Hi,
My 21 month old little boy only says 6 words.
He completely understands what I say to him and what I tell him to do..
I read with him daily, sing songs etc.
I'm just wondering when I should start to get worried about him not speaking and saying so little words. I've always been a "they go at their own pace", kind of mum, but after seeing a 15 month old say a whole sentence, I'm starting to worry.
If the time comes, who do I take him to about it?
Thanks
5 Replies
I would start worrying now. Go to your GP for a referral to a speech therapist. They will give you strategies to work on at home to encourage speech. I really find that phrase 'they go at their own pace' so harmful. In my line of work we get calls from parents who have finally stopped telling themselves that when their child is 4 and barely talks, unfortunately the people around them reinforce they will do it in their own time mentality so the parents keep ignoring the situation.
My son is 22 months and doesn't talk much either. I also read to him, sing songs and nursery rhymes, he also goes to daycare 3 days a week. My child health nurse advised to go back to her when he was 2 if I was still worried and get a referral for speech therapy. I think I may have to do this. My older child does talk a lot and often speak for him which I try and discourage. No harm in talking to a gp/child health nurse to get professional advice but try not to stress too much, there is help out there and it's great you are so interactive with him. All the best
My daughter has a speech disorder at 2.5 to 3 urs of age she could say 20 words. We where recommended to a developmental pediatrician who checked everything and then recommend she see a speech therapist. She has now been going for 3 years and she has come along so much. The best way to help speech problems and have them corrected before your child reaches school so they aren't held back by their difficulties is EARLY INTERVENTION if you suspect something then pls take your child to your gp and get referrals. If you live in WA look up the Language Development Centre it's a school that carters for speech disorders.
My son is 4 with a moderate speech delay, he doesn't speak properly but he tries so hard now all thanks to speech therapy. He was like that at 21 months I wish so much I went and got it checked out then because it would have been a lot easier going through it younger. I would go get a referral. After having my second son who is now 2 and noticing the massive difference between speech I know better (I should have with my eldest son as I do have a daughter who is older to).
My 23 month old only made 20 sounds (attempts at words but they were still only 1 syllable sounds such as do (for dog) ma, da, moo (for cow), ta ect. She hadn't even attempted to say words I thought she would have long since mastered (pop for instance seeing as she says pu for puppy). She is 24 months now and has in the last month had a massive explosion in her language. Still mainly sounds and 1 syllable words but there has been a tonne of improvement. She verbally identifies those close to her now (ga = grandma, ga da = granddad, me um = liam, that type of thing). Honestly at that age I wouldn't worry. Wait until your 2 year check up and bring it up then. You may be surprised to find a language explosion in the next few months, just like we did. Before this month Charlotte still showed great competency and understanding even without her speech tho and she was always trying to communicate by pointing, using sounds, pushing/taking you to whatever. If bub wasn't showing these signs as well as not talking then I'd be worried