https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:13:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-588111 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:01:10 +0000 Sweet T 588111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Grace: oh my goodness! I didn't even think about that. I'm always trying to guess what he wants too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-588069 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:41:57 +0000 Grace 588069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sweet T: A friend of mine when through this recently. Her and her son went to speech therapy and now he talks all the time. Really, don't worry. Even if he's delayed, he can catch up. I do remember one thing she said was that she had to be really patient with him and try not to guess what he was going to say. But rather to wait until he said it. It was hard for her because her son is like his father - very methodical and thinks things through, whereas she talks and thinks a mile a minute! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-588057 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:36:15 +0000 Sweet T 588057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SAHM0811: Thanks for the tips! We already read to him a lot and sing a lot. I'll have to be better about labeling and describing though.</p> <p>@mrbee: Thanks! I didn't remember that post. I'll definitely check it out.</p> <p>@sarac: I was surprised to hear that mama &amp; daddy don't count. DS also knows the signs for milk, more, &amp; all done but his pediatrician said those don't count either.</p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Thanks! I was hoping you'd weigh in. :)</p> <p>@BoogieBea: It's great to hear that your LO improved so much! I'm hoping it's just a natural delay and nothing to worry about.</p> <p>@808love: That's nice to know! Right now, I think we'll at least have him evaluated and go from there. It can't hurt.</p> <p>@irene: My LO doesn't always listen when we tell him things either (come here, give me that, etc.). I think he understands but just doesn't want to do what we say. I understand how frustrating it is, I just don't have any advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-586290 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:51:40 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 586290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hear about this a lot. My parents say I didn't talk until I was three. I just sat there and listened; I didn't need to talk. And then one day I just started talking like, well, a 3 year old. I'm fine :) LOL </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-586273 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:48:31 +0000 irene 586273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>shoot now you get me worried.</p> <p>LO is almost 13 months now and I don't think he really understands me. He behaves like my cat... like if we tell him to come he wouldn't. we tell him to pass the ball he won't. I am not sure if he understood and disobeys or he just flatly doesn't understand.</p> <p>He also doesn't have any real word according to me. He babbles a lot but I don't think he actually said anything that he does mean. </p> <p>Our ped kept saying because we are bilingual there is nothing to worry about but he does need his first words and understands us by 15 months. Ai yai yai.</p> <p>I am trying not to worry because I do believe all people eventually speaks but it is hard when we are always mapped onto a chart of what are you supposed to do when. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-586089 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:53:54 +0000 808love 586089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>HI is pretty big on early intervention because they have lots of resources and programs that help. So though he will likely grow out of it, why not use the great resources if it is available and he qualifies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585978 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:04:38 +0000 heffalump 585978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doctor asked for 5-7 words at her 18 month apt..... if that helps at all. </p> <p>My LO has actually been slow on all of her milestones except speech. She didn't walk until 17 months. So I know how if feels when they're not right up there. But a few months later she's always caught up. She just likes to do things on her own time :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585936 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:37:09 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 585936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO just turned 20 months and we have similar concerns. He has about 15 words, I'd say. Understands everything but just doesn't have much expressive language yet. I think I may pursue some EI around 2 if I still think he'll benefit. Unfortunately our state sucks, so we may just go straight to private therapy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585836 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:41:36 +0000 BoogieBea 585836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our son was very similar to your son. Very few words at 18 months and then even at his 2 year well check. He understood everything we were saying to him though. So shortly after turning 2 we had him evaluated. He's also slightly tongue tied so we thought it might be because of that. Turns out it wasn't.<br /> He did qualify for early intervention so we did that for a year. By the time he was 2.5 years old, his speech improved a lot. So he just had a natural speech delay.<br /> I'm glad we did EI though. They gave us the same tips as @SAHM0811 suggested. Narrating everything you do really helped give him words for all the actions. EI is also free for children under 3 so it really doesn't hurt if the concern is still their in 6 months.<br /> He's 3.5 now. He's learning a second language at school and doing really well with that even though he didn't speak until way over 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585822 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:18:48 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 585822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It never hurts to have an eval, but it sounds like your LO is doing ok! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585642 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:52:28 +0000 sarac 585642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Uh, wow. 7-20 words I can see, although I think not counting mommy and daddy is a bit much. But two word sentences? My daughter started making those at about 13 months, and I knew she was crazy advanced. The average for 2 word sentences is closer to 2 years, and I think it's a bit alarmist to require them by 18 months or else refer to speech therapy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585641 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:52:21 +0000 threeplusme 585641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sons did not talk until after 2. They probably were the same as your son at 18 months. They understood most everything we said and did use some sign language but did not use many words. They pointed and gestured to communicate. Even at 2 they were not saying tons but soon after their speech took off. They are now 33 months old and their language increases everyday. It's actually pretty amazing now how quickly they pick up new words, time to really start watching what I say. ;)</p> <p> My pedi was never really concerned. I was a little but figured I'd give it to 2 and they just seemed to take a little longer. It doesn't hurt to have an evaluation if that would give you peace of mind but I wouldn't worry too much which I know is easier said than done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585610 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:34:07 +0000 mrbee 585610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a great DVD on speech delay... Mrs Hide &amp; Seek recommended the site:</p> <p><a href="http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/07/15/discover-the-best-approach-proven-to-teach-your-toddler-to-talk/" rel="nofollow">http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/07/15/discover-the-best-approach-proven-to-teach-your-toddler-to-talk/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585595 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:29:22 +0000 brownie 585595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son didn't have many words either. He could communicate with us by both sign and his few words. Ultimately his words meant more than one thing. No one has ever been concerned. One thing we did at 18 months is started him in preschool so he was around other kids who spoke. This ultimately backfired as the preschool kids don't seem to talk. BUT it is a preschool with a speech therapist and she comes in and works with all of the kids. She says my 22 month old isn't behind at all. He just started saying 2 word phrases after the latest wonder week.</p> <p>Taking the opportunity to evaluate it won't hurt anything. Then you can know for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585549 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:17:16 +0000 MamaBehr 585549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SWEET T I don't know how long he was in therapy for, but I know they worked with him on sign language and he had started before he was two.... I don't think he goes anymore, So maybe a year? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585534 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:12:33 +0000 Sweet T 585534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: I really didn't think it was worrisome since he was ahead on all other milestones. Honestly, I think it's unrealistic to think he'll say much more in the next two weeks. I'm thinking he'll be closer to two as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585528 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:10:49 +0000 SAHM0811 585528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My eldest had a speech delay. My ped wanted us to wait til she was 2 yo to do anything about it, but I knew at 15-18 months that she was a bit behind. We got her evaluated with Early Intervention at around 19 - 20 months. The therapists who did her eval told me that she did have a speech delay, but it wasn't enough for state services at the time (because of decreased funding, it was just very difficult to qualify). So we eventually sent her to private speech therapy. When she was 2.5 yo, I had her re-evaluated with the state and she qualified. </p> <p>Advice that was given to me when we first started noticing things...</p> <p>Label everything and talk to your child constantly. Explain everything you are doing and describe everything he is playing with. Sing songs with him. Read lots of books... Play games with him that involve taking turns (teaches them the pattern of taking turns like in conversation).</p> <p>I did all those things though, and she still had a speech delay... So it's not necessarily that those things will combat or prevent it, but they may help. It runs in my family though... I come from a long line of late talkers! </p> <p>Try not to worry... It's a good thing your ped is being proactive about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585525 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:10:08 +0000 Sweet T 585525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumn865: We're in HI. I'm not positive, but I think the military will provide early intervention or speech therapy if we need it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585510 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:06:11 +0000 Sweet T 585510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: He definitely understands and reacts to us. The pediatrician wants to talk about early intervention at our next appointment. We haven't had any concerns up until now.</p> <p>@MamaBehr: Thanks! It's nice to hear of others with late talkers. Trying not to worry here! Do you know how long your friend's son needed speech therapy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585502 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:04:33 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 585502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sweet T: DD is 13 months and sounds like your son. I honestly expect that she won't talk until she's two, just because she has no desire to talk. She's ahead on everything else so I'm not worried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585500 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:04:02 +0000 autumn865 585500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know what state you live in but NJ has early intervention where children can be evaluated and if needed receive services to help them (speech etc.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585498 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:03:13 +0000 MamaBehr 585498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a friend whose son was very quiet. He did end up going to speech therapy, but now at almost four he talks very normally. However, when I saw quiet I mean, probably no words by 18 months..... So I wouldn't worry :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585495 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:02:23 +0000 Mrs. Bee 585495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>if he understands what you say, then he is probably ok. i know so many late talkers that had no words at 18 months. you can always pursue early intervention, but since he has some words and understands what you say, unless there are any other things you are concerned about, he might just be a bit of a late talker. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585475 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:58:23 +0000 Sweet T 585475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsRcCar: I've heard this from a few other people too. I hope that's the case for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585322 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:31:30 +0000 MrsRcCar 585322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother didn't really talk before age 2. He just wanted perfect is words before saying them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-delay#post-585309 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:29:46 +0000 Sweet T 585309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone dealt with speech delays?</p> <p>DS will be 18 months old in a week and a half. We went to the doctor yesterday for a follow up sick visit and I asked about DS's speech. He babbles constantly but only says a handful of words. Previously, we were told that sign language counts but his new pediatrician disagrees. He also said mama &amp; daddy don't count. That gives us a grand total of 5 words...if that. The doctors wants DS to have 7-20 words with two 2-word combinations by his 18 month appt (in two weeks!). I'm just sad and worried. DS was ahead on all of his other milestones so I wasn't really prepared for this. I could really use some advice. </p>