Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

My DS is just about 14months old and is still not talking and of course I'm starting to get worried. My wonderful friend who is a Speech Therapist came over and showed me a few things I could do to get him to communicate.
The only think he says is Uh-huh when you ask him a question.
If I ask him if he is hungry, he would reply "Uh Huh"
He points or reaches for things he wants, but I make him say something before I give it to him. Any sound will do! He usually gets frustrated and crys at first, but then he calms down and usually says Uh-huh. He doesn't even say mama or Dada though I have heard those sounds many times. He does babble though.
I read to him everyday and try to talk to him as much as possible.
I'm going to disgust this with my Ped at his 15months appt, and see if maybe he needs to be evaluated.
Just wondering if anyone has any advice, or is dealing with this also. There is way too much info out there these days, and I'm constantly analyzing him and worrying something is wrong.

Message edited 5/2/2010 1:19:40 AM.

Re: Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

My DS is 16 months and isn't really talking yet. He says Cat and Bye, he doesn't say "MaMa" or "DaDa"

First, just to ease your mind, our PED is not concerned. It is common for boys to talk later, DS is a laid back observant type kid and he understands everything. There is much more to language development than just verbalization.

We did have him evaluated at 12 months but it was for major motor, he was scooting instead of crawling and would cry as if in pain when we put him on his knees.

When we had him evaluated they came back saying he was at the level of a 5 mo old for communication. This blew me away because I never even considered he had a speech/communication issue.

When we started getting services our therapist was surprised that DS qualified and she feels he had an off day or didn't feel like performing for the evaluators. His only "issue" is verbalization. Even though he isn't speaking, he engages with people, he mimics, and uses appropriate play for his age.

I have also always read to him and have used some sign language with him, when we started therapy he could sign "all done" and would shake his head "no"

Our therapist says to always keep communication fun for him. Try to get him to use sign language or sounds when he wants something, but don't let him become too frustrated. If he associates language with stress it could delay him further.

When DS was learning the sign "more" we would use bubbles and ask him if he wanted more. He would usually grunt, after a few times of us asking him he'd start to get frustrated so we would take his hands sign "more" and say it and then do the bubbles. After a week or so he started doing it on his own. He isn't always consistent, but he is getting more so. He is also starting to string together signs, like "more eat" or "more play"

He used to only say "bye" to me or my DH, now he will say it to anyone who is leaving or even when we are watching cars on the street, when they are out of sight he says "bye" and waves.

He is still very quiet, it is just his personality, but in the past 6 weeks, he has become much more vocal in play. He will make car noises when playing with his cars, when he sees someone take a drink he says "ahhh" (apparently he learned this from watching me, I say "ahh" after taking a sip of water ) he will even pretend he is drinking, he'll pick up a stacking cup, "drink" from it and say "ahh"

I don't think it would hurt to have your DS evaluated, but I also wouldn't worry too much. Some kids just take it all in for a while and then when they speak they start in full sentences

Re: Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

DD#1 did not talk much at all until she was more like 2. No intervention, she was fine, just a late talker.


She is now 9 and a straight A student

Message edited 5/2/2010 8:03:09 AM.

Re: Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

Cailen started saying words consistently at 15 mts. By 20 mts he said a few more - by his 2nd bday he was speaking full sentences. I always say - if they are communicating, then all is good.

Re: Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

DS will be 15 months in 2 weeks and doesn't say a thing. He babbles, but to make noise, not to communicate. He doesn't even say uh-huh. He points though, and shares his food and toys, his receptive language (understanding) is excellent. If I tell him to do something, or to get something, he knows what I'm saying and will do the appropriate thing. But he just doesn't talk to anyone or say any actual words. I am not worried now. My ped would like him to be evaluated at 15 months. I will do so, though I'm not sure he'll qualify, but at the very least I'm sure I'll get some good tips to maybe kick start some talking. I'm choosing not to officially start worrying until 18 months if he doesn't have at least one word, that's all I want by then, at least one word.

Re: Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

At 15 months, DS said mama, daddy, uh oh, doggie and more (muh). He understood a lot more than what he could say. Our pediatrician said DS was right on track. He wants to see at least 5 words by 18 months. He said the real word explosion may not happen until 18-24 months.

Re: Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

Try not to stress it. My son is a little behind on the speech front, although at 2.5 it's becoming less and less noticeable. At 13.5 months he said his first word - Car - and only said that until around 15 months. Now he is speaking full sentences! I know it's easier said than done but try not to stress it too much. Especially since he is a boy!

Re: Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

Thanks Everyone! I was trying to get him to say either Ball or Book today. He was reapting the Ba Ba Ba sound but not the word.
I will wait till his next doctor Appt and ask her advice.

Re: Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

DD is 15 month.

She "talks" all day long, but it's really only babbling still.

She has some words that she says. Some are definately recognizable: "hi", "cat" & "eye" (she points to her eye and says "eye")

She does say "bye, bye" But it sounds like "di, di" I know she's saying bye bye, because she does it when she is waving goodbye to someone.

She also says "all done" but it sounds like "duh, duh" and I know she is saying it because if I ask her if she is done eating, she throws her hands over her head and says "duh, duh" and takes her bib off.

She does say mama and dada, but not in the proper context, so I don't count those as words.

ETA: I think you DC is fine and most likely does not need to be evaluated at 15 months.

Message edited 5/2/2010 9:58:16 AM.

Re: Does anyone have a DC who is over a year and doesn't talk yet?

My DD is the same age and really doesn't say much either. She only really says tickle, tickle , mama, dada, cat (every animal is a cat to her though! ), no, and maybe down -- we aren't sure yet. I was starting to get worried when my friend told me her son can say 20 words at the same age, but i know DD understands what I say, and is very socially aware. She thinks alot and evaluates everything around her, so she doesn't want to talk. I think if they are 2 and still not talking, then we should be worried. But until then, they are fine.