Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Original poster

16 month old boy, does not speak

26 replies

Ladyopheliastar · 05/06/2012 22:19

I know that children develop at different rates, but my ds has not said a word yet. When should I be worried?

OP posts:
EverybodysSleepyEyed · 05/06/2012 22:23

At 19m DH and I were convinced there was something wrong with DD - at 23m we can't shut her up. She can even sing the national anthem (recognisable - not word perfect obviously!)

Is he physically doing well?

Original poster
Ladyopheliastar · 05/06/2012 22:24

He has no problems that I am aware of and is walking fine.

OP posts:
EverybodysSleepyEyed · 05/06/2012 22:28

Well he is probably just focussing on that. I think he is fine at 16m.

Does he make animal noises/make a noise for you (if not mama) or such like?

DD walked early, talked late. DS talked early, walked late. They do develop so differently

CrystalQueen · 05/06/2012 22:30

My DD barely babbled at 2 yrs. At 27 months she had a word explosion.

Original poster
Ladyopheliastar · 05/06/2012 22:31

He will make some animal sounds, occassionally, if you shoow him the animal. he doesn't have a sound for me or his dad...

OP posts:
Julezboo · 05/06/2012 22:31

I have a 16 month old boy the same. I posted about it last week. We have been referred for speech therapy after a few failed hearing tests and possible glue ear Sad

Does your ds babble? Any of the cute baby talk when he was much younger? We haven't had any of that. Our ds is very silent. Though he can cry.

EverybodysSleepyEyed · 05/06/2012 22:32

well they count as words!

It is about understanding at this age - how he responds to you asking him things etc

He is still very little and as Crystal says - they go from 0-100 in a matter of days!

Original poster
Ladyopheliastar · 05/06/2012 22:32

He babbles ALL the time!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ladyopheliastar · 05/06/2012 22:33

He points at things and makes a noise to indicate he wants them, usually 'Ah'

OP posts:
Original poster
Ladyopheliastar · 05/06/2012 22:34

He makes the Uh oh noise when he drops something...

OP posts:
EverybodysSleepyEyed · 05/06/2012 22:35

Don't worry then!

Julez - good luck. my cousin had glue ear and was the same. after she had the op she just flew

EverybodysSleepyEyed · 05/06/2012 22:35

You see - now you're thinking about it he actually has a few words!

slacklucy · 05/06/2012 22:35

His communication sounds great, words will come but if you have concerns discuss with your HV

Original poster
Ladyopheliastar · 05/06/2012 22:36

Maybe I need to ask him more questions? I think I don't do that so much because I know he won't answer.

OP posts:
AfishhCalledElvira · 05/06/2012 22:36

Please don't worry....they all develop so differently. Both of mine were late talkers and Pre-school always wanted them assessed by speech therapy but sure enough age 3.5 both of them chat for England now! (even at 3 it was hard to understand either one of them!)

Mine both developed late at 3.5...weird as I can talk the hind legs off a donkey.

Too much is made of all this targets and tick boxes stuff.

naturalbaby · 05/06/2012 22:37

My 16month old isn't really talking but is just starting to say a couple of things like 'cup' and 'dadoo' for DH. He babbles a lot - it's like he's having a full on conversation without any words.
I met a child who was 3 and not talking, then suddenly started talking in almost complete sentences.

AfishhCalledElvira · 05/06/2012 22:38

I should mention...both of mine had borderline hearing which has now improved by itself. I don't think repeated ear infections help.

naturalbaby · 05/06/2012 22:39

The biggest thing I've noticed with mine is I hardly talked to ds1 as a baby but ds2 and ds3 have been talked to a huge amount and are making a lot more effort to talk back. It doesn't matter that my 16month old isn't talking, I pretend he is and have a conversation with him and his noises make more sense.

Beamur · 05/06/2012 22:44

If he is babbling and has no hearing problems, I'm not sure I would worry too much. Babies understand far more than they verbalise for a while and then often let rip with lots and lots of words.
I also know of children who have spoke little and then suddenly have actually very good language skills.
Keep talking to your son and allow him to babble back to you, or even answer yourself, so he gets the idea that communication has an ebb and flow - respond too to any non verbal clues he is giving you (you are probably doing that already)

kid · 05/06/2012 22:48

My DD had delayed speech and was referred to a speech therapist when she was 2 1/2. She could say several words but her pronounciation was poor.
My nephew had speech disorder, he was unable to make certain sounds.

Me and my sister were advised to offer our DC a choice when we asked them something, like 'do you want juice or milk?'

I do think 16 months old is a little early to start worrying but as a mum, its only natural to worry.

My DD is 13 now and has no problems with her talking, maybe she talks just a little bit too much, especially when she is arguing with her brother Grin

Julezboo · 05/06/2012 22:57

Does he do things if you ask? I'm not too panicky yet ds will got get his shoes if I ask him n points to things he wants or takes me to kitchen by my hand when he's hungry. He walked at just under 9 months and it now practising climbing for Wales! He seems to understanfmd what we say to him. Just won't say anything back!

pinkyp · 05/06/2012 23:01

My 16 month old was the same, he's 18 months now and try's to say lots of words (about 20)

Original poster
Ladyopheliastar · 06/06/2012 22:03

Thanks for all the responses, it's reassuring to hear from your experiences Thanks

OP posts:
skybluepearl · 06/06/2012 22:39

At about 2 years everything goes crazy and the language develops in huge leaps and bounds

skybluepearl · 06/06/2012 22:42

I have a theory that they concentrate on one thing at a time. Yours is much more co-ordinated and can walk. He also gets his needs met through pointing. My 16 month old has a number of words but no intention of being really mobile! Swings and round a bouts!