17 month old not talking

Ashley - posted on 02/02/2009

my daughter is 17months although she was born with cleft lip and palate she talks but not much. The dr, and specialists asks can she say 15-20 words! Her speech therapist says if it's a word that she uses for somthing over and over again it's her word. Just because they don't speak like us don't mean you need to be concerned. It seems to me like your children are vocal that's what matters. As long as they aren't mute there isn't much to worry about, Just constantly point at things name them and talk to her/him! My daughter prolly says a total of 16 words not all of them are clear but I know what she wants! Ear infections do need to be adressed always. If they continue coming back ask to see a ear nose and throat dr. My daughter has never had an ear infection but she always had fluid we got tubes put in so it wouldn't effect her hearing! That was at 8months! Go on your instinct always.

Erin - posted on 02/01/2009

I have a 17 month old who started talking at 10 1/2 months! She has a good vocabulary, but about a month ago she bagen to have touble forming her words, too. I was told that they are learning up to 20 words a day at this stage, so they combine old words with new. I wouldn't be too worried. Listen to him when he's winding down in his crib at night. You'd be amazed at what they say. Hope this was helpful.

Ashley - posted on 01/31/2009

I thought one of my twins had hearing problems too. I had her checked out because she also is having trouble talking. It turns out her hearing is fine and that she is just so easily distracted that she can't focus well. I am glad I had her hearing tested though. I would recommend it just for peace of mind!

Eva - posted on 01/30/2009

Count me in, My son will be 18 months in 2 weeks & he doesn't hardly say anything. He says Mom, MAMA, Bye,no. He used to say dada all the time and he's said a couple of other words every once in a while. He's had 3 ear infections in the past six months. But he seems to understand everything we say. We will tell him to go & get us a diaper & he gets it. If we're getting ready for a bath I tell him to get his jammies & he does it. I think every baby/toddler is different. I think my son will talk when he's ready to. I aslo asked the ped what she thought & she agreed. I told her I was going to get some flash cards & try that. She asked why "all he's going to do is try to eat them".

Cynthia - posted on 01/30/2009

Well, seeing your post makes me feel a little better, but not comforted.

My Noah just turned 17 months old yesterday and still doesn't talk.  His older  brother Ethan is 17 months older than him and I remember when he was 17 months, he was putting 2-3 words together already.  When I was in the hospital for Noah's birth, Ethan was saying "What's that?" and all kinds of other things.  Noah has never had any ear infections, and I know he understands me.....he kind of says "Cheese" when taking a picture, calls Daddy "Gaga", can say "Mama", etc. but that's about it.  Most of the time my problem is that he always screams.  Like I said, I know Noah understands me.  I can talk to him and he responds and does the actions I tell him to do.  He just doesn't talk back.  I think I'm going to say something to the doctor again next month at his 18 month well-baby visit.

Amy - posted on 01/28/2009

My son is the same age and he also was talking more a few months ago but now doesn't. He has NEVER had an ear infection but when I asked the dr about it she said he may not be able to multi-task and he is paying too much time doing other things than talking. She said we will talk when he is 3 if he is not talking yet.

Tina - posted on 01/28/2009

I'm sorry - I didn't mean to worry you.  My little one has so much earwax and fluid build up which is why the ear infections are not going away.  They are covered up while on antibiotics but after a few day off of the meds she has the ear infection again.  I felt much better once she saw a doctor.

Sade - posted on 01/28/2009

Im actually having the same issues but my lill one doesn't say many words at all, she also has alot of ear infections. I never thought this could cause her speech to be delayed i just thought she needed more time to form words. OMG Im so worried now

Farrah - posted on 01/28/2009

my little man is not a big talker either. He is 17 months too. His hearing is okay though. He says nose, hair, mama, daddy, dog, no, hey, hello and a lot of stuff that I cannot understand. :) I understand :)

Tina - posted on 01/27/2009

Thanks for the advice.  She gets tubes on Friday because she has lost part of her hearing due to the wax and fluid buildup.  Hopefully, the tubes will help. 

Brandis - posted on 01/27/2009

tina. you should try some home remedies for her ear infection. a few weeks ago my son started messing and tugging on his ears again. and i was thinking great another dr appointment and more medication for his soon to be 3rd ear infection since thanksgiving. i ordered a home remedies book and the section about ear aches and ear infections said that you can warm some mineral oil and drop a few drops into the babies ear and few times a day or you can try peroxide. ive done the mineral oil treatment once and have cleaned his ears everyday with peroxide and the only thing he does to his ears now it sticks his fingers in there to let me know he wants me to clean them

Brandis - posted on 01/27/2009

my son will be 18 months january 9th he has had 2 ear infections since thanksgiving. he says mama dada. ocassionally will say baby. and sorry. but i dont know if he's having any problems he babbles most of the time in different pitches and different expressions. like he's having an actual conversation. sometimes it sounds like he's saying "whats this" when examining an object but i think its just me and my husband who understand what hes saying. its so difficult to read to him cus he doesnt sit stil and tries to take the book out of our hands and rip them up.

Tina - posted on 01/23/2009

Thank you everyone for the advice.  We went to the doctor today to have my daughters ears checked (as a follow-up) and she cannot clear the infection.  She has had this same ear infection since 12/15 so she is going to have her hearing tested and to see an ENT.  The doctor said that her speech most likely has been effected due to the amount of fluid that is in her ears. 

Lori - posted on 01/23/2009

IF she had ear infections she may need time to catch up.  I also see a little one in your arms.  Her speech could also be because of the new baby.  The new baby doesn't talk and gets lots of  attention....   The other side with my experience is that both my kids feel attention starved completely different.  My 4 yr old changed her speech when we had our baby.  we had to tell her that it is important for her to help teach the baby how to talk.  That helped her.       On the other side, this happened to my sister, yes 20 plus years ago, but she talked a little like most do and then she stopped.  She wouldn't talk for months my mom was concerned and doctors weren't and then she started singing and talking sentences right around her 2nd birthday.  who knows why. but it was like she wanted to absorb knowledge of how to speak then try it all at once.    Good luck!  It never hurts to ask the doctor I just wouldn't make a special appoinment.

Shanielle - posted on 01/23/2009

I have a 17 month old that isn't talking much either. He talks a lot in his own little language but doesn't act interested in forming "real" words. He has never had problems with ear infections, so I think some kids just start talking later than others. Since your child did start saying words awhile back I think she is probably ok. She seems to have just lost interest lately. I have a friend whose daughter didn't talk until she was 3 and she talks fine now. You should ask your doctor to maybe check her hearing since she has had a lot of ear infections, but I think she is just fine. I know it is hard not to worry though. That's what mom's do!!

Amber - posted on 01/22/2009

I'm not an expert but my 4 year old had many, many ear infections.  So many, in fact, that we had 4 sets of tubes put in his ears.  I don't want to scare you b/c that's pretty rare.  The last set was the T-tube type that will stay in for a few years.  Without the tubes, his ears always had fluid that eventually would get infected.  The ENT specialist told me that my son was probably hearing muffled sounds, kind of like when you have water in your ears.  He was slow to start talking but now we can't keep him quiet.  My only advice is to trust your judgement.  You know your children better than anyone else.  If you think something 'might' be wrong, it never hurts to have your doctor check her out and either have peace of mind or get to the root of the problem (if there is a problem).

Kelli - posted on 01/22/2009

I'm kind of in the same boat.  My son is about to be 18 months and does not say anything other that mama or dada.  He has had a couple of ear infections, but I do not think anything is wrong with his hearing.  I call him or say something to him and he looks at me like he understands.  In your situation of your daughter saying more words and now not being able to, I do think I wouldbring this to the drs attention and have her hearing tested.  Keep me posted because I am concerned with my son as well.

Amy - posted on 01/22/2009

Oh sorry I forgot to add just because you find out there is not a hearing problem there might be a speech problem so keep asking for help even if at first you get the well it is normal if you dont feel she is using words that she should keep pushing to get help and speech testing

Amy - posted on 01/22/2009

If that is what you feel needs to be test I say go for it I dont have experence with speech delay do to hearing problems but I do have to kids with speech delays and I know the sooner you get the help needed the easier it is and the soon it is fixed I started my oldest at about 2.5 years of age in speech and she is doing great and I jsut started my 17 month old in speech and I am already seeing a huge difference in her too I hope for the best and good luck keep us posted please