My son is 18 months old and he still doesn't talk that much. He says single workds here and there

Jill - posted on 08/17/2010

I really think boys take a little longer so try not to worry too much. My son didn't say much until he was 27 months and let me tell you, once he started talking he didn't stop. He is almost 5 now and his vocabulary amazes us every single day.

Cheryl - posted on 08/16/2010

Some good advice and input here already.. so I am just adding my 2 cents!! Boys are generally 2 or older before they talk much, maybe just single words.. girls are more verbal, boys more physical. Like Vicky, I had 3 boys and my firstborn said a few words here and there, til around 2 and then all of a sudden he started speaking in complete sentences.. my other 2 were around 2 yrs old more or less also.. Not to worry.. He will start talking and then there is no stopping them!!

I also made it a habit to read to them regularly to stimulate the desire to read and say words, and when he got excited about seeing a truck or train or dog, I would stop there and repeat the word to help him say it.. really helps.. his first word was truck..no worries, enjoy!

Michelle - posted on 12/21/2009

Most ( maybe even all) states have birth to three early intervention programs- free and state sponsored. In my state it is called First Steps. If you are concerned, you can request an evaluation and a trained professional comes to you house to assess the child. If is is determined that additional services are warrented then a therapist in the area needed would come to do their own eval. I would request that a speech therapist do the initial eval since that is the area you are concerned with. You do not need a physician referral for this.

Sharla - posted on 12/21/2009

I would just like to say that putting your son in daycare is not the only thing and it being a boy thing isn't it either. My son was in a daycare and he was delayed in his speech. My oldest son was in daycare and he talked as much and as soon as girls do. I also have a daughter. You really need to get his hearing checked and have some speech play done. They don't do therapy until they are 2 almost 3. They work with the child and you on encougeing them to talk and the thing we learned is to praise him for any sound he may try and make for things. You might try teaching him basic sign language like please, more, eat, and drink are ones we started with. After about 5 days our son started talking more and his worker said to keep it up. My son no longer uses sign language anymore. You can get books and videos at the library.

Sharon - posted on 12/21/2009

I don't think you need to be alarmed right now. My son started saying more words once he reached 2. He's only 2 1/2 now, but doing much better. I'll tell you that 6 months may seem like a long time, but it will just sneak up on you before you know it. I would probaby wait until he's 2 before doing all the testing. Good Luck!!!

Tina - posted on 12/21/2009

Michelle,

don't worry, it will happen. How ever, try making sure to talk to him constantly and don't ask yes or no things make him respond or say what he wants. Just tell him I don't understand tell mommy. Be patient and gentle it will happen. A lot of adult conversation will also help in this area.

Effie - posted on 12/21/2009

It is a bit too soon to worry... unless you hane put him already in daycare. I agree that yoy should check his hearing. I discovered recently that my son haw a small hearing problem too and that is why he doesn't speak as fluently as he should. Dont worry its not that serious! Just have him checked.

Desiree - posted on 12/21/2009

I'm in the same situation actually. Now his pediatrician is only giving him 6 months to start saying sentences or we're going to speech therapy. It's frustrating as a mom because he is so smart and everyday he's saying more and more, but I don't think he will be where the doctor wants him to be!

Alicia - posted on 12/20/2009

My 22 month old son is only just starting to string together random words, with only a few semi-coherent sentences ("Please Mummy Daddy a bit"). Boys are much slower than girls at speech development. I would only be very concerned if he reaches 2 1/2 - 3 yrs of age and still isn't developing. Being around older children helps with the speech development too.... my son improved markedly when he went into an older day care group.

Sharla - posted on 12/19/2009

Is your doctor concerned about it? My son wasn't saying much either he went from 20 words to 2 words he also wasn't walking yet. Our doctor was concerned and sent us to a place where they evaluate your child and see where they are developmentally the also can check their hearing. Our son had failed the hearing test in his left ear and the right one wasn't very good. We saw an ENT and he put tubes in both his ears and the agency started working with my son and soon he started talking again. Now he is just alittle behind in his speech but is almost cought up to his peers.

Michelle - posted on 12/19/2009

thanks for all the help. i will look into some of the things with his dr if he still doesn't talk by his next appointment

Vicki - posted on 12/19/2009

I have 3 boys. My first and third spoke very early, but my middle son didn't say much for the first 2 years. He sat back and looked around to take in his surroundings. When he started speaking, it was in complete sentences. He is 13 now. He still thinks before he speaks and it sometimes takes a while for him to say what he wants to say. He has ADD and he processes information slowly, so it takes him longer to get a thought out, but his grades are great and he is very smart. Keep talking and reading to your son and encourage him to repeat things that you see or things that you give him. Most of all, trust yourself. If you think something is wrong, have him checked by his doctor.

Julie - posted on 12/19/2009

My daughter started talking very early as well, which is why I was worried about my son when he wasn't talking at 2 years old. He will be 3 years old in January and he started talking like a month ago. We had our son tested at about 27 months and he was fine, but they did teach us techniques on how to encourage him to talk. If your son can follow direction and can understand what you are saying to him, I wouldn't worry, that is what our MD said.

Deb - posted on 12/19/2009

if it does not feel right, trust your mother's instinct. i did the same with my daughter at age 2; she had fluid in her ears that was preventing her from hearing clearly, which led to the belated speech

Amy - posted on 12/19/2009

Everyone has good points. Check with a doctor about his hearing. If you notice he stops using words all together (looses what vocab he does have) you might want to consider having him screened for autism. My little boy didn't talk much either compared to his older sister. Everyone told me he'd grow out of it, but I knew something was up. He was diagnosed about 5 months ago and has been in speech therapy since then. He's doing great and now expresses in words. Good luck with your little guy.

Rachael - posted on 12/18/2009

get advise from a doctor make sure all is in order......

but wouldn't worry to much about it,, it will come and when it does you will probably not get him to be quiet.

Sharon - posted on 12/18/2009

michelle the mom of albert einstien had the same problem- years were spent taking him to doctors only to have him diagonized as"mentally retarted", evenually he started to talk on his own- years later his mom asked him "albert why didn't you talk in all that time ? " he answered " because i didn't have anything worth saying" -

Mariaan - posted on 12/17/2009

I experienced the same with my middle son, now 15. He only started talking at age 3, but I could see that he understood what we said. He is doing absolutely fine and performs well academically. Keep the conversation going. Good luck.

Maggie - posted on 12/17/2009

as a general rule they say boys talk later than girls. However EVERY kid is different. As long as he's saying some words and seems to understand what you say then he's doing just fine. Keep talking to him and he'll catch on when he's ready!

Micah - posted on 12/17/2009

yes its just a boy thing !! my son didnt talk till 2 and a half

Gail - posted on 12/17/2009

I agree with Valerie Hess...for some reason many boys seem to be sometime slower to speak, I knew a young boy around your childs age that didn't even say Mama or Papa but the day he decided to start speaking you couldn't get him to stop...lol Don't worry about it every child is different. You may want to give him hand sings to express his needs such as doing the milking cow movement with his hands to ask for milk, you have to do it as well when you give him milk and say the word MILK at the same time, that way you give him tools to communicate and its fun to make up your own personnal signs to understand each other, also, its kind of bonding for you and him as it s only somthing that mommy and child understand.....give it a try it worked wonders for me...hope this helps.

Brandy - posted on 12/16/2009

honey Boys take longer I have three boys and one girl and my girl did everything way earlier then my boys so give it time if he is not talking by 2 then talk with your dr. he might need speech therpy. GOOD LUCK !

Sue - posted on 12/16/2009

Put him around kids his own age who are good talkers...my daughter was three before she could say a four word sentence...and then we put her in child care and within six weeks had added at least 50 words to her vocabulary...when you talk to him too, don't baby talk, use real words and explain and show. For example, hold a carrot and say "Look, an orange carrot", have him hold it and repeat the same words "Look, an orange carrot" and tell him to say it and praise any word or utterance he gives....

Donna - posted on 12/16/2009

My daughter was 2 before she started talking i had her ears checked and she had fluid in behind her ear drums so they got that cleared up and then she started talking within about 2 to 3 weeks she was talking in sentences. So if you are worried about him not talking then have his hearting checked. and that will tell you things are okay or not okay. okay?

Jessica - posted on 12/16/2009

I have been in the same situation with my youngest son, who is now 10 years old. He would say little words but nothing major. His hearing was good and I decided to take my own initiative and do further investigating, being a parent. My son started speech therapy when he was 2 1/2 and by the time he was 3 1/2, he was talking full sentences and all! If, you think it's his hearing, have him tested but take initiative and do some research. Where I live we have a special place where the kids can go have their speech therapy done. They come to your house and once or twice a week, you go to the center. Good luck!

Donielle - posted on 12/16/2009

I was in your shoes with both of my boys. If you are really concerned you can have early intervention test him for a speech delay, ask your pediatrician.

User - posted on 12/16/2009

boys seem to take longer but dont be worried just yet, my friends daughter wasn't talking at 2 and she wasnt referred for speech therapy untill she was 31/2 when she started talking anyway!

Cristina - posted on 12/15/2009

Boys generally develop speech a little slower than girls, theres nothing to worry about. All you can do is keep having as much conversations as you can with him, read to him, and when he reaches out for something he wants, 'say' what he wants (i.e "ball? you want your ball?"

Valerie - posted on 12/15/2009

if you are worried aboutt speech have the doctor check his hearing...tmake sure first that there is not a hearing impairment...read to your child...sing songs...sometimes it is just other areas developing first