Moms of DCs with speech delay! Come in!

I'm not sure when to be concerned... I also recognize that this could all just be premature concerns...

DS is 10 months old and 95% of the time does not open his mouth to make sounds. He just hums and squeals with his mouth shut. When he was 6 months old he made the "mama" sound...but that's it. And I RARELY hear that from him. He'll go through a few days where he'll say it all the time, and then he won't say it for another month. The only open mouthed sound he makes is a yell...like "eeehhhh" and he does it really loud, and for a long time. But there are no ba, da, na, etc sounds coming from him. I asked my ped about it at our last appointment, about 6 weeks ago, and he said not to worry about it. That he will look for "ma" and/or "da" words and for him to understand what it means at 12 months. That's only 2 months away and I just don't see it happening!!

If your DC has/had a speech delay, did it start out like this?
Can I be proactive about it? I've looked online at the Baby Babble DVD's...or even Baby Can Read... do these things work? I'm ok with having a delay, but if I can start to act on it now, I'd like to.

TIA!

Re: Moms of DCs with speech delay! Come in!

I dont think you should be concerned yet, 10 months is very young for speech.

Its good that hes making noises, that is the early part of forming sounds/words.

My DD is 15 months and says a couple only a couple of words - hi, eye, dada, dog,

She still does not say mama, she has only recently started forming words, before that was lots of babbling and noise making.

Only in the past 2-3 months has she correlating the question of "Wheres Mama" to looking at me.

Seriously dont worry, hes a baby. Youll see how they kind of "explode" and all of a sudden will speak a couple words etc..

Re: Moms of DCs with speech delay! Come in!

DS has a speech delay and started therapy at 21 months. He started out just fine, lots of babbling, and a couple words around a year. Then, no progress for almost an entire year. He opened his mouth to make sounds, but I don't know that this (closing mouth) needs to be a concern for you though. Keeping his mouth closed while making noises might just be DSs way of speaking for now.

Talk to your pediatrician, but at 10 months, babbling is generally all that is expected. I wouldn't bother with Your Baby Can Read or anything like that honestly--I doubt it will hurt, but you can save a lot of money and use books instead. It may be better for DC to see you and others speaking to him so he gets the idea that he can open his mouth to make sounds. The best ways to encourage speech are to label things constantly, talk to DS a lot, and name things while you are out. Read books with him and point out objects. He'll pick things up over time.

Re: Moms of DCs with speech delay! Come in!

Re: Moms of DCs with speech delay! Come in!

Thanks for the feedback.... I figured my concern was a little early... but I am going to pick up one of those DVD's...can't hurt!

Re: Moms of DCs with speech delay! Come in!

My daughter is just 10 months and only started babbling in the past few weeks. I was extremely concerned, even had EI come out and evaluate her. She didn't qualify and they (and my ped) said not to be concerned and to call back in 6 months if still no babbling by then.

But, all of a sudden, it was like a light switch turned on. I came home from work one day and started hearing rarara, bababa, mamam, etc. She still has quiet phases, where she'll go hours and hours and not make a sound...but then she turns it on again.

I think it is too soon to be really concerned, and it is so true that babies do things in their own time.

Re: Moms of DCs with speech delay! Come in!

Re: Moms of DCs with speech delay! Come in!

I was in the same position as you.
DS wasnt babbling at all at 10months. He started babbling at about 14-15 months and was VERY limited. I had him evaluated 2x's prior to age 2. they wouldnt give him services because he was cognitively so advanced.

Finally after his 2nd bday and some begging, I got him services. He is now 2yrs 3months. he went from not saying a word to basically naming everything he sees in the last few weeks.

His speech therapist is great but I truly feel that he was just ready. It was like all this time he was just taking it all in.

Its very hard...trust me i know! When u have friends w kids the same age babbling/talking. You are going to worry. But honestly as long as DC "understands" things and whats going on I would just say give it some time


Good luck!!

Re: Moms of DCs with speech delay! Come in!

Posted by katiec618

Posted by KellyNYC

My daughter is just 10 months and only started babbling in the past few weeks. I was extremely concerned, even had EI come out and evaluate her. She didn't qualify and they (and my ped) said not to be concerned and to call back in 6 months if still no babbling by then.

But, all of a sudden, it was like a light switch turned on. I came home from work one day and started hearing rarara, bababa, mamam, etc. She still has quiet phases, where she'll go hours and hours and not make a sound...but then she turns it on again.

I think it is too soon to be really concerned, and it is so true that babies do things in their own time.

So glad I'm not alone!! Everyone talks about how their babies carry on "conversations" with them and I don't get that with DS! He is just such a quiet kid and doesn't make a whole lot of noise

Glad to hear that your DD is "talking"
I'm crossing my fingers for some conversations of our own soon!

Message edited 4/20/2010 11:47:37 AM.