15 mo not speaking

[weeblueberry]

I've read the thread below about the OPs 16 month old not speaking but hoped you could help me too.

15moDD doesn't say anything consistently. She will say dadadadada and it's sometimes directed at daddy but often not. She babbles to herself as she plays and her comprehension is fine. If you ask her a simple task she'll do it. Or if you ask her to point to something she can. It's just the speech that seems behind.

Googling (which I know I shouldn't do!!) is bringing up mixed results. Admittedly a lot are American where they're saying their paediatrician got involved and referred to a speech therapist at this age but I'm not sure if it's worth contacting the health visitor and getting her assessed?

We're doing everything I've read about like talking in full sentences and asking her questions. Not giving in when she grunts at something is harder because it turns into a full blown tantrum quite quickly!

[Coughle]

15 months? Wouldn't worry at all. Mine is about the same age, older DC was speaking in sentences by now, this one just babbles but he's ahead in other things. They all develop in their own time. I'd worry if there's no change at 2 years. Until then enjoy your baby

[Jellyandjam]

I agree. She is babbling and showing understanding so I wouldn't worry at the moment.
Some are talking in full sentences by now others just babbling, it's all Kemal at this stage.
Just keep an eye on how she develops over the next year.
Also I wouldn't push her to the point of a tantrum- rather just repeat the word back to her e.g. If it's a cup she wants say something like - is it thus cup you want? Here is the cup. Etc.
Hope that helps.

[Jellyandjam]

No idea what Kemal is!!! Should say normal!!

[weeblueberry]

Thank you both :)

When I mentioned it getting to tantrum stage that can sometimes involve not instantly giving her what she wants

[MB34]

At 15 months I wouldn't worry. My DS is 21 months and only in the last month or so has he really been copying words we say. At 15 months I think he was only saying daddy and maybe one other word. He's still not calling me mum/mummy - he says the word but not to/at me ??

[mytitiferssungtheirsong]

Sounds completely normal. My dd 22 months is not yet speaking. If I googled and read all the threads on MN I would panic that there is something wrong but I don't. She is happy, babbles, plays, recognises things in books, points at things etc. Just because she isn't having long conversations at the age of almost two doesn't actually mean there is anything wrong. Wish people would relax about stuff like that, children develop at different rates.

When dnephew was 3.5 you could hardly understand a word he said! He is now five and doing really well at school, reads, writes and in top sets!

Most of the time it all equals out in the end :)

[LittleBearPad]

Sounds completely normal. Dd didn't 'chat' much at the age. Now 2.3 and will not shut up for a moment. .

[adrianna22]

She sounds normal :). Though you are at the best stage to help your daughter along the way. I always mention this speech therapist, but please go on the site www.teachmetalk.com, she also has her own radio programme (podcasts) on iTunes, over 200 explaining parents worried regarding communication.

She has loads of tips and I mean LOADS regarding how to work on communication skills, tackle sensory needs and speech. Her site is the only site that explains how to work on your kids and explains in great detail.

I wish I discovered it when DS was at your child's age.

[Gurraun]

Totally normal. Ds1 was babbling etc at this age but no words. It felt like all my friends' kids were far advanced. At some point before 2 (can't remember when) he started talking and literally hasn't shut up since. He's speech was always very clear and at 4.5 his vocabulary is huge.

[LegoCaltrops]

Don't worry. DD was pretty much non verbal until about 16-17 months, she would occasionally say agga (all gone) or dee (dog) but that was it. At 18 months she started talking, by 22 months her vocabulary was massive & could read numbers & by 2 years could read the alphabet (& no we didn't coach her, she got it from alphablocks/numtums/Mr Pusskins bloody numbers which she brought to us constantly).

An early start at talking doesn't necessarily mean anything, neither does a slightly late start. I was an very early reader, I got very average A levels.

[weeblueberry]

Thank you all for your reassurance. I'll have a look at the link adrianna

[adrianna22]

www.teachmetotalk.com, sorry I missed out the "to".

[chocisonabikinidiet]

At that age I would not worry about lack of words. More important is understanding (can she follow simple instructions) & communication (e.g. is she pointing at things, bringing you things to show you)

[adrianna22]

chocisonbikinidiet is so right! Understanding and communication is far more important than talking.

There are loads of kids who can talk, but can't communicate or understand language beyond their speaking ability.

[EssexMummy123]

I was worried to, dd babbled and had one word just before 16 months. She was fine!!! and now talks constantly :-) she didn't really point either and i worked myself up into knots about that as well.

I did buy a dvd from amazon called 'learn to talk' by a speech and language therapist, it has lots of good reviews if you want to take a look www.amazon.co.uk/Oxbridge-Baby-Learn-Talk-DVD/dp/B000W3LKTU?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[tobysmum77]

as I said on the thread. ... I was getting a bit a bit worried about dd1 at about this age as she had no words. She is an April birthday so latish in the year and got exceeding for speech at the end of reception. By 20m strangers were commenting on her speech.

Seriously, babies just do stuff in different orders. At that age she found climbing far more exciting. .....

[summersoft]

Enjoy the cute baby babbling. It's gorgeous and doesn't last forever.