Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

DS is 18 months and not talking. Babbles a ton and makes lots of sounds (buzzes like a bee, makes the sound for his cars, etc) He says mamama and dadadada but not necessarily for us. I believe he says "this" and "that". Also a-da ("all done" I think) Shakes his head no and claps for yes. He signs for more and all done. He understands EVERYTHING! Can point to just about every body part, points out people & objects when asked. Follows directions, etc. I am going to bring him for his 18 month appt early next month (it's a little late) Do you think they will tell me to have him evaluated? I feel like he won't qualify for EI. I really feel he is just going to be a late talker. Also, if your DS was evaluated, what type of testing do they do on a child of this age. TIA! I am just starting to get a little concerned.

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

My 18 month old was just evaluated last week. He has NO words and won't point out objects. He didn't qualify. For us they basically had one evaluator playing with him and watching what he could and couldn't do with the toys and the other tried to get him to point things out in a book and line up toys and have him pick up the car or ball...stuff like that.

From what you explained there is no way he will qualify IMO. Can't hurt to have it done though...it's free.

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

Thank you for the response. I really wonder if gender has anything to do with it. I swear, almost every child I hear that is "delayed" is a boy. SO many friends of mine have had sons who really started talking around 2 yrs. old.

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

They say it really is true...that boys generally talk later than girls. I know he'll come around eventaully...hopefully sooner than later. I just want to hear 1 word...anything at all. at this point it could be sh*t for all I care...lol. J/K

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

DD#1 did not really say more than Mama and Dada until she was 2. I never really thought anything was truly wrong. This was 8 years ago and to be honest, EI was not as popular then and certainly was not anything I had ever heard of. At 2 she just started speaking in sentences and now is in the top of the class

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

i the child understands directions etc, and has oneor two words, no chance of qualifying for EI. my dd understands everything, but has no words and she'll be 2 in a couple of weeks. she showed a delay at 18 months but not enough to get services. we're getting her evaled again right after she turns 2 since she still has no words and we hope they will approve something now.

my son didn't speak until he was 3, and had EI for a long long time. but he had medical issues which allowed us to get the services alot earlier than normal. so we know speech delays run in the family.

i wouldn't bother with the eval now, wait until 2, and see what happens. the 2 year testing is much harder than the 18 months test, which makes a difference in terms of qualifying.

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

Thank you for the replies everyone!

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

If your DS says ANY word or approximation of words he probably will not qualify. He has to be 2 level lower than what he should be in order to qualify. So at 18 months he would have to have the level of a 6 months child to qualify. That's what EI told me at the time.

The fact that he understands what you say has nothing to do whether he qualifies or not.

DS understood me, followed "command" from me. Yet he qualified. But he had lost words and he was not trying to imitate sounds.

It really depends!

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

this sounds exactly like my son. he doesn't have any words but babbles like crazy.

when i went for his 15 month appt the ped asked what words he spoke. when i said none, he said we will have him evaluated if he doesn't have any still by 18 months. so i guess that'll be my next step if he still isn't talking.

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

You will see an enormous change from 18 mts to his 2nd bday - this does not sound like a concern to me at all!!!

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

I say call for an evaluation. The worst that can happen is that he doesn't qualify. It's so interesting to hear the responses that say if they are saying a few words that they won't qualify.

I had DD evaluated at around 17 months and she had like 3 or 4 words and she did qualify. I wonder if it's because I live in NJ where you pay the state for EI, and not in NY where it's free.

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

my kid didn't say real words until he was about 2....

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

It is interesting to read these posts - my DS is being evaluated tomorrow - he is 20 months and says about 15 words. He imitates animal sounds, understands everything and babbles a bunch. However, compared to my niece who is almost 2 months younger, he does not speak alot at all. I have a feeling he won't qualify, but he is still going to be evaluated. My friend is a speech pathologist and she said there is no way that he is going to qualify.

Re: Speech eval at 18 months? Looking for feedback

I agree with the posts that say that he will not qualify. I'm no specialist but it actually sounds like he is doing pretty well! It never hurts to at least ask the pediatrician's opinion, though.