Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

I posted this concern the other day, but just can't shake it. My DD is just over 6 months and doesn't babble at all. For a time she'd "talk" back here and there when we'd sing or read to her, and mimic some of our sounds, but for the past few weeks she's been pretty silent...an occasional laugh or grunt if we really work hard to get it out of her.

Is it too soon to look into EI? I've talked to the Ped and he says to just keep an eye on it.

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

You know her best. If you really think there is cause for concern, it doesn't hurt to call, but she might be meeting other milestones at this point that you aren't aware of that are taking up that speech part of her brain. Babies often stop babbling when they're meeting other milestones. My mom is a speech and language pathologist and confirmed this when I asked her. Does she respond to her name? Look around for you when she hears your voice, etc? If she's unresponsive in any way or form, then I'd look into it, but other than that, it sounds fairly normal to me

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

BabBle usually starts at 6-9months from what I know. My son started to babble ma ma, dada, at 7 months.

He then dropped it. Its a develomental stage, babble is not true talking, just a reflex all babies have.

I doubt I would be concerned and no wouldnt think of EI till much later.

My son was evaluated by EI at 19 months for his speech delay. He had no babbling ( true language babbling ) at that time.

Try not to worry, although thats a silly saying and hard to do as a mom

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

my good friend has a daughter who was born on jan 4 09. on christmas eve she JUST started to babble. i wouldn't worry about it, but if it'll put your mind at ease, a phone call wouldn't hurt.

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

Posted by dm24angel

BabBle usually starts at 6-9months from what I know. My son started to babble ma ma, dada, at 7 months.

He then dropped it. Its a develomental stage, babble is not true talking, just a reflex all babies have.

I doubt I would be concerned and no wouldnt think of EI till much later.

My son was evaluated by EI at 19 months for his speech delay. He had no babbling ( true language babbling ) at that time.

Try not to worry, although thats a silly saying and hard to do as a mom

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

Posted by prncsslehcar

You know her best. If you really think there is cause for concern, it doesn't hurt to call, but she might be meeting other milestones at this point that you aren't aware of that are taking up that speech part of her brain. Babies often stop babbling when they're meeting other milestones. My mom is a speech and language pathologist and confirmed this when I asked her. Does she respond to her name? Look around for you when she hears your voice, etc? If she's unresponsive in any way or form, then I'd look into it, but other than that, it sounds fairly normal to me

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

IMO 7 months is kind of early.
DS is in OT but it all came about because of his torticollus and because of his reflux they wanted and OT eval. She noticed he had low muscle tone and a flat tongue so they've been working on that with him.
I would probably wait until at least a year before worrying.

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

I started panicking around that time too. Alexa didn't make a PEEP until about 8.5 months.... NOTHING.... ZILCH.... NADA.....

I saw so many babies babbling and cooing and she never said a work. Around 8.5-9 months the babbling started......

SHe's not a big babbler but when she's excited she starts "talking" She says "MOM" its so funny cause I always refer myself as mama and she calls me MOM and she says Dada.... and then her own gibberish.....

I'd give it a little more time.....

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

I wouldn't be too concerned. Some kids just aren't babblers. Have you asked your pediatrician?

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

it's never too early for an EI evaluation. in fact most children are being evaluated earlier then 1 year.

maybe this will sound bitter, but i listened to my drs and waited until DS was 15 months to be evaluated even though at 4-5 months i knew something was not right (granted its different) but if you feel strongly about it, it doesnt hurt.

my DD is 5.5 months old and she is doing everything (at least i think) she is supposed to and in January we are having her evaluated by EI.

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

Posted by KellyNYC

Posted by prncsslehcar

You know her best. If you really think there is cause for concern, it doesn't hurt to call, but she might be meeting other milestones at this point that you aren't aware of that are taking up that speech part of her brain. Babies often stop babbling when they're meeting other milestones. My mom is a speech and language pathologist and confirmed this when I asked her. Does she respond to her name? Look around for you when she hears your voice, etc? If she's unresponsive in any way or form, then I'd look into it, but other than that, it sounds fairly normal to me

Yes, she's very responsive...looks at us when we call her, smiles back, lots of eye contact, great interactive play, etc. It just seems she's clammed up all of a sudden. She did just get two teeth, and she's about to crawl any day now. I hope you're right about other milestones taking the place of things.

Thanks!!

Message edited 12/30/2009 11:18:34 AM.

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

honestly, as an SLP, you can always request the eval but it is highly unlikely that she will qualify at that age without a developmental disability. she would probably need to also have a feeding/motor issue and/or lack early social skills.

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

Posted by Lillykat

Posted by KellyNYC

Posted by prncsslehcar

You know her best. If you really think there is cause for concern, it doesn't hurt to call, but she might be meeting other milestones at this point that you aren't aware of that are taking up that speech part of her brain. Babies often stop babbling when they're meeting other milestones. My mom is a speech and language pathologist and confirmed this when I asked her. Does she respond to her name? Look around for you when she hears your voice, etc? If she's unresponsive in any way or form, then I'd look into it, but other than that, it sounds fairly normal to me

Yes, she's very responsive...looks at us when we call her, smiles back, lots of eye contact, great interactive play, etc. It just seems she's clammed up all of a sudden. She did just get two teeth, and she's about to crawl any day now. I hope you're right about other milestones taking the place of things.

Thanks!!

Well I can tell you that DD#2 was HUGE talker - she would do all the ahs, i's, ahhhgoos, cooing etc then about a month ago she clammed up. I get some sounds - but very little. On Christmas day I got 5 Mama's - I don't know what to make of them - b.c they were only said with her arms up and looking at me - no one else. She has since done it 4 more times over the past few days but again only to me - not my DH, my mom, her sister or my father who were also in the room. She is making some sounds - but honestly I have no idea what they are b.c she has her thumb or her fist in her mouth at all times b.c she is teething (she has 2 teeth in and I think getting more.

She is however very responsive, responds to her name, sounds etc. Laughs at the appropriate times, smiles a lot, and makes excellent eye contact. I was concerned b.c DD#1 was babbaling away with mama, dada, baba, gaga etc indiscriminately by 6 months.

I spoke with my ped however and he said as long as the above was going on it wasn't a concern. BTW she is also starting to crawl a bit and is VERY intent on pulling to standing and cruising around her toys.

My ped told me he wasn't concerned at all - based on the above b.c he said it isn't unusual for a child to "forget" other things when they are learning a new milestone. I would talk to your ped again next month if she is still not making sounds but if she is crawling probably all her energy is going to that.

DD turned 7 months on the 23rd

Re: Is 7 months too early for EI (speech related)?

Posted by KellyNYC

This is exactly my DD to a T (minus the "mama," which must be so exciting!). I'm trying not to be too concerned either. I might call for an eval just to ease my mind but I do think she's focusing on other things...i.e. crawling, putting anything and everything in her mouth and grabbing at everything she can get her hands on.

It's so hard not to dwell on every little thing they "should" be doing and trying not compare to other babies. And this is only the beginning! AHHHH.

Thanks everybody for your responses!