No speech at 16mths

[Boobybeau]

I'm trying not to compare her to others but it is starting to concern me now that dd still has no speech at all. She has met all her other milestones early or on average, is really social and communicates really well using makaton (which we use as dc1 has SN's and has no speech at 5yrs old) she uses about 30 signs and she babbles and points at things that she is telling us about in her own little way. Her understanding is incredible IMO, she can follow instructions and will help me with little jobs etc, she copies well and will copy sounds such as 'da da da' or 'ba ba ba' but won't attempt words at all. She sometimes says things that sound like words but then never repeats them.

Other then her speech I have no concerns about her development at all as she isn't following any of the patterns that dc1 showed at this age but should I be concerned? Tia.

[NumNumChristmasPudInMyTum]

Perhaps she feels she can communicate what she wants easily and you understand and so she hasn't felt the need yet? I vaguely remember reading somewhere, and I'm sorry I can't remember where to back it up, something about there being a slight delay in children who use makaton - they are not as frustrated or something. I'll have to google now, I'll see if I can find it.

[Boobybeau]

Ah thank you, we have wondered if the makaton is slowing the speech down as she can communicate effectively but then all the makaton trainers have always been adamant that it doesn't delay speech. I might do a bit of googling about it but if you do have a link handy that would be really helpful.

[ceeveebee]

16 mo is still very young. I have twins - My DD barely said a couple of words at that age, now she speaks in 3-4 word sentences at 2.1. My DS on the other hand still only has about 10 words but can count to 10 and back down again. I know kids who spoke in full sentences at 15 mo and others who didn't speak until 3.
I think I'd leave it another 3-6 months before getting concerned
Also I am sure I read that signing can result in speech delays as can communicate in other ways?

[ceeveebee]

Xpost!

[MrsBungle]

My ds is 19 m

[MrsBungle]

Bloody hell!
My ds is 19 months And 3 m

[MrsBungle]

Aaa argh!
3 months ago he really couldn't say anything. We've noticed over the past 2 months he's now saying loads of words. It seems to have come on all of a sudden.

[lilyaldrin]

Are they supposed to have speech at 16 months?

[McWeedie]

I have 16 month old twins and their vocabulary consists of 'we be we be, go go go go, gerdy gerdy gerdy ger and various other noises I can't spell. DD points, can follow instructions and likes to help me. DS just does his own thing which is generally creating havoc. I think you just can't compare babies, they crawl, walk, speak etc when they are ready. My two are completely different. Personally I wouldn't be worried.

[NumNumChristmasPudInMyTum]

Well this suggests in fact it should help not hinder, I may be misremembering what I read! linky

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

My DS is 17 months and sounds the sames as your DC (minus the makaton). He won't stop babbling but makes no clear words. I think he thinks he's talking.

[NumNumChristmasPudInMyTum]

I agree though, I don't think you should worry. Dd was very chatty at that age - well garbling a lot anyway, but other children I knew, not so much but they were running about whereas she was sat on her bum, very slow to walk and run. You can't tell now which was which.

[Boobybeau]

Thanks for the link NumNum that's what I've always been told. I've just done a primative google and I haven't found anything that suggests it would be hindering her.

Like your ds AnnoyedByAlfieBear, she babbles away in 'sentences' and is telling us something like she thinks she is talking, complete with hand gestures and head tilts but just not actual words.

Thanks everyone for your imput.

[Vijac]

I agree, I wouldn't start to worry for another 3-4 months. Speak can come very quickly from nowhere

[3bunnies]

Ds barely babbled at 18 months but at 4 you can't stop him. She is clearly able to learn words if she uses Makaton appropriately and she can make vocalisations so I wouldn't worry for a few more months.

[sunnyfriday]

I think that she has good understanding and is communicating well is fantastic. I am sure the speech will come. at 16 months undetstanding and communicating are far more important than speech.

and keep up the makaton. it facilitates (NOT hinders) speech and language development.

she sounds lovely :-)

[SaidTheSloth]

Just supporting what others have posted about signing being a help to language/communication development. It does not slow the emergence of words.

[Boobybeau]

Thank you everyone, you've all been really helpful. We will continue with makaton, she loves learning new signs and we need to use it for dc1 anyway. I have a feeling she is going to be a 'why?' kinda child so guess I should make the most of it