19 month old NOT TALKING?!

[MissMia84]

Evening all,

So my DS is 19 months and not talking. He'll say mumma and daddy, but nothing else. He understands commands such as "Give it to mummy" or "lie down" or "naughty" or "up up up" (at bedtime) or "help mummy" (tidy up tous) or "give it to Phoebe" (giving our cat treats). However, he is making no attempt to speak whatsoever! We use apps on the iPad to encourage talking but everything is just DADDY!

Should I be worried?
Do boys generally talk later than girls?
When did your son start talking?
Any tips on what I can do to encourage him to talk?

Thank you :)

My DS did not say one single word until he was 26 months. I was really becoming quite worried and was on the verge of seeking out speech therapy when the words started coming. He's 33 months now and on a par with all his peers, even ahead of some. I tell you this just to say that I've been in the same position as you and all was well.

There's nothing wrong with iPads. My three year old has learned a tremendous amount from one (numbers, the alphabet, colours, etc). All supplemented by play and actual talking with people of course.

My 18mo DD isn't saying a great deal, mum, dad, DS' name......and Peppa (too much Peppa on the TV maybe! )
She babbles loads though, and picks up a toy phone and waffles into it so I'm not worried. I think my DS (now 4) had more words by now but I honestly can't remember.
If there's lots of pointing and attempts to interact, even if the word is wrong, I wouldn't be too concerned, but a call to the HV or a doctor visit wouldn't do any harm if you are worried. They'll be able to see him in real life, which we can't, and put your mind at ease.

I'm so glad I read this thread. my 18 month old only says no and shoe and I was getting worried.

My other DC could say loads by 18 months. she could even count to 3. I know I shouldn't compare them, but I can't help it.

Curiousgeorgie I know your daughter is hypermobile isn't she? Does she have any difficulty with chewing food? Just they can be linked and then a speech therapist can help with oral motor exercises.

Actually it's my 4 year old who has hypermobility... My 19 month old is walking around like crazy! (But doesn't say anything or follow commands....)

Oh sorry. I got confuddled.

I would consider a hearing test in first instance, if you are worried :)

At that age I wouldn't worry.

My ds was 2.5 before he started speaking (aside from mummy daddy) he had his own little sign language which he used, he never did babbling.

At his 2 year check the HV wasn't concerned but sent us on a 6 week course at our local sure start centre. Which is designed to educate the parents in different techniques, apparently they like you to attend that before speech therapy. (It didn't come to speech therapy for us).

On the course they taught us to go back to basics, we read books but not very basic ones, so we took a step back on that.

They said to avoid verbal diarrhoea with them but use a few simple words clearly. Leave a long pause after asking them a question to give them time to try and process question and form answer. Encourage speech through choices, e.g would you like your snack in the red bowl or blue bowl ? Pause, repeat colours and see if they try and say the words.

The other game they did was put a variety of small toys in a bag, then they have to pick one out and you ask them what they have...and pause for them to try and answer. the kids all loved that game

Once the words came with my ds, he caught up with his peers in a couple of weeks. He also knew all his colours and could count a bit! So don't worry just because they're not talking doesn't mean it's not going in!

Ds had hardly any words at 3. We sparked all sorts of alerts but actually anecdotally, talking to friends' parents etc. it is not really unusual. He was at home with me till 3 then started nursery. He started talking almost immediately and is now perhaps if anything ahead of his peer group, definitely on a par with the girls anyway.

I never really worried because I knew he understood me. DH and I are very fast talkers, plus we always knew what he said before he even said it. I suppose he just didn't bother till he was in a group of kids and realised he needed to.

I lost count of the number of people who said to me 'do you talk to him?'. No we leave him notes on the fridge, what do you think? FFS.

There are lots of markers etc. but in truth, some children speak for no reason other than that's the way it works out for them. They get more concerned for late speaking girls than boys though.

He is probably concentrating on his motor skills for now and boys are usually later than girls so I shouldn't worry, just keep talking to him. Some children don't feel the need to talk at this stage and as long as his understands what you are saying to him is more important for now. It will all come out in the end, especially when he starts pre-school at 2 1/2 yrs

If he is communicating his feelings and 'wants' in some way, by sounds or gestures, I wouldn't worry at all that he isn't using regular 'language' yet.

When our DS was a baby, I kept a diary of his development. I see he wasn't 'talking' at 19 months, but was making his desires known, by noises or gestures, and was able to say "No", and make animal and train noises!

Some years ago I worked with a Yr1 Down's boy who had no speech at all, but was learning sign language with his TA. Apparently, getting the vocal mechanisms to work is more difficult that using the hands to communicate.

You may have heard of 'Baby Signing', but I give this link in case it is of any interest:

www.babycentre.co.uk/a547348/baby-signing

DD said 'daddy' and 'shoe' only at 17 months and added 'mummy' to the repertoire at 19 months. That was it. She is now 2.3 and speaks in fluent sentences with a vocabulary that I couldn't count. I wouldn't worry yet I don't think the HVs would class this as abnormal especially if he is following instructions.

@MissMia84 I know this was 10 years ago and probably a distant memory.... But did the non-talking resolve? I'm in the same boat and I know it still early days but I'm worrying!

You can try to play games with children that can train their concentration. It is very helpful for the brain development of children.