coming 17th mth and still not talking..?

Question

My little boy is coming to 17th mth and all he "talk" is mama,papa,nan nan and sometime mumble alot which we dont understand what is he trying to say. Any comment? Heard that boys are slower in conversation,true?

Answer 1

My Step son is almost 2 and a half and he still has very limited vocabulary. As long as he is developing normally in every other way I wouldn't worry about it too much.
If it really bothers you talk to your doctor in your next visit.
Also when giving your son an object make sure that you tell him what it is. And if you know that he knows the word for something make him say the word before you give it to him.
What I do with my step son and wish that I had done with my own son is when I am putting on his shoes I say "left foot" and put the shoe on his left foot, then I say "right foot" and he gives me his right foot. I think that he is even catching on to it even thought he can't say left and right. Sometimes I say "left foot" and he gives me his left foot.
Some boys do develop a little slower than others. Don't compare your child to others though, just compare him to what you think he is actually capable of.

Answer 2

get him tested... and he should start w/therapy. If he hears ok.. then it could be something on the lines of him not being able to form the words (the brain doesn't give the right signals to allow him to form words). A child in my family is the same way... but unfortunately he's almost 5 and says only a few more words than your boy. He "talks".. but its just babble that no one understands. He has been showing a lot more improvement over the last couple months (goes to a special school now) and will be beginning a more intense therapy shortly. All hope is that he will be up to the level of his peers by the time he starts kindergarden.
It's good to try and make them say things... repeatedly. And also for adults and others not to "guess" what he's saying and speak for him. It's good for him to say what it is.. even if it's not said properly... because to him - he's saying it right.

Answer 3

Ditto the first person who responded. I have a 19 month old who up until 17 months only said mama, dada, no and juice. Right when he turned 17 months old which was also the time I stopped working and became a sahm, he started speaking a lot more. Maybe he understood that what I was telling him is the word for that particular object or maybe because I was spending more time teaching him...I don't know. But for example, if I was putting his socks and shoes on I would hold them up and say sock...shoe...goes on your foot and within a few days he learned those words and repeated them back. I just say words to him as I do normal things and repeated them so he would relate the word or phrase with the object or idea and it clicked. But even though this worked for me it might not for every child at that age. Some children progress at different rates and I wouldn't be alarmed. Maybe bring it up at his 18 month appt. Does your son follow commands? Does he repeat a word if you say it to him, even though he might understand what the word means?

Answer 4

My daughter didnt really start saying more then what your son says until about 2 1/2 now shes four and each new day her vocabulary is amazing i sometimes wonder where she learns it all from. I dont know if boys are slower in conversation but some kids just dont start talking till there ready i wouldnt worry my neice is 17 months and all she says is mama, dada, look, and bye bye and little things like that

Answer 5

Yeah my son still doesn't say anything and he is 13 months going on 14 as for my daughter she is 25 months and she has whole sentences now. Actually she has been talking since she was about 14 months. Kind of suprising to wee how true it is about how boys are a little bit slower then girls

Answer 6

If you are concerned I would have him evaluated. All states have a program to identify and provide services to children with developmental delays. Unfortunately they have different names in different states. Probably the easiest way to find the one near you is to call the school district (by the way the school district is responsible for providing these services once a child turns 3).

Anyway, they will do a free evaluation in your home and the services can be provided in your home as well. In Kansas everything was free; in Alaska it a sliding scale/pay as your able.

My sons were born at 30 weeks. One has general developmental delays, including speech, due to being a rather ill baby. The other has low muscle tone in his mouth.

I would get him checked out. If he needs help the earlier you start the better; if he doesn't will sleep better at night knowing.

Answer 7

My son was the same way until we just really started working with him on talking. We are constantly talking to him and leaving plenty of time for him to answer. We also tell him to use his words to get what he wants. We tell him that we do not understand and if he wants milk he has to say milk because we don't understand pointing or grunting or screaming. Applaud any effort on his part. We have a lot of kids in the house so he has picked up a lot of words and talks very much for a 2 yr old. Just keep treating him like he is capable of talking and he will pick it up.

Answer 8

I have a 15 month old boy and he grunts for everything. He can say simple words when he wants to, but that's never when we want him to. My daughter was talking sentences by this age (now she's 3 and a total chatter box). Just keep talking to him, not baby talk, explain everything you're doing and read to him. He'll talk when he sees a need. Although even from my perspective, I'm wondering if I'll ever hear anything but grunting.

Answer 9

My first son was premature, and didn't talk (really) until he was about 3. He used all the common words, momma, daddy, nana, pawpaw, etc, but we couldn't understand the rest.
He ended up with learning disability. Though mild, it can be very frustrating. He has receptive and expressive language disability.
That basically means he has a hard time understanding what you say, and a hard time comunicating what is in his brain.
He does okay with therapy at school, but your son needs to be checked just in case.

Oh, and it's not your fault!

Answer 10

My son is 30 mo old and he just started talking a lot in the past few months or so. Yes, boys are slower to walk, talk and potty train than girls are. Give him time, and you'll be surprised at how much he says at once. And then you'll wish he'd shut up already! lol