17 Month Old Not Talking

All children start talking at different ages, so I wouldnt be terribly worried about it. At my 2 year old's last well visit with her pediatrician, the doctor said that if she isn't talking more by the time she is 3, then we will do something about it. My 2 year old was a very slow talker, only saying mama, dada, baba (although she didnt even say that until she was about 17 months, and we took her off the bottle when she was 13 months lol), and some other 2 syllable words. Since her doctor appt in May, she has started talking up a storm, and now we can't keep her quiet!!!

My son is 2 1/2 and just started to really talk about 4 months ago. He can understand directions, but never really talked ( he has a big sister that tends to talk for him). BUt finally this summer has has started talking.

I would not worry at all. Like you said every child is different. Some more vocal then others. I was a nanny for a little boy, he was 2 and never said a word....took him awhile to say anything but he got it eventually.

My son is 27 months old and he finally started to talk around 24 months, still not very good, but every day he gets better and better. He was saying mama and dada by the time he was 12 months, but then he just stopped talking all together until around 24 months. At his 2 year check up his doctor said all kids learn at a different level and he was fine in all other ways and to just keep an eye on his progress. I believe he is perfectly normal and he was exceptionally fast at learning every other thing in his life, so if it takes him a little longer to talk good I can live with that.

It took me almost two months to figure out he is saying ‘Thank You Mama’, it sounds like he is saying ‘I don’t wana’. Once I figured out he was saying thank you he was so excited and now he says it all the time and it keeps getting better and better.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it if everything else seems normal, but if you are worried just talk to your doctor or a speech therapist to put your mind at ease and who knows, it may be beneficial to your daughter to get the extra help also.

I also have an 18th month old that seems to be at the stage your daughter is verbally. The difference is probably that I also have a 7 year old that did the exact same thing. From your description of her knowing dog, I would say that she probably uses the same "sounds" each time she uses a different word, meaning that she has a different sound for each object that she uses only for that object. It might take a little while for you to notice because it just isn't always easy to identify the sound that these little ones make. My pediatrician thinks that my little girl is low on the communication scale due to this lack of "speaking." But, I did go through this with my son and eventually started picking up on his "words" for varying objects. I did realize that I had to keep using the "correct" word rather than his "word/sound" for the objects. When I would use his "sound" he would get upset because coming from me the sound was not the correct word.

I don't know if this will help any, but I thought I would share my experience. I also have an almost 5 year old that was chattering away like crazy at 18 months. It has just reinforced my opinion that "each child is different."

If you are really concerned about this, before going to see the doctor, take some extra time with your daughter and using specific items that she is comfortable with, see if she repeats the same sound/word for the item(s) each time you work with her. Reading aloud and often is also a great way to help with language development. Poetry really helps with the sound and rhythm of language.

A.
Good Luck

if you are really worried about it I would go see the doctor. Try teaching her words and see if she goes for that. Maybe she has no reason to talk, when she wants milk have her say it before she gets it and things like that. If that doesn't work though I would ask your dr.

I have an 18 month old (born Feb 2007) who also doesn't talk. He doesn't say ANYTHING...doesn't even repeat words after us. But I'm not very worried. I've talked to MANY people who have told me it's very normal. Most of the people I have talked to told me they didn't talk until 3! I was a bit worried at first since my oldest (who will be 6 in Oct) talked already very young. But I've been told that it's totally normal for a child who has an older sibling that talks a lot to not speak at all. My oldest talks for him frequently, so he doesn't feel the need to talk. He understands everything we tell him and follows simple commands. He just doesn't say words.
I think your child will be alright. I wouldn't worry until she gets closer to 2 and still doesn't say much.

17 months old is still very very early. As long as she is understanding you when saying single words or given simple one part commands, I would say she is just PERFECT. We have one child who had a really bad speech delay, so we watched the charts with my second from the first babble..... We know exactly what sounds develop and when they are exspected. Even though girls tend to a little earlier than boys, your 17 month old is still very young. If yo point and say, "go get your dollie" if she turns to look at what you are pointing to and or goes to pick up something (even if it is not the doll), then she is JUST FINE. Do not worry, do not over analyze and just enjoy these days as they go by way to fast.... She is perfect, you just continue to grow her well....

I'm going to go against the grain and say to get her evaluated. My son also wasn't talking at 18 months. He still wasn't talking at his 2 year well check and his pediatrician wanted to give it another 6 months but my gut told me that was too long. We had him evaluated by Early Intervention through the school district. It's free and if your daughter is found to have any delays they will work with her for free in your home. What can it hurt to have a free evaluation. Obviously you're worried if you're asking for advice. My son worked with a speech therapist all summer and it has done wonders for him. And it's all pay based so he loved when Mary would come play with him with her "new" toys.

You could also have her hearing checked to make sure that's not interfering with her speech.

I thought my son wasn't talking enough at 18 months. Our Ped had us count out the number of words he could say - they didn't need to be intelligible to anyone else but us. We were able to come up with 8 words and the ped was happy with that. My son could sign about 40 words at that point. Anyway, at 23 months he's quite the talker. Give it time, but talk to your ped if you are still wrried.

M., I agree with the first person who responded to you. My youngest son (now 2 1/2) wasn't talking at 18 months, all he was doing was babbling, no words. My peditrician referred us to our county's early intervention program and my son was evaluated. It was determined that he did indeed have a delay and he started receiving speech therapy. I am glad that I had him evaluated because we are now having further tests done because his therapists think there might be something else going on. Early intervention is the key. But you need to follow your gut, if you are worried then I would talk to your peditrician at your next appointment.

Good luck to you.

my daughter wasn't talking much at 18 months and the doctor wanted her to see a speech therapist. i didn't take her to see how she would do on her own and by 20 months she was saying about 15 to 18 words. she is 2 now and says so many words that i was glad i didn't take her to therapy.

Hi M.,

Seems as though you've gotten plenty of advice already, so I'm going to give you just reassurance instead. My daughter was the same way, infact all the way until she was about 2 and a half. We had her evaluated, she qualified for speech therapy in our local school district, so she went. After a few months we noticed dramatic changes. Not only was she getting speech and articulation therapy but she was getting to interact with kids her own age and socialize. AND they were kids that had similar set backs so they didn't make fun of her like some of the other kids from our ECFE groups. She is now 4 and a half and she won't STOP talking.

Every child develops at their own pace, some with a little help from professionals, others without. You know what your gut instinct is saying, just follow that. I'm sure she will do just fine and be a very brilliant little girl!

Good luck M.!

M.,

Don't be worried. My second baby was like that - hardly said anything until he was almost 2. Then the light came on and he jumped to a 50+ word vocabulary in a matter of weeks. He is going to enter Kindergarten next week and is already a good reader (taught himself.) So he isn't slow, never was, just a late bloomer.

If your baby gets to her 2 year well check and still isn't talking, it is time to consult the pediatrician. There are lots of resources out there for speech & development, but they should be saved for the children who truly have a serious delay. It's still too early to know if that is your daughter's situation and probably isn't.

Good luck,
S.

A 17 month-old not talking yet is nothing to get worried about. She is perfectly fine. My girls are 6 and 4 and neither of them really began speaking until they were at least 2 1/2 or 3 if I remember correctly. Nowadays it's talk talk talk from both of them, all day long (not that I'm complaining, but it's a bit different from when they were babies that's all!). Ella is just thinking about what she's going to say when she decides to say it. I think it sounds as though you've got a very secure child there, and she will talk when she's ready. Don't let anyone tell you she is delayed because she's perfectly normal for a 17 (or 30) month old!

Do not worry if she is at least saying some words and attempting (babling) to say other words she is doing fine. My son and another child I take care of both didn't start talking until they were 2 1/2 years old (my son was even later than that) but they both caught up very quickly and are both speaking at their age level now. It is hard not to worry as I did, but they will catch up very quickly. Some pointers read to her alot and point out things and try to get her to repeat you. Play color or sorting games or even blocks and keep repeating the colors or shape names over and over as you play. Repetition is key and that is what worked for me. Good luck and don't worry about it-she will be just fine!!

I haven't read any of the other responses, but I'm sure you will have MANY that tell you not to worry, every baby (toddler) develops at their own pace. I work in developmental pediatrics (as Physical Therapist, but work closely with speech therapists). THere are 2 "main" parts at this age--understanding language (Receptive language) and using language (Expressive language). Our general guidline is that between 18-24 months children should have a rapidly expanding vocabulary of words that they use spontaneously (in other words without you prompting them to just repeat something you have said) and by the age of 2 they are usually combing 2-words into short "sentences" ("My cup" "Daddy bye-bye") I would giver her another month or so of encouraging her to use words that you know she understands (milk, juice, dog, mine, up, go, out, down, blanket/blankie may be some examples of common words she might know). Depending where you live, there should be a "Birth to Three" or "Zero to Three" program in your county that should be able to do a free evaluation (beyond the screening that your pediatrician might do). Your daughter is at a "borderline" age. She could quite well make a big "break-through" in the next couple months, but my philosophy (and the research supports it) is that Early Intervention is the key, and many kids just need a little boost! Good Luck! ANd remember, if she is evaluated and is "delayed" (and I certainly do NOT mean to panic or upset you!), it does NOT necessarily mean that there is something "wrong", but probably that she really just needs a little "boost".

My son is 21 months and he still isnt talking a lot either he is starting to say more but he speaks his own language. Its totally normal I wouldnt worry about it. Some children around the age of 2 really start to speak more others start way sooner. She will in time. Just work with her and my son's Dr. said sing to him. I have touch and feel flash cards cards and books we work on. Just help her out and dont push it, she will start talking in her own time. Pretty son she will be stuck on saying one thing over and over like uh oh like my son that is what he says all the time now. L.

Hi M.,
My 19 month old son is still not talking either, yes, babbling a lot. He says "ball" and "choo-choo" when he hears a train. Anyway, at our 18 months dr. visit, I discussed it. To make a long story somewhat short, we were referred to our school district for a free consultation. An Early Childhood Special Education teacher came to our home for an hour and did a battery of tests with him. She scored everything. She gave me suggestions and also told me what she was looking for in each of the tests. Simply that visit was helpful. She then took all of the scores to her office, added them up and determined if he qualified for special education needs. He did not. Anyway, all of this to say, talk with your pediatrician at your daughter's 18 month baby wellness check-up. Push for a referral for an evaluation with your school district. She may not qualify, and that's quite okay. You may simply have a late talker. She's busy learning other things. Frankly, I'm relieved we don't qualify. We'll take some ECFE classes this fall. I hope this helps! Take care. --S. J.

Hi M.! I have a 22 month old who is doing the same thing although she does have a few more words now but when she was 17 months it was pretty much, "Mommy, daddy and baby." After speaking with her pediatrician and my best friend who has a master's in speech pathology and works for OPS with her specific age group...I learned that I should not freak out. :) The language explosion for children typically happens between 18-22 months. Around this time they are typically saying one new word a day. I decided for myself that I would wait until my daughter was two and at her two year check-up I would revisit this with her doctor. She will be two in October and like I said...she doesn't have a lot of speech. She is trying to say new words but they are far from close and there are a couple of sounds she's not making like K's and G's. So, since she will be 24 months old in October and if I am still not seeing a lot of progress...for kick's and giggles I will ask that she be evaluated. Her hearing has already been checked so that is not a problem. She was a late walker (walked then crawled) and I also need to remember that little ones typically complete one major developmental task at a time. So she may just be waiting. Something to ask yourself is: Does she seem to understand you? This is one thing that helped me not to worry. I knew my daughter could hear and understand me because I would ask her to do something that sometimes had multiple steps in them and she would do them. so the cognition is there...the speech is waiting to catch up. I was told that it really doesn't do any good to evaluate them before they are two because kids do develop differently and she probably wouldn't qualify for services anyway based on that. I hope that this helps you!

One more thing. We have taught our daughter sign language through the "Signing Time" videos (which are great!!!!). SEveral people told me that the reason she wasn't talking was because I was teaching her sign language. This is not true (which is proven by studies). TEaching kids sign language actually increases their vocabulary and there is data that suggests they actually have a higher IQ by 1-2 points (which really isn't significant in the grand scheme of things). I taught her sign language for these two reasons as well as reducing her frustration with trying to communicate with us. It helps us too in that we are able to ask and sign..."Do you want juice or do you want milk?" so she doesn't just point and go, "uh,uh, uh..." I highly recommend it for your sanity and her reduction in frustration. Good luck!

Hi M.- I too have a 17 month old. I also have 3 others who are 13, 10 and 6 years old. My experience is that every child is different. If she is babbling and saying a few words then she is probably fine. That is exactly what my 17 month old is doing right now. My oldest child was an early talker. Then when my 2nd child came along he was soooo quiet and reserved and hardly spoke, then around the age of 2 he just started talking and he spoke so clearly. He and my 13 yr old are so very different in personality.

Your daughter is probably saying more words than you realize. My older kids tell me all the time that the little one is saying words that I don't hear.

When Ella has her 18 mos check up ask her doctor what is to be expected.

good luck

M., I am a grandmother to a almost 3 year old grandson who does not talk clearly which according to my daughter-in-law, whom was a day care provider for 12 to 2 year children; did not get proper instrustion during those months. So my advise to you is to start talking to her as a 2 year old and reading to her so she could see the words as well. And being a single mother when I was raising my 26 years son, I know how impossible it could seem to do something like reading to your child but it is impossible. Another suggection is to get her acquinted to reading computer programs or handheld game machines with sound that will get her started in talking. If you would like more ideas how I introduce reading to my son, you can email me back.

Hi M.,

My daughter was also born in March of 2007 and she isn't saying as many words as your daughter. She says dada but won't say mama or anything else so your child is not alone. I talked to my mom about it and she said that I didn't really develop speach until around 18 months so she wasn't surprised that my daughter would be late too. I know it's hard when you are around other kids who are younger and have a bigger vocabulary but I don't think it's anything to worry about for another couple of months. Once she starts talking, she'll probably develop rapidly and catch up to the other kids in no time (that's what I keep telling myself anyway!). Just wanted you to know that you're not alone!

M. Harris

Here is a website about speech development. Scroll a little more than half way down and there is an interactive checklist to help parents determine if their child is in the range they should be for their age group.
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/speechandlanguage.a...

If she is way off make an appointment with your Dr. otherwise don't worry it's said that Einstein didn't talk until he was 5, I beleive is the story.

If I were you I would talk to her pediatrician about a referral to your county's birth to three program for a speech and language evaluation.. A speech therapist would be able to help with finding out why she is having trouble and would be able to show you how to help her get some more language and vocabulary.. Every child learns differently but these professionals would definatly be able to help both you and your little girl. Usually there is not a charge for the speech therapy through the birth to three program but they would be able to tell you about all of the charges.. definately worth checking out.

I wouldn't worry. My oldest didn't speak at all, he'd point and grunt, until he was close to 3yrs old. He understood us, he would follow instructions and could hear and understand us, so I didn't worry. aNd sure enough, a few months before his 3rd b-day he woke up and literally starte dspeaking full sentences. HE's very technical and extremely smart, he just 'had better things to do' than speak.

Now my youngest was speaking 2-3 word sentences by 10mos. Different kids have different skills. He was the clumsiest kid but could hold a conversation with a stranger. My guess is your daughter is ver ycoordinated, good with her hands, and is 'technical' in always wanting to know how things work... speaking is the last thing on her mind, but when she starts she won't stop. As long as she can understand simple instructions and hears you, don't worry. Each child is different, adn 17mos is pretty young ot expect a huge vocabulary.

You don't have to "worry," but you should keep an eye ... er ... ear on it. Speech delay runs in my family so I identified his tendency toward it before he was a year old and watched closely.

Make sure you are doing all the language development activities you can with your daughter at home. If you already are and she remains delayed by age three, especially if she seems upset and frustrated that you and others can't understand her, you'll want to get some additional help for her.

My son was tested at age three and supposedly was fine, but I knew he wasn't and pushed for a more in-depth test. Since I have a family member who DIDN'T get the help they needed early on I knew what could happen without proper help. My relative's language trouble turned into reading and writing trouble which he still struggles with now as an adult.

With the better test, my son did show several areas of speech and language delay and started an early childhood program at a local elementary school with other students in his age range.

It made a TON of difference. He's now 4 1/2 and is so much happier and less frustrated because he can communicate what he's thinking, feeling and wanting.

If you need ideas for what you should be doing with her now, feel free to send me a personal message and I can send you some links or lists.

I have a 24 month old that only says a couple of words but his doctor recommended to sign him up for the birth ot 3 year old program. I have my first appointment in a couple of weeeks. Some one came to my house and did an interview and set everyhting up and most insurance covers it and if you are you a certain income you will not have to pay anything. I do not have the number right now but I am sure you can call your doctor to get it.

Just mirroring what everyone else has said, my son is 2 and gets speech therapy through birth-3. Because autism is in the news so much lately my husband and I kind of panicked (me more than him) about the words not coming as fast as I thought they should so at 19 months we started speech. Since he's turned 2 his language has totally exploded and the speech therapy can only just encourage him more at this point. We started the baby singing time with him at 19 months and he LOVED it and it really helped with communication. I also read to him constantly, talk to him constantly and taught him his ABC's really early because it's fun for him and helps with the sounds in forming words. Follow your gut, you know your kid best. Make a huge deal (clapping, dancing) if she makes any kind of sound in attempt to talk because it will make her try more. I personally found the birth-3 evaluation to be really stressful but the teachers have been just great. Message me if you want to talk more.

My son was a late talker but that was due to many ear infections and fluid in his ears. He got ear tubes at 20 months and he started talking after that. My daughter has no ear problems and she's also 17 months (march 2007) and she doesn't say much. She understands WAY more than she can speak. She does say words that only my husband, my son and me can understand. A lot of times my son talks for her. I asked my Dr about it and he said they don't start worrying about speech until they're 2. He said as long as she understands what we're saying and follows simple directions and babbles there's not need to worry. If you're concerned ask about it at her 18 month check up.

M.,
I have twins that are nearing their 3rd birthday that weren't talking too much before the last couple of months. My ped said if by 2 1/2 they weren't talking to bring them back in...instead I called Luthern Social Services for their birth - 3 program. (I got the number from my local elementary school.) Anyway, they came in to evaluate the kids, and now come once a month to check on their progress. My kids are speaking as well as others their age, but now that they have started, it has been like wildfire.
ALL kids do develop on their own time.
Good luck!
J.

I would call your ped. and let them know you are concerned. They can also set you up with an appointment to get her speech evaluated. Also, depending on where you live the University can do tests on her there. It is great to get it figured out now, than when you want to start her in school.

C.

If you are really concerned contact your Birth to 3 program in your county and talk to your Doctor. Usually your doctor will "refer" you to the Birth to 3 program, so just let them know that you are concerned and want the referral. Some Doctors won't be concerned at this age since she is babbling but if it does turn out to be a problem then it is better to be ahead of the game and already working with a speech therapist.

Speech therapy isn't anything bad, it is fun for toddlers. It is just glorified play time really. My daughter was about 17/18 months when we got a referral to the Birth to 3 program, she wasn't saying much either, just a couple of words nothing much and I was concerned too. When they came to our house I was given the option of waiting to see if she improved on her own or to start then and work with a therapist. We chose to start working with a therapist. It turns out that my daughter learns differently and needs multiple learning options. Her speech therapy has helped us to teach her in every area because we know how she learns.