and her speech is about 1/2 of what my daughters is developmentally. If you notice a 'slur' or tongue tie possiblility, then that is something that can be looked at. I had one child take speech for 3 years in elementary because of pronounciation, and had other assistance for reading/comprehension delay. Now that child is in regular classes, and you couldn't tell at all. 15 months is very early. Keep working with her, and watch her until she's about 2 or so, but dont be alarmed. Some parents may think because their own child spoke earlier that there's a delay with yours(other peoples) when honestly yours is just on a normal developmental track.

I think he's probably, so far, pretty normal. 15 months is really young and any evaluation would rely on your observations more than anything so start keeping a list of words he's said (even only once because they do count).

Boys do tend to (but not always of course) be a little delayed on the speech side. (Whatever you do, avoid comparing him to his female peers.) It's quite common for them to use a word generally too (ie calling all animals dogs or cats). The fact that he is babbling, smiling, etc are all great signs. Have you considered teaching him to sign? We found that to be a great help. It also helps with the language development and will not delay it further (despite what inlaws may say).

My son did have a speech delay. He was evaluated at about 27 months which is still pretty early. A lot of Drs don't worry until about 2 1/2. We went through OCH and have had a very positive experience. I did a TON of research so please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

I think I might be a weirdo with this, but it sounds COMPLETELY normal to me. He doesn't sound at all delayed. I think boys tend to be on the slower side when it comes to speech and I know SO many children (especially boys) who are labeled as being slightly delayed and then in the end, they catch up by 3 yrs old and are just fine. It doesn't seem delayed to me when so many children are like that. Anyway, so my opinion is to not worry about it. He sounds like he's doing great.

But that all being said, you are the mom and only YOU know what is right for your child. If you're worried, there is definitely no harm in speech therapy and no harm in doing whatever the doctor suggests. I think out of all of this, it's most important to follow any feeling you have on it.

I do tend to under-worry things, so keep that in mind with everything I've written!

Oh, and I wanted to add something really quick. Children have brain leaps where literally one day they can't do something, and then over the process of about 2-3 days, their brain develops a little more and suddenly they are able to do something they couldn't before. I would bet you this is the case with the speech. He's probably been busy doing other things and hasn't been as focused on developing his speech. And I know I said this tends to happen more to little boys, but it also happens to little girls sometimes too. There is such a HUGE difference on what is normal...and I'm a slow believer in children being delayed unless there is something significant to prove it. Otherwise I think they are just developing different areas at different speeds. Meaning, he might be more focused on social skills or physical skills than on verbal communication right now. My nephew could hardly speak until he was three years old. Now he's eight and he speaks great. I've met several other little boys (can't think of any girls that took that long to speak, though I'm sure they are out there) like that. I think they all develop differently...anyway, enough of my rambling!

Just kidding, I keep thinking of more to add (after I read other responses). You mentioned that he used to say some things that he no longer says. I wouldnt' worry about that at all. My daughter (5 yrs) and son (14 months) are both that way. It was in every way they developed almost. My daughter rolled over once and then didn't do it again until a month later. She started walking and then didn't do it again until a month or two later, etc. My son is doing the same thing. There are words he used to say that he is no longer saying. I know he can say them, but it's like he tries it out and then sits and thinks about it. Same with how my daughter was. I've heard of lots of kids doing stuff like that. Anyway, just wanted to say that sounds normal to me too. Okay, I'm really done this time!

Don't wait until 18 months. Contact ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) in your area and request a speech evaluation. The initial evaluation is free, then if he needs any services--the cost is on a sliding scale. They will also do some other testing just to be sure that it is just a speech delay, and not something else causing the delay. One thing they will want to know is if you have had is hearing checked. If you can't afford to take him, they have hearing clinics, but they fill up fast and it may cause a delay in his evaluation. My son's doctor kept telling us to wait to refer him to ECI--and finally when we did he was over 2 years old--with SEVERE speech delays. Now he is 3 and has qualified for speech classes at one of our nearby schools. I only wish we would have started sooner.

Early speech intervention is when a speech pathologist comes to your home or to your child's daycare to work with your child, and then also helps you be the "speech therapist" at home--giving you ideas to improve your child's speech. It is a great service. And then they will help you contact the public schools when he is about to turn three to get him evaluated for their programs. OR they will evaluate him and tell you he is within the normal range for a kid his age....at least you'll know.

Good luck!

Same here...at her 15 month apt our daughter could only say "Mama, Dada, Baba, Go" we were suggest ECI by or Peditician. After waiting for all the paperwork and evaluation process she started her therapy at about 17 months old. Let me just say I was NOT PLEASED with ECI. Because they are OVER BOOKED with kids that it is hard to get a Speech Therapist. The ECI Rep is the one coming out doing the therapy and we had problems with her coming on time, keeping the apt and missing them all togheter without a call. She took a month off to get married and go on her honeymoon and my daughter had to wait for her to come back. Then she asked for her apt to be rescheduled because her husband wanted her to take the day off. To me it felt as if her life and new hubby was more important than our daughter therapy. The thrapy itself was much to be desired...she brought a puzzle board with animal shapes and asked her to push it around and told her what the animal is. She did give us some good advice on what we can do but most of it I was already doing.

So I called my Peditrician and asked to be refered to another Therapist. She refered Therapedia in Hurst and after only a month she can now say "No, Dont, Down, Gein (Again), Good girl and Good job (the last two only mama and dada can understand). The therapy is more strengent which what she needed. They work on sounds and reward her with bubbles, light up toy or goldfish crackers that I bring. We also use Therapedia for her Physical Therapy as well. Our daughter has her delays due to her being born with Torticollis but is doing very well.

It costs us money to go to a private Speech Therapist but it is well worth every penny! ECI is better than nothing and the first six months are free ins doesnt pay after the first six months than the monthly pmt is based on your home income which isnt much ours would of been $50 a month. We do still use ECI for Occupational Therapy but they only advise us on what to do and then they come out once every three months for an evaluation on the progress...pretty much it is all parents work.

Good luck!

Hi M.;

I also have a 15 mth. old son who seems to be a little delayed in his speech. We haven't gone to his 15 mth. visit yet but I have been concerned. My son babbles all the time and says dada all the time and mama occasionally. He says ball, uh-oh, bye-bye and thats about it. And, he's been saying all of these words since his 12 mth. visit. All of my friends w/ kids his age seem more advanced than him. Everyone tells me that all of this is normal, but like you, I'm still worried. So, I'm curious to read other's responses to this because I am kind of in the same boat you are.

Hi M.,

My son was speech delayed too and we went thru Early Childhood Intervention. They come to your house and evaluated our son and a speech teacher came to our house every week until he was 3 and then went thru the public school system and went there every week for an hour and 1/2 with other kids.
He learned so much and not long after he really started to talk alot and now he is 6 and continues speech in school but talks non-stop
It doesn't hurt or cost you anything to have him evaluated for piece of mind.

Good Luck
D.

I have a 19th month boy who is with ECI now. He does not say mama or dada. We have been working with them for about a month. I do not see much progress yet, but I am patient. I do agree it is a little early to test yet. Based on what you have described you probably need to wait until he is 18 months assuming he does not improve by them. Also don't worry I went through something similar with my 1st child. I waited until he was 3 to put him in PALS with MISD. (because I did not know about ECI). He went there 1 year (from year 3 to year 4) and if you talked to him today you would never know he was speach delayed (he is 6 now). Don't be scared or worried about this .... you have a boy ... there will be plenty of other things to worry about ... from someone with 3 boys.

I know exactly how you feel. My daughter is going to be 3 at the end of this month and at her 18 mo check up she was only saying mama and daddy. The peds dr sent her to a speech specialist and they do a very primitive test, since it's hard to test a child so young but they mainly asked questions about her development as a whole. And she scored below normal but they said since she was early and she was delayed on crawling, walking...that they would like to see her in three months. When she went back she passed with flying colors. So it just shows you how much they can pick up and start using in a very short time. Shortly after her three month speech checkup she was talking in complete sentences. A speech therapit wouldn't be a bad idea because they gave me exercises to do with her to get her to talk....wish I could remember them. I would give your son some more time and whenever he wants something ask him if he can say it....for instance if he is hungary so short sentences like want food? I hope this helps a little.

Hi M. - my son (now age 9) only said words here and there until he was about 20 months old. At that time, he turned to me after looking out a window and said, "Mom, looks like a beautiful day today!" Now we can't get him to stop talking!

My advice would be to relax and realize that all kids develop at different paces. As long as the doctor thinks everything is "normal" I'd say enjoy this stage while it lasts!

Hi M., my son is almost three and i know all children develope their speech at different ages, however i took my soon to an ear, nose and throat doctor and he had non infectious fluid in his ears. I had his adnoids removed and tubes put in his ears. With in one month his speech took off. Hope this is helpful. D., mommy of 5