18 month old behind with speech. Should I start thinking about speech therapy?

[CherubCity]

ds2 is 18 months old and has no real words. In total he probably has four words - "bubu" for bubble, "ba" for bath and "mama" (but not to or for me) and "dada" for daddy. Nothing else and no speech sound movement in ages.
I've been fairly laid back about it, but now am wondering when/if the little man is ever going speak and what else I should be doing to help him (other than labelling everything, which I do)
He's never really babbled and is really a very quiet child.

[Gwenick]

No - don't worry about it - he's saying more than my DS1 did at the same age - 24 months still didn't say much - 25 months - couldn't shut him up!

[Saker]

How is his communication in general? Does he point, can he tell you what he wants without using words? Has he had his hearing checked? I'm not saying there's a problem - I think there are loads of 18m old children who have very few words but if you are worried it might be worth talking to the health visitor.

[CherubCity]

No problem with communication. He points. He understands almost everything. He has even started 'telling' me when he wants his nappy changed by tapping his bottom with his hand or going to get me the nappy bag.

[hercules]

Mine is 16 months and is very quiet. She can do the whole pointing and understanding thing but doesnt have any real words as such - lots of grunts. I am also thinking of getting her seen privately as waiting list is over 2 years on NHS.

[Marina]

I'd agree with Saker, talk to your HV to put your mind at rest. Although dd at this age only has about six words, there is also a lot of speech-like babbling, pointing, "naming" etc, going on. Gwenick is right though, so many children take their time over speech for no particular reason...

[JakB]

Yeah, I'm not an expert but I think he sounds absolutely fine. Check it out with your HV, though, if you're worried honey.

[Gwenick]

absolutely - if he's understanding you and pointing he's just taking him time talking - leave it until he's around 2 before 'doing' anything drastic about it

[Frizbe]

At this age I wouldn't worry, apparently their taking in a new word every 90 seconds (so I was told today!) from 18-24mths, so that's a lot to get your head around! let alone get your tongue around, what with everything else they have to learn as well!!

[smellymelly]

I've never understood why people worry so early. My ds1 didn't speak till he was 2.5, and he doesn't shut up now, he 5.2.

[CherubCity]

I suppose I worry for two reasons - HV thinks he should be talking a bit more by now and also reading about speech development, the lower end of the 'norm' is 6 words by 6 months - I know ds2 hasn't read the books, but I had lost count of the number of words ds1 had at 18 months.

[CherubCity]

er ... 6 words by 18 months that should have read!

[Gwenick]

Cherub my HV tried to tell me my DS should have been speaking more at that age too - and because I was moving recommended I saw my new HV for a 2yr check. She came round about 3 weeks after we'd moved in just to say 'hi' and introduce herself - she stayed 15 minutes chatting - turned round and said to me "what did they say the problem was" - so I told her that 'they' didn't think he was saying enough......."well" she said "he's understood everyword you said when I was hear, has done what he was asked to do and there's absolutely nothing wrong with him............but we'd better do the 2yr check just to make sure the paperwork adds up" LOL - as it happens at 2yrs I couldn't shut him up and he's been fine ever since .

All kids are different - and as it's your 2nd you could find that you have the 'problem' my cousin did. Her youngest didn't really talk until he was nearly 3 - the reason - his brother said everything for him!!! Apparently (don't know how close your 2 are) it's quite common with children 'close' in age (there was 3yrs and 3 months between my cousins) for the older sibling to 'talk' for the younger one - tends to stop once the older one starts school though as they suddenly find they HAVE to talk

[MancMum]

don't worry - my DD is 20 months and still only babbles.. my ds did not talk until he was over 2 and now never shuts up and is advanced in his vocab... ignore the charts and enjoy the peace... once the "why...?" questions start you will wonder why you worried....!!

[CherubCity]

Gwenick - my sons are very close in age - 14 months apart. First has amazing speech, second has none!!!
Thanks for words of advice!

[mishi1977]

hi
i wouldnt worry about speech yet ...my ds is 15mths and says dadda then tries to makes sounds like other words but cant say them...im not worried as if i ask him to get something he will do and if i tell him we are doing something he usually knows what it is....as u say ur ds is pointing and understanding he may just be soo laid back he doesnt want to talk...my is quite physically advanced so will get stuff he wants himself rather than having to ask for it...may be the case with your son

[throckenholt]

mine were the same at 18 months -now at 24 months they are coming up with new words all the time.

[foxinsocks]

Cherub, chances are his speech will develop but I think if you are worried and HV is worried then there's no harm in getting him onto a speech therapist waiting list. I don't know where you are but in London, it can be a very long wait. If his speech develops, you can always call up and cancel your place on the list.

[slightlymad]

My DS was similar to yours at 18 months. No babbling...drooling...trouble with solids etc, very quiet (used "da" for everything)....BUT understood everything - pointed, dragged me to whatever he wanted.
He was referred to speech therapy and placed on the waiting list at 18 months and seen at 23 months where he was classed as severely delayed, then...just before he was 3 - he was diagnosed at the Nuffield in London with severe verbal dyspraxia and oral dyspraxia. He is now almost 5 and after 2 years of daily therapy - still has many, many problems with speech.
If in doubt - get referred! It can't do any harm - and you can always cancel the appointment if he suddenly starts talking up a storm!

[motherinferior]

My DD2 has been worrying me, albeit only slightly as she clearly has no problem with communication per se just hasn't been good at articulating. However, she's just - and I mean JUST, in the past week - started trying out new words. And she's 19 months.

DD1 never shuts up. NEVER.

[Cristina7]

CherubCity - how's your son's hearing? Even small degress of hearing loss, due for example to glue ear, can delay speech at this age. Thankfully, they catch up. Has his hearing been assessed? If it's a small hearing loss it would be more difficult to detect because he would generally appear to be very aware of enviornmental sounds, speech sounds etc. Can he understand you if you talk behind him, quietly, without lipreading? (Apologies if going over the top with this, my son is profoundly deaf but we didn't realised till he was 8 months old, he was doing everything fine.)