How much does your 18mo talk, is this "normal"?

[lizzywig]

Just that really. DD says Dada, hiya, that, bear, bee & she has sporadically said other words never to be said again, she also occasionally says Mama. She has a very clear understanding of everything we ask her to do, e.g. Can you bring me your red stacking cup or can you put your incy wincy spider book away please. She knows what things mean and does them. She also questions what lots of things are by saying "that" & pointing. She also points at her shoes & coat etc and says "that" when we say it's time to go out, we knod and tell her she's right & she goes and gets then.

It seems normal to me but as she doesn't seem to be progressing I'm becoming slightly concerned for two reasons. Her peers in nursery all say lots of words, the other day one was singing jingle bells word perfect! I know they all develop differently so that alone wouldn't concern me. However DH has partial hearing in one hear and when DD had her hearing tested at birth they couldn't get an accurate reading. Every time she has been back she's had a cold and so she's always been too blocked up for them get an accurate reading and so is still under their care as such. Our next appointment is at the beginning of June and I'm concerned they'll interpret her lack of words as problems with her hearing. I'm fairly sure that her hearing is fine, she can hear us if we whisper from behind her and understands everything.

I suppose what i wanted to hear is that her development is perfectly normal and hear about other peoples experiences.

[kelda]

Sounds normal to me.

But if you are concerned about her hearing, you can ask to get it checked.

[lizzywig]

Apologies for any typos, I'm on my phone.

[MatchsticksForMyEyes]

DS didn't say much more than that til DD went to school when he was 2.5 (and he could get a word in edgeways!)

[kritur]

My DD has lots of words but honestly she is the one who isn't 'normal' compared to her little friends. They all have far fewer words but are totally normal. I didn't talk at all until I was 2.5, just pointed. It wasn't a problem, I now have a PhD in chemistry and am a university lecturer...

It's good they are keeping monitoring for hearing x

[DIYandEatCake]

I think my dd was similar at that age, and most of her words were completely made up (only I could understand her). I remember writing a 'dictionary' for dp once! Does she do animal sounds or anything as well? It's good her hearing is being monitored, at least they should pick up any problems sooner or later if there are any.
My dd is 2.2 now and still behind many of her peers but her speech is getting better, she had a sudden spurt just before 2 where she gained lots of new words and improved the pronunciation of some of her own.

[babySophieRose]

My DD is 18 months and says mama, dada, bye dady,am-am ( hungry), hi, who 's there, what's that, go, out, nose, eye, some other simple words i can not recall now and a lot of babbling. She doesn't shut up, but not many words too. She also likes singing. I think they will start talking when their times come. She also understands most of what is told to her and will bring you anything you asked her to.

[SkiBumMum]

Sounds normal. My DD1 was speaking in sentences by 19m. DD2 is saying about the same as yours at the same age. DD1 now 4 has a fascination for words and language (& has had bad glue ear and grommets). She's not fussed by numbers, puzzles etc. I was a bit worried about dd2's speech but I am pretty sure she just can't be bothered as her sister is always talking and interprets every grunt or squeak for her. Who needs to talk?! I think comprehension is almost more important at this stage.

[lizzywig]

Thank you, you've all reassured me. It can be difficult sometimes seeing her peers with such vast vocabs and knowing that DH has partial hearing loss in one ear. The other side of me is hugely confident that she can hear well and thinks the other half of me is nuts!

She doesn't do animal noises as such but does growl!! For example if we're reading a book and it gets to the bit where there is a growl she will do a massive growl. In the same book for example she can point to the bear and say "bear" so she can comprehend what things are. Perhaps it's because I'm non stop chattering she can't get a word in edge-ways!

She is constantly babbling which must be a good sign too so I will try to relax and go with the flow. I think I'll also ask a lot more questions at her next hearing appointment. It's in 2 weeks so I hope she's over her latest cold by then!

[lizabeth0607]

I wouldn't worry at all, children develop at different rates, my 18 month old Daughter is a non stop babbler, every so often she throws in a 'don't know', 'no ta', 'mommy look' or an it's 'all gone'

Btw babbling is a sign of intelligence

[ladythatlunches]

They are all so different. My twin girls are 17 months one you can have a conversation with the other sais the odd word but understands.

Just goes to show they have the same routine etc and are just different. Dont worry.

[Fantail]

My DD was about the same - Dada, eye, ear and that was it at 18 months. I was worried as so many of my friends' children were much more advanced.

She had, like your DD, could understand and communicate very well.

Fast forward 6 months, and she was using sentences, uses words like performance, delicious and perfect and knows lots of songs. I needn't have worried but it is very hard not to.