Late Talkers

Hi all,

I haven't been around too much lately, I've been so focused on getting my twins to talk. They are b/g 15.5 months now, born at 32 weeks last April and they still have no words. I just don't know what to think about this, it's really starting to stress me out. They also don't point for things either, although my ped told me they are getting their point across in other ways. For example, my son decided yesterday he didn't want his milk in a sippy cup anymore, he wanted it in a straw cup like his sister. He's never had milk in a straw cup, but he very clearly made his point to me and I gave him a straw cup.

I have EI coming next month to do a speech and developmental eval, but I guess what I'm looking for are your experiences with speech delays.

Thanks,
Mona

 

I was in the exact same situation as you were. My son had NO words and only limited babbling. I had EI come and they were fantastic! Now I am afraid they are going to stop coming once we have our new evaluation (they do re-evals every 6 months here) because he is actually ahead of his peers now. Try not to worry, as long as he understands most of what you are saying (receptive language), he will be fine. If you ask him to go pick up a book, can he do that? Just talk to him ALL the time and make him express what he wants to you in some form (not neccesarily talking). EI will give you alot of great ideas. Good Luck!

 

Thanks, They don't really go and get things when I tell them to. Except maybe they will go get their milk if the leave their cups on the floor. I think their receptive skills may be behind, they do understand "no!" but they hear that a lot.


QUOTE(NatalieK @ Jul 27 2007, 06:53 PM) [snapback]346402[/snapback]
I was in the exact same situation as you were. My son had NO words and only limited babbling. I had EI come and they were fantastic! Now I am afraid they are going to stop coming once we have our new evaluation (they do re-evals every 6 months here) because he is actually ahead of his peers now. Try not to worry, as long as he understands most of what you are saying (receptive language), he will be fine. If you ask him to go pick up a book, can he do that? Just talk to him ALL the time and make him express what he wants to you in some form (not neccesarily talking). EI will give you alot of great ideas. Good Luck!

 

Hi Mona,

my son had couple of words only before 18mo old and would not respond to commands (bring me a book, come here) at that age at all. He was pointing to things and would let me know his needs by pointing/gestures.

Signing times videos helped us a lot and he learned to sign many words and the whole alphabet by 2yo. He had around 100 words at 2yo. Another good book was "It takes two to talk"

We had him evaluated by EI around 20 months that found him in need of developmental intervention/speech therapy and recommended speech therapy once a week! A SLP would come and do structured play with him for 45 min trying to get him to label objects, imitate sounds, name colors, etc. In a way they told me what I wanted to hear - he has some delays but they are minimal/not serious and he needs minimal intervention.

At 2yo I took him for a dev eval at Hackensack hospital and we went through speech, full developmental, audio and occupational evaluations and based on this comprehensive evaluation he was diagnosed as having mild autism (ppd-nos). He has great eye contact and is very affectionate with us and with selective persons (he was kissing the lady that came and did the eval from EI) so the diag was a total shock for me and I thought the dr got it all wrong. However at around 2.8yo he started to line up the toys and play in a very specific manner (watching the car wheels spin up close for example).

We have now a great intensive therapy program at home for him that concentrates on teaching him how to request things (manding) and working on tacting skills (labeling) as well as receptive language (follow commands) and conversation (intraverbal, responding to questions)

I feel that sooner you identify the delays and start working on them specifically better it is.

miruna

mom to Alex and Natalia born Oct 2004

 

Hi you are a great thing having them evaluated! My boys too were not saying much at 18 months and I had EI come and eval. they were delayed for expressive speech only. They have been in weekly therapy for almost a year and have show 1000% improvement. Its a great program ifyou need it.

 

It doesn't hurt to get them evaluated. At 17 months Trevor says about 3-4 words and Emilie about 5 words. I just had a speech observation, but she said based on what she saw and the fact that they babble all the time and point to things she is not concerned even though they aren't saying much now. That said they do both understand things and will get us a ball, or take something to daddy, go to big sister etc.

Do they babble at all. Mine sound like they are trying to tell you something, but you have no clue what they are saying.

 

Well they babble a ton and it seems like they are trying to say things to us, it's just not in English. Neither of them points though and they aren't that great at following instructions. I guess only time will tell.


QUOTE(summerfun @ Jul 28 2007, 01:17 AM) [snapback]346868[/snapback]
It doesn't hurt to get them evaluated. At 17 months Trevor says about 3-4 words and Emilie about 5 words. I just had a speech observation, but she said based on what she saw and the fact that they babble all the time and point to things she is not concerned even though they aren't saying much now. That said they do both understand things and will get us a ball, or take something to daddy, go to big sister etc.

Do they babble at all. Mine sound like they are trying to tell you something, but you have no clue what they are saying.

 

QUOTE(Carpathia @ Jul 27 2007, 09:24 PM) [snapback]346875[/snapback]
Well they babble a ton and it seems like they are trying to say things to us, it's just not in English. Neither of them points though and they aren't that great at following instructions. I guess only time will tell.



I took the babbling as a good sign from mine, at least they knew they had to say something to communicate. But we don't understand them either. I think it's still early, but like I said, it never hurt to have them evaluated, even for just peace of mind. I just keep talking to mine ALL DAY LONG and constantly point things out and say things, like "oh you want your juice, here's your juice". I have noticed they have been attempting at least the say the first sound. Just keep talking to them. I did get some good ideas during our observation, so they will be able to give you some ideas as well.

 

At that age, you are looking more for consistant speech, than actual words. For example, if everytime they see you, they say "mmmm", than that is considered a word. Take a week or so, and write down everything they say, even the consistant babble, and you may find that they say much more than you think--I know I did.

That said, EI is a wonderful program and calling them is a win-win situation!

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Jul 28 2007, 01:35 AM) [snapback]346885[/snapback]
I took the babbling as a good sign from mine, at least they knew they had to say something to communicate. But we don't understand them either. I think it's still early, but like I said, it never hurt to have them evaluated, even for just peace of mind. I just keep talking to mine ALL DAY LONG and constantly point things out and say things, like "oh you want your juice, here's your juice". I have noticed they have been attempting at least the say the first sound. Just keep talking to them. I did get some good ideas during our observation, so they will be able to give you some ideas as well.



Oh I do a lot of this, too. Like "here's your Milk would you like your milk?" I feel so repetitious and sometimes I get frustrated because I've been doing it so much and I don't feel like I'm making progress. Like the sharongl said, I have started to notice them trying to make the first sound in the word. Like mamama... for milk. Maybe there is hope yet. Thanks for the advice ladies!

 

Our 15 month appt is next week and I am hoping we get a referral to EI. My Dh thinks I am paranoid. My older DD was very verbally advanced. We asked her what kind of b-day she wanted for her first b-day and she very clearly told us "ducky." She also weaned from breastfeeding at around 11 months. The last time I was going to nurse her she pointed to the door and said "No, Dada Baba." Meaning she wanted a bottle from Daddy.
The twins have been saying a word for our dog for a couple of months. My ds says something that sounds like "Bailey," the dog's name, and my dd says something that sounds like "dog." Other than that they don't say much. Once in awhile we think we hear a word or two, but nothing is consistent and they will never repeat. They do not come when they are called, but I am not sure if that is just a game now.
We did purchase the Baby Einstein Baby Sign dvd and they are doing a couple of signs. The do "all done," "more," and my ds does "pleas."

I don't know if this is something to be concerned about but up until now everyone has been telling me-just wait, there is a huge language explosion between 12 and 15 months. Well, no explosion is happening her....
Sorry to hi-jack. I will let you know what I find out at our appt this week.

 

QUOTE(Carpathia @ Jul 27 2007, 10:03 PM) [snapback]346920[/snapback]
Oh I do a lot of this, too. Like "here's your Milk would you like your milk?" I feel so repetitious and sometimes I get frustrated because I've been doing it so much and I don't feel like I'm making progress. Like the sharongl said, I have started to notice them trying to make the first sound in the word. Like mamama... for milk. Maybe there is hope yet. Thanks for the advice ladies!



I know exactly how you feel. I feel like I do this all day long!! That is why I had a speech observation for them because I feel I do this so much and they aren't saying too much though. But it is good that they are trying to make the first sound, that is the first step. I think they are on their way. Hang in there, I know it's tough.

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Jul 28 2007, 03:06 PM) [snapback]347300[/snapback]
I know exactly how you feel. I feel like I do this all day long!! That is why I had a speech observation for them because I feel I do this so much and they aren't saying too much though. But it is good that they are trying to make the first sound, that is the first step. I think they are on their way. Hang in there, I know it's tough.



Thanks summer. These guys are in EI for being low birth weight and they have always been screened based on their adjusted age. You probably had the same experience. After they turned 1, the ped and EI wanted to start basing their evals on their actual age. I think that's when I really started to get nervous since they've always been about 2 months late and hitting milestones on their adjusted age instead of actual. Did they do the same with you?

 

QUOTE(Carpathia @ Jul 28 2007, 01:23 PM) [snapback]347445[/snapback]
Thanks summer. These guys are in EI for being low birth weight and they have always been screened based on their adjusted age. You probably had the same experience. After they turned 1, the ped and EI wanted to start basing their evals on their actual age. I think that's when I really started to get nervous since they've always been about 2 months late and hitting milestones on their adjusted age instead of actual. Did they do the same with you?



Mine had PT for low birth weight as well and until they started walking were behind a bit, before then though milestones were based on adjusted age, although they did look at actual age first and then work backwards. But with the PT and Dr. they really started using their actual age for things once they started walking. The speech has always been behind, and probably is for many full term babies as well. Our PT told me that she hates to base speech on age because it varies so much for each child. It definitely makes me nervous with them being preemies, I think the worry is there just because they were preemies. We are actually stopping our EI services next month and I'm nervous about it. I just keep thinking what if something comes up, but I have to stop thinking like that, easier said than done though.

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Jul 28 2007, 05:58 PM) [snapback]347460[/snapback]
Mine had PT for low birth weight as well and until they started walking were behind a bit, before then though milestones were based on adjusted age, although they did look at actual age first and then work backwards. But with the PT and Dr. they really started using their actual age for things once they started walking. The speech has always been behind, and probably is for many full term babies as well. Our PT told me that she hates to base speech on age because it varies so much for each child. It definitely makes me nervous with them being preemies, I think the worry is there just because they were preemies. We are actually stopping our EI services next month and I'm nervous about it. I just keep thinking what if something comes up, but I have to stop thinking like that, easier said than done though.



How come you are stopping EI services next month? I thought EI goes up to 3 years of age? I know, it is really hard not to worry about development when you have preemies. There are 5 other sets of twins in my neighborhood and they were all preemies. A lot of them are about to enter elem school or are in school already and seeing them playing and running around gives me hope. Most of them had to get some EI help at the beginning and they are doing great now.

 

QUOTE(Carpathia @ Jul 28 2007, 03:10 PM) [snapback]347539[/snapback]
How come you are stopping EI services next month? I thought EI goes up to 3 years of age? I know, it is really hard not to worry about development when you have preemies. There are 5 other sets of twins in my neighborhood and they were all preemies. A lot of them are about to enter elem school or are in school already and seeing them playing and running around gives me hope. Most of them had to get some EI help at the beginning and they are doing great now.



We are stopping it because our PT thinks they are doing fine and doesn't need their services anymore. On one hand it makes me extremely happy to hear and know how great they are doing on the other it scares me because they were born 3 months early and I always think they were born too early to be perfect. From everything I have read about babies being born that early, they shouldn't be doing everything they are doing.

She sees no reason to continue services with them since they are not behind. It does go up to age 3 and she has told me if I am concerned at all in the future to give them a call. She has told me they are seeing more and more children born very early that are not have difficulties like you read they should be having.

They will still be followed by the developmental clinic at the hospital they were born at every 6 months- 1 year. We go back in Oct. and then we will probably go back a year later.

But you are right I always love it when I hear stories of preemies, or see them, beating the odds. I remember when I was teaching 6 years ago I had a very bright girl in 2nd grade and her Mom said to me, "you never would know she was born at 28 weeks". Just thinking about that gives me so much hope.