My nephew is 18 months old, he doesn't talk. Is something wrong?

Question

The DR seems to think he needs a specialist-but I'm not his mom. Just curious what you guys thought.

Answer 1

If the doctor thinks your nephew should see a specialist, then i would follow his advice. If anything, most doctors take the wait and see attitude. A speech/language evaluation is done with the parents in the room and done by a licensed speech language pathologist. There is a lot of parent interview as well as the therapist playing and interacting directly with the child. We try to get the child to identify pictures, play with toys, and attempt to speak. It's positive experience for the child.

That being said, this is not your child. I have learned the hard way to not provide advice to parents when it was asked for. In fact, my cousin asked me about her son's speech when he was 4 years old. I truthfully told her she should get an evaluation b/c of issues i picked up on and it started a HUGE family rift! I guess she asked b/c she wanted me to tell her that he was ok.

Answer 2

If the doctor is concerned, then I would be too. My son had a speech problem, that I was concerned about and the doctor wasn't until he was almost 4. If the doctor is already concerned, then there may be a problem.
I had my son evaluated when he was 4 and his speech was the same as a 24 month old. If I could have gotten him started earlier, it would have been better. (He's 5 now and his speech is almost the same as other 5 yr olds)
Your nephew my have a hearing disability. It's best to get it checked and be nothing than to wait and hope it goes away on it's own.
My sister was 3 before she talked, and she was fine, but most kids are at least saying a few understandable words by 18 months.

Answer 3

Does he act a similar way along with his mum and dad or familiars?according to danger he's shy or acts in any different case to get particular attentions from those different than his mum and dad. i in my opinion does not freak out approximately it and initiate up labeling any particular situations on the subject of the newborn even with each and every thing,he continues to be a newborn.At age 4 i'd show subject yet not 18 mos. i in my opinion experience the term "time-honored" is used lots too loosely whilst it includes babies and childrens.additionally if not conversing at a definite point is undesirable then my sister who did not extremely communicate till she replace into 6 years previous does not be an extremely effective oncologist.(in basic terms a concept)

Answer 4

Does he make sound at all? If not then yes he needs a specialist. If it's just that he doesn't talk, but maybe says a few words, probably not. My 3rd didn't talk until she was almost 2 1/2. She didn't need to, she'd point and everyone gave her what she wanted just by her nodding her head. I think if he makes no sound or says absolutely NO words then yes he needs to be evaluated further.

Answer 5

My daughter had a problem with talking when she was little. She still has problems with certain letters in the alphebet and she is 3 yrs old. I thought she might have a speech problem so we took her to a speech class just to see what they thought about her and they just said on her they coudn't really tell just yet and to work with her on the ones that she can pronounce very well. She is still strugglin on a few still but I keep working with her hoping she will start saying them right.

Answer 6

My son was referred to a speech pathologist at 18 months because he sitll had no words and the wait to be seen was 18 months.

Your nephew should at least say Mommy and Daddy and a few other things.

It is not too soon to worry because the sooner you correct something the better it is for everyone.

Answer 7

It really depends. If he understands what you are saying, and is at least babbling and getting his point across in other ways (pointing at things, bringing a book to read, etc), and can say about 3-6 words, then he is probably fine.
If he doesn't have any distinguishable words yet and doesn't even babble, then he may have a speech/language impairment.

Answer 8

My nephew took forever talk too, he's now 3 1/2 and doesn't stop talking. I thought he had Autism for awhile there. Boys just arn't as advanced as girls are..just like when they get older.

Answer 9

There is nothing to worry about becausemy son starts talking when he was 2 and a half and there are also speech therapies but your child is only 18..it's normal so plz don't worry.

Answer 10

I've known plenty of kids that didn't start talking until after 2 but when they did, they talked in sentences! So tell the parents to wait it out a little longer.