Another one of those speech threads- about no words at 16 months

[JumpingIn]

I'm not overly concerned and I'm mostly sure he's just a late talker, but I thought it would be cool to document my son's progress to possibly give some perspective for other mums who may be worried and googling something like 'my child isn't saying words at 16 months, can this be normal?'

Here's Zach's language journey. Zach is developmentally on track in every other regard. He runs, throws balls, points and follows directions (when he wants to!) He also growls when he sees pictures of lions or tigers or bears.

16 months: Zach has really rarely produced any sounds other than ba, da, buh, gaga, guh, deh and combinations of these with plenty of variation in pitch and intonation and also accompanied by gestures. For byebye he will attempt buhbuh. He also uses this for 'bubble' and has used 'bur' for bird twice about a month ago. He has recently surprised us with 'rehstehguh' (ready steady go) and 'guhluhbear' (growl like a bear) and he once said 'lid'. So far this is his only language.

Today we read a book with numbers one to ten in it. He's really interested in numerals at the moment. Each time he saw one, he pointed and said 'baDA'...'yes, two!' I replied...'baDA'...'yes, three!' and so on! He never changed his response...baDA it is.

More updates next month or if anything changes

 

[kellyc1987]

My LO (18 months) said "don't know" for the first time today.. well he actually said no, no but it was a specific answer to the question where is... and now every time I ask him where something is all I get it no no

And on a more worrying note for about a month now he has been saying "ma ma god (oh my god)" when he does something naughty.. I had no idea where he picked it up from until I heard my mum and nan say it repeatedly!

 

[babe2ooo]

my lo is 21months and says about 9 words but understands everything u say, I wouldn't worry my oldest was a slow talker to and he fine now

 

[JumpingIn]

Approaching 17 months and still no words. It seems to be worsening toddler frustrations now. Every time he wants something it's 'ah ah ah' and if we can't figure out what 'ah' is within about 5 seconds he loses it!

I'm going to give it one more month for the first word to appear before seeking help for him I think. He's absolutely typical in every other regard and was even early meeting most of his milestones (first steps at 10 months, climbing by 13 months etc)

 

[AngelUK]

Way too early to seek help! Speech therapists only look for 5 words by 18 months and in toddler world a month is a long time! Lots can happen! Even if he doesn't have 5 words by then, I doubt you'd get much help at this point!

 

[JumpingIn]

16m3w: Zach says 'egg' and 'crazy'(kayzee). We have a book called Crazy Cow and a magnet in the shape of an egg! Both times he was echoing me ('it looks like an egg' 'Shall we read Crazy Cow?')

Very happy to hear these new sounds today

 

[JumpingIn]

17.5 months: Zach now says 'yeah' in context, which is helping with communication immensely. He shakes his head for no.

He also consistently makes the same attempts at particular phrases. 'Here I am' sounds like 'yeeraya' (if he's popping out from behind the curtain!) 'Bib on' sounds like 'gigah'. He also says 'didit' when he's done something.

No other words as of yet and little interest in single words. Still, I feel there's been a lot of progress.

Words at 17.5 months:
Yeah
Didit
Yeeraya (Here I am)

 

[staralfur]

Just wanted to say that if he's consistently making sounds in the right context even if not pronounced correctly, most professionals would consider it a word - so you said he was saying "buhbuh" when saying bye bye or bubbles - I would consider those words (again, if he said them repeatedly and in the right context). Same with "bur" for bird.

 

[JumpingIn]

Thank you. Unfortunately he hasn't said those things for a month or so now so I can't add them to the list. Same with the other words, he said them once and not since

He's come on massively though. I think he's progressing well

 

[Bevziibubble]

My daughter didn't say any words at that age apart from "dit" when she wanted something. She was behind with starting talking but caught up without any intervention and she never stops talking these days!

 

[AngelUK]

One of my twins had no words at all till he was 21 months old (the other twin started talking at 16m or 17m). By 2 years old he made proper sentences with 7 words. He now speaks just fine. Nothing to worry about.

 

[sequeena]

He'll be just fine I'm sure. It's when they can't understand what you say or they are delayed in other areas that they intervene at this age. Otherwise they usually have a speech explosion at or around 2 years.

 

[JumpingIn]

Thanks all. Keeping my chin up about it.

This morning at toddler group another mum was sharing concerns about her boy the same age not saying enough. She then revealed he 'only' had 15 words! At least Zach and his 'yeah' reassured her!

 

[loeylo]

Gracie is 13 months and doesn't even use mum and dad properly yet. She understands lots (she waves for hello and bye, she goes "chhh chhh" if you mention any of the family cat names, and makes a clicking noise for the dog, she can point out her head, nose, mouth, hands, feet and tummy, she does the "scream" right on cue in row row row your boat, does hand gestures for twinkle twinkle) - but she just wont vocalise at all! Or walk! Monkey!

 

[icklemonster]

Alex has barely any words at 13 months but I'm not concerned at all. He has been working on his physical milestones and far outperforms where his sister was physically - he can walk, climbs stairs and his fine motor skills are amazing. The only 3 words he tries to say (without much success at that) are ball (barrrrr), balloon (barrrr) and fffffffff (while pointing at fishtank). His sister's couldn't walk until 15 months but she had loads of words. They all develop at different times and it sounds like your boy has been focussing on his physical milestones.
If I'm honest, I preferred the advanced speech though, my heart is forever in my mouth with such an active boy
xx

 

[JumpingIn]

Just to clarify my boy is now nearly 18 months with one or two words. I definitely wouldn't be worried at 13 months! There's a huge difference there

 

[JumpingIn]

So guys, the past few days have been crazy! I think it's finally happening!

We've gone from 2 words to:

Muah (Kisses)
Muh! (More!)
Gigah (Guitar)
Bibon
Myah (meow/cat)
Buhbye
Buhbuh (bauble)
Yeah
Eeraya (Here I am/Here it is/I found it)
Buh (Boo!)
Upupup
Ash (wash)
Co (cold)

I'm thrilled! As you can see, he is no longer classed as delayed on any scale. Patience wins out!

SarahBear, how is Leo getting on?

 

[AngelUK]

How exciting! Well done Zach

 

[sequeena]

Wonderful news

 

[SarahBear]

SarahBear, how is Leo getting on?

He's slowly gaining, but hardly says anything. He only has a few words he says regularly like "this" (which is starting to turn into "this is" at times), mom, and dad. He also will make sipping sounds to indicate thirst or wanting to nurse. He sometimes makes eating sounds. He has said "nana." He has made quacking sounds. I think he was making meowing sounds one day... He said "eye" a couple times... most of the words he has said, have only been said a few times and therefore aren't really a regular part of h is vocabulary. I'm sure he has said more than 10 words, but again, they haven't really been integrated into his vocabulary on a regular basis. He is better at picking up signs, but we don't use them that much. He will ask for more of something using the "more" sign. He also has been using a modified version of "cookie" to mean "snack from the snack cabinet." It's been a long time since he has communicated his need for the potty, but he does still know the sign for that as well. All this being said, I think his nonverbal and social communication skills are ahead of Violet's at the same age. He also has excellent understanding. He knows all his sister's dolls by their names and will get things from another room if you ask him. He will nod and shake his head to answer yes/no questions. Oh, he also has used the words "yes" and "no." While he was learning those words, his ability to answer yes/no questions fluctuated. He's also more likely to say "yes" than "no." He has really good joint attention and is starting to become interested and able to sit and listen to a short book. I don't know the reason for his slower development of words, but everything else about his communication is either spot on or really good.

I hear a lot about kids taking off with talking at about two. Since everything else about Leo's communication and cognitive development is so good, I won't worry about it until after two. I was a little worried for a little while though when I made my thread about his communication.