Speech Development at 14 Months

[SS1990]

My little boy is 14 months Old almost 15. He can't say any words at all just yet. I keep getting emails of clubs I joined when pregnant saying where he should be right now saying he should be able to say several words so far. He likes a dummy which I try to take off him when he doesnt need it. On his 12 month review the midwife said he should be babbling more. How old was your little one when they said their first word? Sorry if it seems a little over the top but just wanted other mothers opinions if this is something I should worry about?

[albertcampionscat]

Is he trying to communicate? Pointing, bringing you things, waving? Does he understand it when you talk to him?

DS had no words at all until he was 17 months and at 3 and a half is now a talky little thing, so it's not necessarily something to worry about but it might be an idea to look into a hearing test.

[ByJoveItsAGoodUn]

Our 14 month old has no words, but he is making lots if different sounds and is pointing and usyally communicating wrll. He understands what we say too (within reason!). He's just started walking so I'm not worried at all yet.

[Shadowboy]

My daughter was 9 months old. By 15months she had about 80 words BUT her physical development was behind some of the NCT babies- she was clumsy, struggled to walk more than slowly when others were running around. She's two now and has many many sentences and FINALLY started running. I think some focus on speech and others on mobility.

[TeaBelle]

Dd was 18/19/months when she could say maybe 2 or 3 words. She said mummy at 21 months and now she is very nearly 2 she is starting to put 2/3 words together. It really does just click overnight. However as previous posters have suggested, dd is more physically confident that some of her peers - she wasn't that early to walk but was immediately very steady and confident, going straight to jumping, balancing and running

Dd didn't ever have a dummy either

[Batteriesallgone]

I have a nearly two year old with only one word. I feel your pain. Have had a couple of chats with HVs about it. If you suspect a hearing problem it's worth getting that checked ASAP because AFAIK they like to know / plan intervention early with hearing.

If you think his hearing is ok, how is his general communication? Does he point at what he wants, bring you things, enjoy reading books together?

Both HVs said to me that they look at communication as a whole bundle, so not just speech but everything else, following instructions, pointing, playing with teddies etc until 2.5 / 3. If your child has got to 3yr old without words, then they would do a SALT (speech and language therapist) referral. Apparently it is relatively common for children to have very limited speech up to the age of about 2 and then very quickly get words and start making sentences because the understanding was already there, so for a lot of those children an early referral would be unnecessary pressure.

Only what I was told in my area though so do see a HV if you're worried.

[SS1990]

Thanks Guys, im feeling a little bit better about it now. It has put my mind at ease to know its not just me. I think its just everything I have read online worrying me about something that isnt yet a problem & HV saying he should be more vocal. He does point to things and understands no (sometimes :) ) . He developed quickly physically such as crawling and walking so he seems good on that front. Thanks so much for all of your advice.

[waitingforsomething]

DS is exactly the same age. He says 'Da' for a lot of things, 'car' ocassionally and has just started saying something that sounds a bit like mama. sort of. That is it. He makes quite a lot of noises and has good understanding, communicates by walking over to something or pointing or passing something to me to open/put on.
I'm not worried at all - understanding comes first. DD didn't say much at all till 15 months and by 19 months could talk in short sentences, and by 2 ahead of her peers for talking.
DS was also slow to crawl/walk and I'm still not worried - they're all different!