speech

Louise - posted on 02/01/2011

my son is born 19 aug, he barely speaks at all. i get the odd meow noise, cat mom pop bye and night night and thats it i worry if he is behind.

Jessica - posted on 02/01/2011

Wow some people are extreme when it comes to talking lol...Once a child learns something (how to say a certain word, how to clap, etc.) he/she masters it and then stops because they want to learn something else. So basically lets just say he learns how to say "HI", he'll say it for a while you'll clap and make a huge deal over it and he'll get excited but after a while he gets bored with that word so he stops saying it thinking I already know how to do that so he moves on and wants to learn another word. Babies develop just fine without being pushed, My daughter would say stuff and then about 2 weeks later stop, but after learning another word she then started putting them together making sentences. If you make a big deal about it then he wont want to do it. If he grunts and points at his cup then just say oh you want your cup. You can't just say use your words, you have to show him to use them, if he points at something then just say what it is and give it to him. My daughter is 17 months and talks a lot but if she grunts about wanting something and she can't say what it is I just tell her what it is so she can learn without being pressured to or demanded to do it...Plus at this age they are trying to figure out what they have control over and what they don't, they know they have control over talking and what they say so just let him...it's not hurting anyone.

Julie - posted on 01/28/2011

what do your children sayÉÉÉÉÉÉ my daughter says some words like.... ball, barney... do (for dora), may (for water or milk cuz that is the arabic word for water)..... she says mama.. papi ..... ma budi (which means i dont want .... in arabic) she also says tutti (her sisterès nickname).... she says no.... nan (for food).... she also says uh-oh (when teletubbies say it ) hehe..... she also says toys.... and she understands everything.. if i tell her to get something she gets it..... she also says situ (arabic word for grandmother) gidu (arabic word for grandfather) ... gigi (her cousinès nick name), kakou (her other cousin;s nickname.....she also says hi and bye andshe waves when she knows that we are leaving.... and she says tish (which is a word meaning she wants to go for a ride ) hehehehehe..... sometimes i think she is a lot older than she is.... my older daughter who is now 6 spoke about at the same age.....

Ruchira - posted on 01/27/2011

My son too refuses to talk..he does say a few words like Mamma papa dada bye hi ..but thats totally on his mood!! and he has started screaming if he doesnt get his things by pointing:( he is 15 months old.plz suggest how i can make him talk further

Sandi - posted on 01/18/2011

At this age, he should be able to say between 5 and 10 words. If he has the ability and refuses, I wouldn't worry and try some of the other moms suggestions. If he doesn't have them I would consider a speech therapy evaluation through your insurance or early intervention. My oldest has a severe speech disorder that started innocently as a very well behaved and quiet toddler.

Diane - posted on 01/18/2011

Act like you don't understand the grunting and/or don't give him what he is asking for until he says the words (tell him, "say cup" etc) and then give lots of praise when he does use his words. ("good job using your words" "I really appreciate it when you use your words" etc)

Heather - posted on 01/18/2011

My 17 month old is the same way he knows what u are talking about and He used to talk but now just whines we try and try to get him to say something and he just gets more upset I have read about this so I am not to concerned they say it just means ur child is more interested in everything else they say to just keep talking to him and teaching him and when he is ready he will just start I would also mention it to ur Dr so they know but my Dr says he will when he is ready hope this helps

Haylee - posted on 01/17/2011

i was getting a bit worried too when my son wasn't talking much, hes only just started to say mum last week and hes 17.5 months, and has learnt to say a few more words over the xmas holidays. just takes time i guess with some kids. just try not to give in when they grunt, say the word over and over every time. if he wanted something i would pick him up to let him point to what he wanted then kept saying to him what it was before i gave it.

Rainy - posted on 01/16/2011

My little one is 16 1/2 months and she is pretty much the same way. We are doing sign lanuguage as well and since she has started signing she is babbling so much more and you can catch her saying other words that she doesn't even sign. lol... She is now signing 22 words and it has helped with the grunting and whinning. Give it a try. It isn't going to hurt them. It helps with frustration on theirs and your part. She, for the first time, patted me and called me mom mom the other night. :) I asked her where her mom was and that is what she did. MInd you she says mum and dad and several other words but she has never patted me and said mom. :) Good luck!

Nichole - posted on 01/16/2011

I started my son out young with sign language. I used to work at a daycare and learned that when kids can't say what they want, they get very frustrated. Even if they can say words, but don't think they can communicate it very well, they'll get frustrated. And the sign language I learned from the day-care.

We started Kaleb out signing things like "more", "please", "Thank-you" and eventually he started signing and saying the words. Sometimes he'll just sign or say the words. Most of the time I get both out of him.

He's almost 17 months old and I get a lot of grunting and whining out of him also. If he is just waking up or extremely tired I'll give in and give him whatever he points to. (Just because I know his father and I don't like to be messed with when we're in those moods either, so I don't force then. It turns into a screaming match.)

Maybe teaching him how to sign what he wants will get him to atleast communicate with you somehow. Then eventually when he's ready again he'll start using his words.

Its just a phase he's going through. I know its very frustrating, believe me. Kaleb went through that a couple months ago. But give him time, and a little extra help, he'll come around again.

Connie - posted on 01/14/2011

My son is 17 months and started doing the same exact thing. We are working with a program called Early intervention, and what his teacher recommends is before you give him something he points to say what it is, if he doesn't repeat just say it again and give it to him, he says he will eventually repeat it. My son also "lost words", he used to say Mama, Dada, Mom-Mom, Pop-Pop etc and just stopped out of the blue. They werent concerned, and sure enough now (just a month later) he is starting to say those words again. Just keep talking to him, and try to remind yourself there is nothing wrong with him, or you, it is perfectly normal! Just be pateint.

Hannah - posted on 01/13/2011

my daughter loves to watch and interact with her baby einstein DVD's, that is what got her to start talking a lot more so maybe that would help him get excited about talking?

Joy - posted on 01/12/2011

My daughter does a lot of grunting and pointing too. However, she will also surprise us with words that she's starting to learn (this morning when I asked if she wanted the butterfly shirt or the stripped shirt, it sounds a -lot- like 'bu-fi' when she pointed to the butterfly shirt.) She also will latch onto a word or two as favorites for awhile. Right now its 'uh-oh.' When she grunts and whines for things we hold a conversation with her like suggested by several people above to encourage her to understand words. Somewhere I read that its ok if at this age they aren't using words and to be amazed at what they can communicate without their use.

Kristy - posted on 01/12/2011

When he grunts and whines I would tell him to use his words. When he is asking for something- don't give it to him until he says what it is- if he knows the words. When Daisy whines I just act like I don't know what she wants until she tells me with words. I say I don't understand- you have to tell me what you want- and usually she will.

Gloria - posted on 01/12/2011

My 16 month old Mateo, doesn't talk either all he does is grunt and point out to things. Don't worry b/c my middle son who is 4 years old now was the same way. Just out of the blue he started talking. Don't worry he'll start talking when he is ready.

Christine - posted on 01/12/2011

If he grabs it and walks away put it just out of his reach. Sometimes you have to shape the environment so they have to use their speech. Also works for toys, put them in a clear plastic bin so they can see it but have to ask you for them.

Christine - posted on 01/12/2011

If your son can get what he wants by grunting or whining then he doesn't need to talk. Its a lot easier to look or point at an object and grunt then it is to ask for it, esp. if that method is already working for him. Even though you know what he wants you have to model it for him, he may not imitate your speech at first but he'll get that hint. If he wants milk hold up his milk cup and say "milk" (adding the sign to it is also great option- you can't physical make them say a word but you can hand over hand have them sign for it). Wait a couple of seconds then say "milk" again. The first couple of times you do this you can just give it to him then (standing there and saying it 20 times waiting for him to repeat it is just going to frustrate you both). After a couple of times modeling it and he doesn't respond then start saying sorry I don't understand what "uh-uh" is and walk away. Yeah he'll scream but he'll get the point I have to speak or sign to get what I want. Also start with highly desired items first (food is usually a good start) and use your husband or someone visiting as a model. Talk to them like you are your son and have them answer as you want your son to so he sees what you want from him. And accept any speech or approximation of the sign in the beginning if he makes an attempt at a speech sound like /m/ for milk or even moves his mouth like your accept it then build it closer and closer to milk from there.

Paula - posted on 01/08/2011

i tried that with my son, but it doesn't work. hr grabs what he wants and walks away. ideas?

Paula - posted on 01/08/2011

he does occasionally get to be around kids that talk, but he is primarily around people who talk (adults). he is 16 months old and was talking up a storm with small words. ( mama, dad, papa, nana, dog, more eat, etc) at 14 months. all of a sudden he quit, even though he is spoken to quite a bit. instead he chooses to grunt or whine.

Rachael - posted on 01/08/2011

don't answer him unless he talks. my son likes to whine alot too and so if he's whining for something i know he knows how to say i just tell him that he needs to use his words and then i will get it for him.

Sheila - posted on 01/08/2011

Does he get to be around other children whom are talking? Maybe that will encurage him to speak. How old is he? Try small words, cat, dog or using them with the actual animals. See if that gets him excited.