How can you tell?

[xXHopeXx]

If your child has a speech delay, that is.

Awhile ago i posted about my then 16mo DD not talking much. She has improved to what she was then, but from what i've seen with alot of other kids her age, she's quite abit behind, and now it's starting to worry me abit (I will be talking to her daycare about it on monday, who can bring in specialists and stuff to assess her, but she only goes 1 day a week, so i'm not sure how much use it will be?) It wasn't worrying me much before because she can understand ALOT more than she can speak, but she just wont talk. she will only talk when SHE wants to, and thats often very limited.

She can say things, but often not very clearly, she says things like "let's go" but if you don't know what she's saying, you might not be able to make out what she's saying ITMS?
she says things like "tee" for custard (DH called it custy occasionally, lol) and she does say mama, daddy, nana, but often not in context. she does know who we are, but she often wont say it to us, just babbling.
she says thankyou, but not when you ask her to say it (i.e. when she's taking something from us, but she will say it at the shops after i say thankyou to someone) she waves hi and bye rather than saying it.
she can tell me what a cow says (moo), what a lion says (roar) and a dog (woof) but its often with a fair bit of prompting, and sometimes she won't do it at all.
Occasionally she will repeat things i say, like the other day she took out some long life milk from the cupboard and i said "that's milk, Ayva, say milk?" and she said "mill" she's often dropping off bits of words that are trickier to say and often the words can be tricky to understand.

She can say probably somewhere around 30 words, but i know she understands ALOT. she can follow commands very easily, and is very mechanically minded (in that she can easily figure out how to do things, and how things work, and is very capable physically WRT things like climbing and "doing" things) but she is also very stubborn. she didn't walk at all or even attempt to take any steps until she was 11.5mos old and then took 8 steps and continued walking ever since.

sorry this post it abit everywhere, but i'm just getting myself worked up abit with worry, and i'm not really sure what i can do to help, or if she does even have a speech delay, y'know?

[shan23]

I personally wouldnt be worried, she has WAY more words than X!! Does she babble a lot? X is ALWAYS babbling, just today at the park he ran up to an older little girl and waved and said hello, then "talked" to her in his own little language. Poor boy got death glared at and ignored haha (I felt so bad for him, but he didnt bat an eye). He understands heaps, and can let us know what he wants (like if he wants to look out the window, he comes over and makes us put him on our hip, then points at the window lol). And then today he 'dobbed' on DP again. DP was on the toilet, X wanted toilet paper, DP wouldnt let him play with it. X came and got me, stood at the toilet door and pointed at DP holding toilet paper (clean lol). So I got him a square of paper and asked if that was what he wanted and he was super happy lol. He just doesnt say many proper words.

He is trying to though, he came out with "Oh wait!" the other day when we were leaving the house and he ran back to get his toy story bag lol. But it wasnt a very clear "oh wait", anyone listening in probably wouldnt realise what he was trying to say. He says Mum/Dad a lot, sometimes in context but often out of context. He doesnt really repeat words I say, we'll stand at the window and call the dogs and its almost like he is trying to copy my entire sentence, but its just the tone and not the words itms.

Umm.... I am kinda babbling lol. He can understand and communicate HEAPS, he just doesnt use words itms. I've no idea how many words he has actually, maybe 20? He had about 12 at 18 months. And he doesnt even use them much, its all babble. Some kids just take their time with it, my youngest sister didnt really talk much until about 3, and she was perfectly fine just slow to come out of her shell. I bet both our bubba's will just come and talking in sentences one day! I hope I have been able to ease your mind a little with knowing Miss A isnt the only one not talking a lot

[Lisa]

I wouldn't be too worried hun. Ds2 was like that and there was no other explanation for it other than he was just a quieter kid. He didn't start talking until he was about 2.5. He had fantastic comprehension and was fabulous at everything else except for actually verbalising. He would hum the words rather than speak them. Now he is a smart little kid who rarely stops talking but he is still quiet and shy. My girls are complete chatter boxes and I think that is because they all mimic one another. DD2 copied DS2 and DD3 copies the both of them.
If you do have concerns though, the first stop is usually a hearing test. Then a speech pathologist. All the best. I'm sure your DD will be fine and chatting away in no time

[Calluna]

DS didnt say much until around 20 months and didnt walk until 18ish months.
I think as long as she is developing in some area and starts tallking by 2 years then its still considered "normal". But trust your mummy instinct. There is no harm in speaking to the GP (or someone else) if you feel there is something wrong.

[xXHopeXx]

I personally wouldnt be worried, she has WAY more words than X!! Does she babble a lot? X is ALWAYS babbling, just today at the park he ran up to an older little girl and waved and said hello, then "talked" to her in his own little language. Poor boy got death glared at and ignored haha (I felt so bad for him, but he didnt bat an eye). He understands heaps, and can let us know what he wants (like if he wants to look out the window, he comes over and makes us put him on our hip, then points at the window lol). And then today he 'dobbed' on DP again. DP was on the toilet, X wanted toilet paper, DP wouldnt let him play with it. X came and got me, stood at the toilet door and pointed at DP holding toilet paper (clean lol). So I got him a square of paper and asked if that was what he wanted and he was super happy lol. He just doesnt say many proper words.

He is trying to though, he came out with "Oh wait!" the other day when we were leaving the house and he ran back to get his toy story bag lol. But it wasnt a very clear "oh wait", anyone listening in probably wouldnt realise what he was trying to say. He says Mum/Dad a lot, sometimes in context but often out of context. He doesnt really repeat words I say, we'll stand at the window and call the dogs and its almost like he is trying to copy my entire sentence, but its just the tone and not the words itms.

Umm.... I am kinda babbling lol. He can understand and communicate HEAPS, he just doesnt use words itms. I've no idea how many words he has actually, maybe 20? He had about 12 at 18 months. And he doesnt even use them much, its all babble. Some kids just take their time with it, my youngest sister didnt really talk much until about 3, and she was perfectly fine just slow to come out of her shell. I bet both our bubba's will just come and talking in sentences one day! I hope I have been able to ease your mind a little with knowing Miss A isnt the only one not talking a lot

Thanks shan

Miss A doesn't really do what X does with the "dobbing", she will just sit down and chuck a tanty she's very easily frustrated and annoyed lol.
she can kinda let us know what she wants, if she wants some food, she will generally run to the cupboard and try and open it, but usually she whinges, so i have to ask her what she wants, and if i get it right she smiles and runs off to wherever "it" is.
she kinda babbles, but not alot, but it doesn't hugely worry me in that sense because both DH & I are (for the most part) fairly quiet people, but its more the fact that so many kids i know can string together some sentences, or speak alot clearer and communicate what they want.

[helle]

Haven't read everyone else's replies but my son said squat until about 20 months, then one day he had a huge word vomit and he hasn't come up for air since!
She sounds streets ahead to me!! Just keep talking to her and she will be fine
And fwiw ds had heaps of random words for things too. Train was din. Oh dear me was shortened to "oh dim" he called milk moop... The list goes on!

[xXHopeXx]

Sorry ladies, you replied when i was typing! lol

Lisa - I think DD is a quiet one too, which is why i havent been overly worried til now, because DH & I are quiet. But having said that, what she does say isn't clear? though i have no worries with her hearing, i know she can hear very well as she follows direction very well, loves listening to DH & I read to her, and will on occasion mimic what we say. its more just the actual talking that worries me. could it still somehow be related even if thats the case?

Calluna - what do you mean by talking by 2? as in what kind of standards? (itms) she seems to be developing mentally and physically, but just verbally and communicating is where it's lacking.

Helle - thanks, that's really reassuring i'm really hoping for that kind of thing to happen soon too..

[~clover~]

11.5 months is actually early to walk, so I wouldn't stress about that.

DD2 had a speech delay, and was very similar to your DD. She just didn't talk til she was about 2, then was really hard for anyone but me to understand.

She started speech therapy at about 3.5, but with all the other things going on in her head, we got no where. I pulled her out & planned to go back when she started school, but she started to improve on her own & is now pretty much on the same level as all others her age.

I got a sheet from the mchn that had a list of sounds they should be starting to say at different ages.

Don't forget that kids at DC are often a few months different in age & that can make a big difference when they're little. A friends 2.5yo is pretty much saying full sentences, yet DD3, at just 2, is only just putting 2 words together.

They do all learn in their own time, but I'd ask the health nurse for advice & go from there. First stop I'd say would be a hearing test.

[Novella]

DD1 was similar and we saw a speech path for an assesment. The speechie said she was a bit behind for her age but she thought she was on the verge of speaking at the level she should be soon, 6 weeks later she also had a huge word vomit (thanks helle! love it) and hasn't shut up since. If you are worried see if daycare can arrange an assessment, best case scenarios either way -if there is a problem she can get early intervention, if there is no problem you get reassured and she has some fun one on one play time with an adult that is around kids day in day out

[Calluna]

It its more the fact that so many kids i know can string together some sentences, or speak alot clearer and communicate what they want.

I used to stress about the exact same things. I know everyone says not to compare. But when it is your child that seems "behind" thier peers, it is near impossible not to.
Honestly, she sounds like she is doing beautifully, even if it is in her own time. It will come and she will catch up. Its ok to worry. Its our job, but try not to let it consume you, focus on what she can do, rather than what she cant. Take it from someone who wishes she could go back and see her clever little guy for who he was instead of who he should have been. I missed way to much because I was obsessing over this.

ETA- I hope that doesnt come across the wrong way, I totally get it and like I said, if you think there is something, get it checked out, there is no harm in that, worst (best) case scenario, you have a bit of piece of mind.

I couldnt remember, so I looked it up, everything I read said 2 word sentences at 2 years. DS did not say more than 10 "words" including animal sounds, at 18 months. Then suddenly at 20 months he just started copying, putting the odd couple of words together, etc. It was like something clicked.

[Lisa]

I don't think it sounds like she has a hearing issue or any issues at all. She sounds perfectly normal to me. She is still speaking a lot of words, maybe a lot more than some. In my experience, some kids talk sooner but do other things not so well. My youngest DD's talked early-ish yet are terrible at following direction, lol. Stubborn little girls they are! DS2 was a late talker but was jumping, climbing and running sooner than some of his talkative peers. He also was fantastic at following direction.

[xXHopeXx]

Thanks so much ladies you've put my mind more at ease, for now anyway. I think the main reason for my concern is her clarity when she speaks and quite a few kids I know speak much better. I do have to learn not to compare but its just hard when it seems all the other kids speak better.
I'll talk to DDs daycare tomorrow and see what they think. If they think I shouldn't be concerned yet then I guess I'll let it go.
I'm just worried about her having a speech delay of some sort and not finding out til later and making it harder for her to catch up y'know?

The joys of parenthood lol.

Lisa, your ds2 sounds more and more like my dd. She is definitely very shy and an EXCELLENT climber, runner and direction follower (well, when she wants to lol)

[Calluna]

Im glad you're feeling a bit better about it.
FWIW my DS is 3 and 4 months and I still have to translate about 30% of what he says.

[~Kim~]

Glad you're feeling a bit better about it all.

FWIW at your DD's age my DS had 4 words; dad, ball, gog (dog) and Arcy (Darcy, DD1). Mum didn't come until closer to 20 months. He chatted a lot in his own babble but no real words. We had signs for lots of stuff. I was worried as we approached his second birthday and he still only had a handful of words.

Now he's 4 in Feb, he talks as much, if not more than DD1 who could count to 10 at 12months and say the alphabet and just about every animal sound you could think of at 18months.

Keep engaging her, and chatting and giving a running commentary and reading to her. She sounds like a great little chick.

[chody47]

I know some kids your DD's age who seem to be just like her when it comes to their speech. I know one of them (who's child is a few months older) were taking their child to see a speech pathologist as they wanted to just be sure nothing was wrong and start early intervention if necessary. Unfortunately I don't know how she went. It does sound like she is on the 'normal' range (whatever that is), but I do agree that if you're worried talk to daycare and take it from there.

[Miss.B]

Reading your post, your DD's speech sounds pretty normal to me. My only advice would be to get her checked out ONLY if it's going to easy your mind. My DS didn't start walking by himself until 19 months (he cruised on furniture for ages before that) but at 2 he had almost no vocabulary that we could understand apart from mum and no and a few animal sounds. He spoke a lot of babble. When he was 27 months we decided to seek a paed's opinion and he told us to send him to daycare a couple of days a week which has helped heaps. We are in the process of going to see a speechie once a week as he's still a bit behind in his speech, but he has had a few word explosions in the last couple of months. He's saying a few 3 word sentences but I'm finding that he's copying us more that putting the words himself iykwim, but has loads of single words now,mostly putting two words together. The frustration your DD displays would be from not being able to communicate the way she wants too. It's very typical for children that are developing their language.