What age do babies normally start talking?

[StarlightMcKenzie]

DS has ASD and didn't really say anything meaningful until 4ish.

DD could talk from around when she was born in my memory (okay not that early, but early).

DS is almost 16 months and we have no words though lots of sounds.

I realise there could be a variety of reasons, but wondering if one of them could be his class 4 upper lip tie.

Any ideas?

tia

First words usually emerge between 12 and 18 months, but there is a big variation on normal development. No recognisable words at 16 months is not particularly out of the ordinary but 10 words by 18 months is the current thinking in terms of milestones.

Is your DS able to make a range of different sounds in his babble?

I wouldn't have expected his lip tie to be having an impact, but I would be happy to be corrected if other people have personal experience of this. A tongue tie can affect the production of certain sounds but I don't think the lip tie is so significant.

Bit like asking how long is a piece of string really because there is such a huge range of what is normal (which you already know!) Anywhere from 12 months to 26 months is 'average' for odd words.

My DS1 could have full conversations in well constructed sentences from about 20 months.

DS2 had odd words from 17 months but no real conversation until 2

DS3 could talk from birth I think! (Seriously putting 4 and 5 word sentences together by 14 months)

DS4 never said a word until 2.3 and then started speaking in paragraphs by 2.5.

DS5 is 21 months and has about 60-70 words but none of which are very clear but didn't have any at 16 months.

None of my children have ASD or any special needs but all have been massively different from each other.

Is your DS pointing, waving? Does he seem to understand what you say, for example if you ask him where the lights are or where's his teddy or drink etc? If so then I'd say he's doing fine. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Ds2 is 17mo and he only has a few recognisable words (mama, hi, more, yes) but clearly understands an awful lot more - for example can follow instructions such as give that ball to ds1 and if asked a question eg 'do you want a yoghurt' indicates yes or no very clearly so I'm not concerned and I'm sure the words will come in due course.

Ds1 was v similar only a handful of words until he turned 2 when there was a sudden explosion of vocab.

So in my v limited personal experience no words at 16mo sounds within normal range. Is he showing understanding and interaction in other ways?

I'm sure as the mother of a child with ASD you know all the red flags to look out for in terms of his non verbal communication such as the protodeclarative pointing and showing/sharing etc. You also have a bright and articulate DD and you're right that her development is not representative of the average either. It's difficult because the average is so vast.
My DD1 was an exceptionally early speaker and my DS1 was early side of average so when DD2 didn't have any single words until 16mths I started to worry but they slowly came on especially from about 20mths. I guess she was the later side of average but like you, I only had my older two to compare her too.
I'm sure you know as well that anecdotally, children with an ASD sibling have a higher chance of having a speech delay (that later resolves itself). So you're right to keep an eye on it but at 16mths I wouldn't worry too much as long as the non-verbal is developing fine. If no single words by 19/20mths then I'd put his name down for speech therapy as he'll be at least 2.5 and probably never shutting up by the time his appointment comes through!

About 18 months in the case of our 2.

Thanks all. He hasn't got autism. His understanding is fine. His voice is fine and he can even sing in tune-ish.

I'm not sure he as the range of sounds he should but I might just get his hearing checked as his older siblings have both had grommets repeatedly, as did I as a child.