Help on Talking

she's not at an age where it's a concern. some babies have more words at this age, some don't. she IS articulating a few words, and in the absence of any red flags i'd say don't worry.
khairete
S.

I good frien of mine is a speech therapist and has done a lot of work for Early Intervention. She would tell you to say something at you next well baby visit. Many people will tell you not to worry, some kids are late talkers, some kids will have a language explosion when they are 2 or 2 1/2. That's probably true, but it doesn't hurt to ask for your daughter to be evaluated.

In the meantime, make a list of all her "words." Not just real words like mama and outside. Also include words like "baba" for bottle or "banks" for blanket. A thing she says which is meaningful to her, write it down and bring it with you. That will make it much easier for you to answer the doctor's questions and articulate your concerns.

But try not to worry.it really is quite common for 17 month olds to only have a small number of words.

Bring it up at the next pediatrician visit - probably 18 months, right? Sometimes there's a cause, sometimes not. Mine was a late talker too - not one word until 16 months. The pediatrician said she'd look at evaluating him at 18 months but she thought it was important to note that he was hitting all his other milestones and was "ahead" on a number of them. So she said there was nothing to indicate an overall problem.

So, look at what she CAN do. She may be focusing on so much else right now - they all do some things "early" and some things "late". So, my kid wasn't talking, but he certainly could hear, he danced, he played, he build things, he walked at 8.5 months, he laughed, he was curious, he climbed on things (gross motor), he ate finger foods and did finger painting/puzzles (fine motor), and so on.

Be sure you aren't making it too easy for her by anticipating every need so much that she doesn't NEED to talk. But she is saying a few words, she's asking for "more", she's asking to go "outside" (or noticing that's where she is), and OF COURSE she knows the word "NO!" (You'll hate that she knows that one one of these days!).

Edited to Add: I just read your other posts and it seems you are trying to diagnose a variety of concerns by researching them on the internet. Let me suggest that it's a really good way to get freaked out and alarmed - please don't do this. Please work with your pediatrician who knows your child and see her in her entirety. It's okay to present what you found on line, but DO discuss with a professional instead of getting yourself in a panic.

Many will say this is normal. I personally had my son evaluated by early intervention at exactly this age - 17 months - because he only had a few words. Others told me not to worry, but something about it set off my mommy intuition. He qualified for services and got speech therapy for a year. At the end of the year, he was more than caught up. So, I say if you have any concern at all about speech or other development, get a screen from early intervention. It's free, and if she qualifies the speech therapy is free. You have nothing to lose.

Our son was pretty quite up until his 2nd birthday.
And then he was talking up a storm!
Give her about 7 more months.
In the mean time - read and sing to her a lot.

Additional:
It might be a good idea to get a book on child development and read up on what milestones to expect at what ages.
Remember that there is a wide range for what passes for normal.
Discuss your concerns with your pediatrician.
Don't look up symptoms on the internet and get yourself all upset.

What does her doctor say?

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/p...

Take a look at this - it should help you.

By the way, I'll just let you know that there is a lot of leeway before 24 months. At 24 months, the expectations are a lot higher than before. If you feel that your child isn't making enough progress or feel that something is wrong, have her evaluated by a speech therapist right after she turns 24 months. I know all of this because of my own son.

My granddaughter is 2.5. Her vocabulary has increased immensely in the last few months. She just knew a few words.for several months before that.

She has some words so I would just let her be now. Usually by 2 they are well on their way to being quite the little chatterbox. If by 2 you are still concerned, you can have her evaluated. Back in the old days we were much more laid back. My daughter had words at 10 months. As soon as she started walking they stopped. She really did not talk until almost three but when she did it was " Mommy may I have something to drink.?" No baby talk, just full sentences. Kids develop language at their own pace. Some early some late.

Why do you keep asking us questions that only your doctor can answer? Even if one of us were a doctor we couldn't help without your daughter's health history.

If would be like me coming on here and asking you what color are my eyes, the best you could do is guess.

Not necessarily. Sometimes they just don't have anything to say. If she has you worried you can call and have her evaluated. In OK it's called Sooner Start. They come to your house and do it there. Then they let you know what they've determined.

Another thing you can do it join parentcenter.com and sign up for the emails on what to look for, what your child should be doing, and more.

that's about normal for her age, in the next few months her vocabulary will blossom

All kids are different - it's hard to compare them at this age. Mine all spoke at different rates and ages. My chatty one today who has to talk constantly spoke sooner. My laid back quiet done, spoke later .. some of it is personality too.
One of mine didn't speak (said less than yours) at around 18 months-2 years we had him evaluated. He was having trouble hearing. But his vowels sounded off - kind of like he was underwater. He had ear troubles (fluid in ears) so we just knew something was off. He actually was talking we just didn't understand him.
If your daughter's words are clear and she's saying 2 syllable words like "out-side" that's a pretty good sign she's fine :) You can encourage speech of course. Read lots of those baby-toddler books where she can point. Point to the picture and have her say it - or say the word and repeat. Make it a game. Before I would give my son his toy I'd say "Ball" and he'd repeat back to me to get it. All in fun.
There are other signs that go along with problems and speech development. If you're concerned mention it to your pediatrician when you next go in. Good luck :)

All kids are different! For real!! VERY different. If you don't see anything off in her hearing or comprehension-she's fine! I had one daughter speaking in long sentences at 18 months, another daughter who didn't say much until after 2, and a son who didn't talk 'til he was 3! They're all advanced in reading and writing and vocabulary skills now (9, 8 and 6) and they talk constantly.