I would contact your local Early Intervention Office. They will come and do an evaluation for free, and if your son does qualify for Speech Therapy, he will get it for free. My daughter was born at 25 weeks and at 16 months was still only babbling "dada" and "baba", with no meaning. She had been doing this from about 10 months old, and it was her lack of progression that had me worried. She was evaluated and we started ST at 18 months. She had ST for 7 months and was discharged b/c her speech took off! You don't need to go through the Pediatrician to do this. I understand that sometimes Peds without much experience with premature babies do tend to think parents of preemies are over-reacting. You are NOT over-reacting! Even correcting your son's age, he should be doing more than just babbling two sounds by now. When my daughter was evaluated at 16 months, her corrected age was 12 months. She was determined to be at a 6 month level at that time with expressive speech skills! You have a valid reason to be concerned, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Good luck!
2006-08-07 16:27:26
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answer #1
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answered by Marie K 3
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My twin sons, didn't start having conversation type vocabulary until they turned 3, didn't walk until they were almost 17months, and also did just about everything else slower than the charts. If he was born at 30 weeks, look at the development stages of a child who is 2 1/2 months younger than he is, and compare him to that. In all I think the charts are mostly BS every child is different, and you as the mom KNOW in your heart if there is something wrong with your child developmentally more than some chart can tell you. I work as a neonatal nurse. When I am at the clinic I hear so many parents stress, and worry that their child has not caught up with what the 'average' child is doing at this stage. Spend extra time helping him, but let him explore, and learn on his own too. Don't worry he will catch up to whats "normal" by the time hes 3 or 4.
2006-08-07 07:23:23
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answer #2
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answered by VL 4
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Don't be worried. I read that the best time for speech vocabulary is between 18 to 24 months. Some kids are just late talkers. My son really didn't have a wide vocabulary until he was two. I was also concerned and made sure I talked alot around him. My mother-n-law told me that she was worried about my husband when he was little because he didn't want to talk and didn't talk well until he was 4. He turned out fine.
2006-08-09 12:17:57
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answer #3
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answered by mommyK 2
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I would suggest a hearing test. Not because he only says a couple of words , that's pretty normal for that age especially if you adjust his age the 10 weeks he was premature which would put him at the level of a 13 1/2 month old. I would suggest it because even though the ears are fully formed at 30 weeks a baby born before 32 weeks gestation is at high risk of brain hemorrhages which can damage hearing.
My twins were premies and NICU told me to have them tested at 12, 18, and 24 months in order to catch any possible problems early.
Don't worry about what the pediatrician thinks of you. He is there to serve you and it is better to be safe than sorry. My niece was deaf in one ear and had all the warning signs of it as early as 18 months. At 5 she still couldn't speak well and it wasn't until kindergarten that she had her ears tested and discovered it. They luckily were able to correct it, but now at 7, even with her good hearing she is still in speech therapy. It's better to discover it early.
2006-08-07 07:18:58
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answer #4
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answered by pebble 6
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evry child grows at there own speed . he will be fine dont worry so much about his vocabulary as long as you know what he wants don't worry . Should i have know peole who tell me that there kids did not talk until they where 3 and 4 . But just think of it like this he probably has nothing to say yet . he is an observer . looking at life and studing it. Belive me when he finally dose speak you wont get him to shut up...lol . just make sure you do evrything like usual reading to him when you go to the park make sure you show him what a tree is you like point to the grass and say grass u know normal stuff.
Evrything will be fine dont worry the books dont count fror evry kid in the world only the avreage kids.
And your kid might not be avreage he could be a genuis dont rush it and dont worry so much. This must be your first . just take it slow you are a good mother just for asking.
2006-08-07 06:27:42
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answer #5
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answered by mary_llinas 2
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Remember, he was 2 1//2 months early, so developmentally he is closer to a 14 month old than the 16 months that he is by his birth date. Give him time, you might try teaching him some simple sign language words to help him not be as frustrated in communicating. There are several books out on that now - my favorite is "baby sign language book" - I picked it up at Target. It focuses on one word at a time - so it's easy for parents to learn, too.
Again, give him time, and love him lots. He'll be fine.
2006-08-07 06:49:05
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answer #6
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answered by kids and cats 5
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I would not be worried, most children learn to speak when they are ready to. Just like walking etc. Just because a book says he should talk at a certain age that does not mean he will. The book is a guide line and every child develops at their own pace.
2006-08-07 06:27:13
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Remember a premmie is going to be a little behind because the is a difference between the actual birth age and the age of the child at term..give him some time, read to him and talk to him alot..explaining what you're doing (with whatever is it, cooking, bathing him, etc.) he'll catch up..not to worry
2006-08-07 08:53:37
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answer #8
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answered by Selena D 3
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Don't worry he is doing fine.. Boys usually take longer than girls to talk.. just keep doing what you are dong.
Now if after his second birthday he still only says a few words then I would begin to become concerned.. But right now he is OK.
2006-08-07 06:25:44
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answer #9
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answered by DeeDee 4
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I had my son at 35 weeks and he is 16 months old.He doesnt say very many words but we work with him.We buy him talking toys like tellitubbies and now he trys to repeat them.Mostly all he says is uh-oh and mum.Just try buying him talking toys and play with him.I would say give him time but im empatient to.I cant wait till my son can actually talk.All his cousins talked before him but all kids go at different paces.
2006-08-07 06:50:53
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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