my 17 month old is not talking..?

Question

Hello everyone.. I have a beautiful little boy who is 17 months old. He was born in April 06. He did start to walk at about 8 months and is very mobile, he can climb, run, all of that. BUT..he has stopped talking and now just communicates by saying "da" to everything. He can say mum, but has stopped. I know he very bright, but is just being lazy, as I can undersdtand what he wants by grunts and moans alone? I have read to him, and tried to encourage speech but to no avail yet.. it really is like he has just given up. I should say, I do not mix him with many other young friends too often, I have no car so we spend the days together when my Husband is at work. Also, he is sometimes engrossed in the TV ads, to the point where I have switch it off to engage him, and some perticular ad's give him a fright, bring him to tears. I'm trying to have it on less, but I do watch more than I should as my car is off the road. I am puting on music now as an alternative, we have a dance but still no joy

Answer 1

I'm sure your health visitor will have some suggestions. I think nearly every child has a quiet period. I started taking my daughter to couple of toddler groups in my area - very daunting at first but everyone was very nice. After a couple of weeks, my daughters speech came on leaps and bounds.
Try letting him spend some more time with children (& adults) Hopefully he'll soon start talking as he'll realise they don't understand his grunt and moans like you do. He'll need to start communicating properly to get what he'd like.
Good luck, don't worry too much!
x

Answer 2

it wouldn't worry about it too much. My son is that same age and doing the same thing. sign language is a good way to communicate with the child until she decides to talk. There are books and movies (check your local library) with good words to teach your child and signing will help to ease some frustration that both you and the child may have. Signing will not delay speech as long as you say the word when you say the sign. If you are still worried about your child's hearing take her to an audiologist. My doctor told me that she didn't think there were any problems with my daughters hearing but she gave me a referral to an audiologist and it turns out she does have a slight problem, she doesn't hear low tones. right now it is something we are watching to see if it changes. It don't know if they will be able to do much testing on a 17 month old. but if by 3 yrs she isn't speaking clearly have it checked out. The reason we thought she might have a problem is because she wasn't speaking clearly. she did have a large vocabulary so when we first went to the audiologist they didn't even think that she had a problem, it wasn't until multiple testing with the same results that they actually decide there was something wrong. Those tests are ones that the child has to respond to the words and sounds, so give it a couple of years. Right now don't worry about it and continue to talk and encourage your child.

Answer 3

my son didn't really talk at this age either but he is 2.5yrs old now and doesn't shut up!!
All children develop at a different rate so I wouldn't worry just yet, I know 3yr olds that can barely talk.

If he has a dummy/pacifier I would try taking that off him especially during the day time (sleeps only) as that can cause delayed speech because they are just sucking all the time. As soon as I took my sons dummy away he was talking semi-clearly within a month and my daughter never had a dummy and was talking short sentences at 18mths so I believe this can cause children to talk less.

best of luck and I'm sure he'll be chatting to you in no time!

Answer 4

Don't be too worried. My son didn't start talking until he was two. In fact, he didn't say anything other than Mommy and Dada until the very day I had his hearing tested.

I was told that he was ignoring us.

Each child has areas that they may excel in and areas where they may lag. If you are concerned, have his hearing tested, but I wouldn't jump to label him autistic. My husband's side of the family is known for "speech delay." Our son apparently didn't suffer from that; he just decided he'd speak when he was good and ready, plus I was teaching him 4 languages.

Another thing, try sign language. Buy a few books on sign language and a DVD or two. We still use sign with our son. Some children, especially those who are slow to speak, do very well with signing.

My husband's cousin's children suffer from extreme cases of speech delay. Signing helps them out a great deal. Your baby is young. Don't become too anxious.

Answer 5

Hopefully your son is just going through a phase. First thing I would do is check his hearing. If that is fine, you might start looking for the following behaviors:

Does he point to objects?
Does he look at object you point to?
Does he engage in imaginative pretend play?
Does he interact with other children?

Does he line up things obsessively?
Does he have a fascination with spinning objects? (ceiling fans, wheels on cars, etc.)
Does he flap his hands when excited?
Does he walk on his tip toes?

If the answer is no to some of the first four or yes to some of the last four, you probably should have him checked out. Ask your pediatrician for a referral to a developmental psychologist or a pediatric neurologist. If there is a problem, the earlier you begin intervention, the more likely you will see results. If there is a problem, please check the following websites:

http://www.autism.com/
http://generationrescue.org/

Answer 6

To be honest I don't think that the telly is making him not speak. All children develop differently. There's not one the same so when you think of other children your sons age that can speak, don't be alarmed, every child develops at his/her own rate. I have a three year old son, he started speaking very young and by the age of one I could hold quite a decent conversation with him, but my nephew who is now 4, didn't start speaking until he started school at three. And I mean he was totally silent. He used to point to everything he wanted. We all got worried at one point and went to seek medical advise. They told us that he's ok, there's nothing wrong with him just every child develops differently. Then he started school at the age of three and he just started speaking. He's now four and has perfect speech and vocabulary. I wouldn't be alarmed, he will talk in his own time. Continue reading with him but you wont make him talk any faster than he is ready too. Just remember he is an individual and wont be the same as any other child.
Hope it rests your mind a little
x

Answer 7

they all get there in the end they do some things early and some things late. He started walking early at only 8 months old my son was 14 months old before he walked. My son is now 2 and can say about 20-30 words. Try not to worry he will get there in the end x

Answer 8

Try not to stress, but go and have a word with your doctor or health visitor. All kids develop at different stages / ages. It might be that he will be referred to a speech and language therapist, or as others have said, have his hearing checked out. Start mixing with other people more - it'll help his development, as well as help you socialise and feel part of the real world!!

Answer 9

Talking can start at any age. Our first child, a girl, didn't start to actually talk until she was 2 1/2 years old. The second child, another girl, started talking at just over a year. So don't worry all kids are different.

Answer 10

My little girl is 17 months too, she went through a "quiet spell" I was advised to turn the TV off and music and spend quiet time with her. She eventually began the non stop babbling again and things returned to normal.

Try everything you said, just don't worry he's fine and will find his "chatter" again soon