My son only says 20 words at 22 months old, should I be worried?

Question

My son is 22 months old and can only say about 20 words. He knows what things are and when you ask him to get something or do something he can. When I asked his doctor about it he said that he needs to see a speech therapist. I am just curious if all of that is really nessasary. He can put like 5 words together but can't make complete sentences. I am just not sure what to do. He is a very active child and is very friendly. The doctor says that ha has all of his physical skills down. He can throw a ball and climb stairs and all of that. Please give me your opinions.

Answer 1

my daughter was the same exact way! i went to see her doctor for a physical and i told her, that my daughter cant put words together to form a sentence, she only used 1 word senteces, but she knew what i was tell her, "go get the ball please", "give me ur bottle" etc.. but she would use 1 word to tell me '"Ball", "bubbie" etc.. i was worried she had a problem too, and my doctor suggested to send her to a speech therapist if by january ( the oppointment was in november) she didnt start using sentences... but a couple days later, she was using 2 words, then progrests to full blown sentences...


when u talk to her, talk to her in sentences, my problem was that i only talked to her in a 1 word sentence! liek when i was offering her a bottle, i would call ehr voer and say "bubbie". LOL! its just takes time! i dont think u have anything to worry about! kids learn at different paces.. give it til she is about 2 1/2....teach her, start slowly, teach her 2 worded sentences, like, "mama, here" or "BYE BYE daddy/mommy", etc. she will learn.

Answer 2

Was he premature?My daughter was 8 weeks early and could only say a handful of words at 24 months.Her doctor said that her speech was impaired due to being premature.As my daughter got older,her vocabulary increased,but she was still having difficulty getting words out.She began to get frustrated because other children/people couldn't understand her.My local school offered a free early preschool/kindergarten program for children with delayed speech.My daughter worked hand and hand with a therapist daily.As her vocabulary and pronunciation improved, so didn't her confidence.My daughter is now 11 and hard to keep quiet.She recently ran for student body president and gave a 10 minute speech in front of her whole school.My thought in this whole situation is that if speech therapy is going to help your child function better in society and boost his confidence,then why not give it a go?

Answer 3

Every state has an Early Intervention program. (birth to 3 program) If you are worried call and get an evaluation by a speech therapist. If your son qualifies he can receive speech therapy now and hopefully be done by the time preschool starts. If you don't know how to find your EI program google Early Intervention and your state. Good luck

Answer 4

I work at a daycare center with kids from two to four years old and I say you've got nothing to worry about. Give him some time. There's a good chance he'll be talking your ears off by the time he's two and a half. If he understands the things you say to him it means he's got a good knowledge of words and talking comes later. Putting five words together isn't at all bad for a child his age.

Answer 5

every child has a range or normalness... some children dont talk up to 4years old.. Some much earlier at 1 & 1/2..
Dont worry, they are like sponges.. something will click around age 2 and he'll be saying everything his ears come in contact with (good and bad words) which seems they pick up the bad real quick... Just when your inlaws are over for xmas, he will yell " S H IT" when you least expect it... it happens..
There will come a time when you'll wish he will shut up.. lol...
My grandmother told me that an uncle of mine, didnt say much till 4yrs old.. he had an older brother that seemed to interpret the younger brothers mumbles.. Then one day he felt he had something to say and never shut up...
dont worry, your son is normal..

Answer 6

This may not be at all abnormal. All children develop at a different pace. If he seems to understand what you tell him he is doing good.

The more you talk to him......the more he hears the spoken word and sees you saying it.....the more likely he will begin talking.
If by the age of three is is still not talking you may have a problem that a professional can help with but for now just keep trying.

Answer 7

My daughter was the same, she was not saying much. And then one day I cant remeber her age but I think it was around age 3 the kid did not sh.. up anymore. Some people are just deeper than others.
My daughter is now 15 and she is really deep. She thinks more about things than others. So maybe you have a special child, enjoy it, because one day they will not stop talking.
Good luck

Answer 8

every child is different. my 4 year old was holding conversations by 15 months in complete paragraphs, but my soon to be 2 year old is the same as your son. she baby talks alot of things, says a few words together, and can respond when you tell her to put something in the sink or to get her shoes or what not, but that's as far as it goes so far. she will learn a new word, and you will never hear her say it again..

I doubt he needs a speech therapist, just work with him more. when you are busy doing things, talk to yourself, or talk to him, and say things like, "now mommy is washing the dishes..now mommy is picking up the toys.." juat anything.. ask him questions like "what do you want for lunch..what do you think of your red fire truck" just continually talk to him, and the more you talk, the more he will!! I have been doing this with my daughter, and she has started to verbalize more.....repeated childrens programs will also help him talk more, like barney or backyardagins....he will start to repeat what they say, and even learn to sing and dance like my little one does..(only her program of choice is spongebob..lol...it's cute when it comes on because she dances and sings bob bob bob bob [spongebob square pants..lol])

hope this helps!!

Answer 9

Not everybody starts talking right away, sometimes they just listen for a bit. I hardly said a word until I was four years old. If he's obviously understanding what you're saying and showing no signs of speech problems when he does talk I wouldn't worry about it.

Answer 10

onlly if the 20 words are ,,,#1 sh*t # 2 dammit #3 whore #4 bit*h # 5 #6 #7#8#9 a cap in your as* # 10 # 11 I'm gay #12 #13 # 14#15 where is my lawyer # 16 #17 F- you #18 #19 #20 mom's gotta boyfriend....