Language development

[cori]

SHould i be concerened about 16 monht old sons lack of vocab.
He has used at times 5 or 6 words. Such as baby duck, hello , and mama and dada. But he seems to have given up saying most of them.
Sometimes he will say a word once and i wont hear it again.
He seems to be able to hear well. He will look in the sky when he hears a plane , and most of the time respond to his name.
WHen should i be concerned and when should i talk to the health visitor?

Cori- don't worry too much about words at 16 months (my 16 month old has very few).

By 16 months (18 months at latest) he should be pointing out objects of interest. He should also be pointing to things he wants. Pointing is definitely more important than voab at this age.

Hope this helps.

I wouldn't worry (well, I would, that's a mother's job but you know what I mean!) DS2 barely said a word until 22 months, then he started nursery and his language has exploded in the 3 months he's been there to the extent that he's now saying sentences of 4 or 5 words.

If you happen to be seeing your HV, then mention it but if he seems to hear well and understands what you say to him then he's probably just soaking it all up.

Just been looking through my HV 'red book' and it suggests that by 18 months a baby might be using about 6 words, or thereabouts. So I don't think you need to worry about it Cori.

Mine's 22 months, and he says: Mamma, ad-da (hello), ta ta (bye), ta. That's it. He makes noises for things, like the ticking noise when he sees a clock, or he will make a hand signal when he sees a fan or a bus, which only dh and I understand.

DON'T WORRY. Mine understands exactly what I am saying, and can follow a two part instruction (e.g. 'Go to the lounge and get your cup' I am convinced that he will talk when he is ready. Each day he burbles, and each day it sounds more like English than Chinese!

No smiley meant there BTW

cori- hope this reassures you. There's loads of variation in speech development. Providing he's pointing you have nothing to worry about. If he isn't pointing it would be worth talking to HV or GP or finding out if there's a speech therapy drop in clinic near you.

Baby talk is a good book to give ideas on how to encourage language development. I think it's by Sally Ward.

Ds is 22 months and says a handful of words and a few others hes shortened like custard is cus and biscuit is bis.

He understands every word we say, but unfortuantely we sometimes can't understand him, which leads to huge tantrums from frustration.

Please don't worry too much, it will come, just that some take longer than others. I know a couple of mums whose children didn't walk until they were 17/18 months, whereas DS walked at 12. It really does go to show that each one is different - before you know it you'll be telling him to be quiet!

Don't worry, my ds barely spoke at all before 2 years, the HV was up in arms about it but because everything else was fine we just went with it and accepted he would talk when he's good and ready. He would say words and then not bother with them again or say them then mispronounce them for months. He's now 3.6 and he never shuts up. Make the most of him being quiet. Ds understood us perfectly but just couldn't be bothered to speak. He'll get there.

I worreid at about exactly the same time and actually asked the HV to come and see her as she said so little ( the HV said not to worry)- and for the next 6 months it ws pretty much the same then suddenly she went MAD and now at 28 months she talks loads and in long sentences - amazingly complicated stuff - I just can't believe it's the same girl, although I 'heard' all the ''they all develop at their own paces'' stuff I didn't really take it on board - but it's so true...

Thanks for all your advice.Very reasuring.
Ds is quite advanced in his gross motor skills so was worried about lack of language.
Yesterday he picked up a piece of toast that he dropped on the floor when i asked him to , so that is a step forward as well.

Thanks for starting this thread Cori - after some of the comments here, I am now feeling happier about my DS2, 23 mths.

He only says 'ello and mum-mum - but can obviously understand very complicated conversations and instructions. And he does a darned good cat impersonation.

He walked at 9 months - so maybe being a late talker is a way of balancing the scales!