My 15 month old (13 months adjusted) only says "Ma Ma", "Da, Da" and "Ut Oh". It sounds as if she's really trying to say "diaper" and "duck." Is this normal?? Shouldn't she be saying more by now? My daughter is in an early childhood intervention program which has helped tremendously with trying to get her on target and since she's in the program already her pediatrician has recommended speech therapy. Your thoughts??
2006-11-16 16:46:35 · 15 answers · asked by Mom of One in Wisconsin 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
She had infant torticollis (wry neck) at three months of age, so physical therapy was started. We've just been in the program ever since as she's been behind with sitting independantly (did this at 10 months), crawling (did this at 11 months) pulling up (did this at 13 months) and just started holding her bottle about two weeks ago. She wants NOTHING to do with a sippie cup and her pediatrician feels that perhaps a speech pathologist can help with this also.
2006-11-16 16:56:19 · update #1
i have known of plenty of children that can say less than that at 15 months who were carried to full term. If the professionals suggest speech therapy go for it, it might help her but don't use baby talk with her ever and make sure you read to her!!
good luck!!
2006-11-16 18:37:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My daughter was born premature also (at 25 weeks). She started Early Intervention upon NICU discharge (at 3 months actual) b/c of torticolis as well. When she was 16 months old; I had her evaluated by an ST (through EI) b/c she was only babbling "dada" and "baba"; both without meaning. It wasn't so much the fact that she was still behind, (even for her corrected age), but more so b/c she hadn't babbled anything different for 6 months. In other words, they were more concerned with the time span of there being no change and no progression. I would definitely recommend getting the evaluation done. I'm sure you know; since you are an experienced preemie Mom, that you can not compare your child to other children; especially full term ones. While the other responses here are completely true; all children are different, many talk late and still talk fine; the fact remains that with a preemie, you need to stay on top of development as much as possible. There is no harm in starting the therapy now. And it's completely true that an ST will work with oral-motor skills as well; like holding the sippy cup/bottle, drinking from a straw, providing therapies for oral aversions (if there are any). My daughter did not drink from a sippy cup until she was 22 months old. She wasn't able to hold it until then. So she remained on the bottle, which our Pediatrician was fine with; since I wasn't willing to sacrafice nutrition for method.
My daughter received speech services for 7 months and was discharged at 25 months (actual age). The therapy helped tremendously.
If you're interested in support groups on-line, check out:
www.preemieparents.org or
www.specialparent.org
Both groups have a wealth of information and experience. GOOD LUCK to you and your daughter.
2006-11-17 03:10:44 · answer #2 · answered by Marie K 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's great that your daughter is in an early intervention program. When I first started reading your post I was going to tell you to get her enrolled in one posthaste! Yes, she should be saying more by now. She should be seeing a speech therapist at least once a week--often they'll come to your home and do the therapy right there as it is your child's natural environment.
My son just turned 3 and only has about 30 words that he can say and very few people (except those he is around a lot) can understand him. Our (former) pediatrician's office blew us off for more than half a year when I was trying to tell them that he couldn't talk. He was finally diagnosed with dyspraxia and Asperger's syndrome. He missed out on more than 10 months during which he could have been getting speech therapy and catching up with his peers.
Look into teaching her sign language, it was a life-saver for our family when our speech therapist started teaching my son to sign. Some great videos are made by the people at Signing Time http://signingtime.com/ -- they are designed for hearing children to learn to sign. The whole set is a little expensive, but definitely worth it.
2006-11-17 03:50:42 · answer #3 · answered by Erika S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's totally normal. My daughter is 16 months and doesn't say many "real" words either. I don't remember exactly when my first two started talking more (they're 12 & 13 now) but I know they were closer to 2. Give her time. 15 months is sooo young! I got my daughter dvd's that teach sign language for babies. Thought she might like being able to communicate while she waits to develope the skills for speech. Trust me, in 3 or for years, you'll be wondering if it's normal for her to talk so incessantly!!! LOL
2006-11-17 01:04:55 · answer #4 · answered by Chocoholic 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a friend that used to come for a visit every once in a while, and bring his son along, his son was four at the time, and had never spoken a word yet, but he had a great bark, seriously. They had a German shepard dog, and that dog had been their sons baby sitter since he was ten months old. He hadn't been around other kids, just the dog. To make a long story short, that boy is 15 now and you can't get him to shut up, so don't worry. Maybe your child just doesn't much to say yet?
2006-11-17 01:03:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is pretty normal in preemies. You are definately doing the right thing getting her started in the intervention program and speech therapy. It will give her the help she needs to get on track.
2006-11-17 09:58:07 · answer #6 · answered by totspotathome 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Madam don't worry some babys are speak slowely, and some of them are walk so late etc... it's all happeneds because they have some kind of hormons problems so you don't worry it is quaite natrual may be you saw this kind of things first time in your life thats why you feel bad , it will automatically improve day by day, ok you can do one thing consult a doctor he will give you some good and helpful information, and try to spend more time with your baby it will help to say more words soon... be cool your baby gonna speak really good soon.
2006-11-17 01:23:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ive been looking for somebody to answer that for me my little siister is 16 months old and she dosen't say harldley a word all she dose is cries. But I came to find out that sometimes the reason is because of the babies hearing maybe his or her hearing is very good so its hard for toodller to pronounce words you wiil see the mouth move but no words.Some times the cause is for other reasons talk to your doctor or reccomend a therapist.
2006-11-17 00:56:55 · answer #8 · answered by red 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have five daughters and they all developed at different things at different times. In other words, don't worry. She will talk soon enough. Doctors tend to give parents the worst case scenario. If you have concerns just spend as much time as you can playing with her and patiently working on short words.
2006-11-17 00:59:02 · answer #9 · answered by deno 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Evry child has his/her own schedule for talking. I've known children not talking at age 3. Children in families with older siblings do tend to learn to talk a little easier ( since they often emulate them), but there are no hard and fast rules.
2006-11-17 00:56:40 · answer #10 · answered by Flea© 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋