Hey Nay. Sounds like he's right on track to me. There's HUGE variation in what is considered 'normal' speech development but I had a speech pathologist tell me the other day that she's only concerned if a child is not using 3-5 words by 18 months, and even then, only concerned enough that she recommends follow-up assessment (not making any kind of drastic diagnosis). She said it's far more about intentional communication - pointing, eye contact, sharing a little (non-verbal) joke together etc at this age and that lack of those things is of far greater concern. It sounds like he's doing all the right things.
I think you're right about the current emphasis on his motor skills slowing down his language development. My little munchkin seems to really focus in on one thing at a time. Her language totally exploded over a couple of months, but she talks less ATM as she seems to be really working on her fine motor skills.
Of course, you know him best and should go with your gut and speak to a paed if things don't 'feel right' for any reason. But simply from what you've said, I'd say he's developing BEAUTIFULLY.
Apparently they are meant to have 50 words by the time they are two (though this info is from my speech pathologist when I was a kid), so based on that, your DS sounds fine!
P is 18 months and while she has more words than the average child her age, she does that babbly thing a LOT. She knows what she's saying...but no one else does :-P
Sounds pretty good to me. At that age I don't think DS had more than 5 words or so and this didn't really start to increase till 20+ months, then really took off after 2 - he's a total motor mouth now and never stops.
It's interesting you mention them stalling one area of development to concentrate on another, as DS' gross motor skills pretty much stalled for quite a while as he learned more and more language. He's started working on that again just recently.
We didn't do anything in particular to encourage his language. Maybe doing baby signing helped, as he was a pretty good communicator from 12 months with his signs. And we talk to him (obviously), but that's about it.
DD2 is the same age and she has a number of words like your DS but lately using hardly any of them. We think it is cause she is cutting her molars and just doesn't want to talk. But kids all develop in their own time, and since he certainly knows what you are talking about and has some words, try not to worry about it too much.
I just had a look at the child health record book and it says in the heath assessment bit for 18-21 months, they should be using 5-10 words and understanding many more words. If he's following instructions then it might be just a matter of time before he says the word. My stepbrother as a toddler refused to speak, would just make murmuring and muttering noises until he was about 2 1/2. From that point, he would speak and say the word perfectly. It seemed he didn't want to speak until he could say it properly. I reckon B is super busy concentrating on his walking and probably running next, that he's not worried about his words right now.
Baby sign language has been shown to improve vocabulary skills, if not just directly but also towards recognition and understanding, so it helps give another form of communication and lessens tantrums because they can't get their message across.
DD1 had learnt about 10 signs by 14 months, 40 signs by the time she was 18 months, her actually vocab was only about 10. In the next couple of months her signs peaked at about 50, but her speech exploded to about 100. I what great in the mean time for her to be able to communicate.
Another consideration is that children's actual jaw structure changes about the ages of 18mths-2 1/2, apparently its thought to cause discomfort and some pain, so it can affect many things like speech, and behaviour, thought to be linked to the terrible 2's.
Before you know it, he will be chatting his head off.
he sounds fine =) lots of words.
one thing i will say though is follow your instincts, my son was starting to say quite a few words then everything stopped. when we got his ears checked by a specialist he actually needed grommets and now has quite a few words for a 16mth old and is starting to put two word sentences together. i think thats because he spends a lot of time with his 3yo sister though. we saw other developmental signs too though like he would try to stand up and lose balance easily, not hear us when he wasnt looking at us, and had ear infections as well.. just thought id put that in there, cant hurt to get his ears checked if your worried but other than that sounds all good =)
Thanks Noni*e - we actually have a paed check up in Jan and he is going to check his ears again as he'd had quite a few ear infections over winter and mentioned that grommets could be a possibility, so will definitely make sure thats checked. However his talking as picked up again just in the last week - the other day I was shutting the microwave and he said "shut", says "Pretty" for the xmas lights and "car" when playing with his toy cars so it seems we are getting a new word or two each day again - whew!!
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