Speech issues?

My girls are just 19 mos old (16.5 adjusted) and I wonder if they have a speech delay. Our friend's kids (twins) say two word sentences at 14 mos and we don't. I'm not counting "thank you" or "love you" because they know the expression as a single word.

What's normal for this age? I don't think we have a doctor's appointment anytime soon and I don't want to be an alarmist, but I'm worrying.


Thanks, girls.

 

We just did a word count and, maybe it's late and our memory is failing but, they only have 15-20 words.

 

Do you have EI? If you are concerned, you could always contact them and have them come out and do an evaluation. My boys were 18 months old and didn't really have any words, so the pedi wanted EI involved. They qualified for speech. They were tested at 7 and 9 month old level(for verbal, not cognitive). They understood everything we said. Everything. They just couldn't say it. And in six months, they were released from speech, at their age level.

If you are worried, I would contact EI. My boys just needed a little help getting those words out, and once they did.... :faint:

I still blame their therapist! :laughing:

 

That sounds about normal to me! If you google it, they say 20 or so words at this age.

 

I think they fall within "normal", especially considering they are 16.5 months adjusted. My oldest DS had his first word (besides Mama and Dada) at 15 months (Dog), had about 10ish words at 18 months, and was talking like crazy by 2. I think there's a pretty wide range of normal at 18 months. But it certainly doesn't hurt to have them evaluated by your local Early Intervention program if you are worried! :hug:

 

Okay, that's reassuring! We have EI but we *just* got discharged a few months ago and I am dreading that process being renewed.

I'll give us (them) a bit longer before I freak out again then.

 

Firstly, your friends' twins are advanced. So I wouldn't think that's a fair comparison. It's hard, but kids learn things at different rates/timetables.

But for me, I didn't worry so much about how much they said. For me, I worried could they comprehend/follow my directions? And they could, reliably, by about 16 months.

I also counted every sound they made- like "moo" & "oink"- as those count and mine knew those but not their names. :laughing:

Two and three (& four) word sentences just happened for us maybe 2 months ago.

I am a chatterbox, myself, so I just read to them a lot and narrated whatever they or I were doing. Now they are VERY verbal- enough that strangers/health professionals are starting to routinely take notice.

 

When we took our boys for their 18 month checkup last month, our pedi said they like to see kids have at least 15 words by 18 months. So it sounds like you are doing fine.

My boys are 19 months (no adjustment since they weren't preemies). They have around 30 words each, maybe a few more for DS1 who is a bit more advanced. But the only phrase they say is "all gone", and that just started this week. Other than that, it's all single words. And like a pp said, our pedi said "sounds" count (baa baa for sheep, moo for cow, choo choo for train, etc.) as long as they use them only for the correct item (like they don't say baa baa for a horse and a sheep both). The funniest one is they started trying to say cantaloupe this week and it comes out "cow pee". :laughing: I have to get that one on video!

 

I think your two sound just about normal. I remember I used to write down the words I heard the kids saying at the age and brought it our pedi's visit for 18 months and she told us that they'd like to hear the kids have about 15-20 words. I thought my kids did pretty decent with talking at the age but they turned 2, their language really took off.

 

I agree with what everyone else has said, they sound like they're doing fine. Just chiming in to say that you can expect two-word phrases once they have about 50 words. That's the tipping point into children joining two words together, regardless of age.

 

Mine are about the same age and they are saying next to nothing. Yours sound pretty normal to me.

 

Not sure why the difference but up here, the screening is 5 words at 18 months - my girls barely had that but our doc wasn't worried as their receptive language was excellent. By two, they were talking up a storm & now, they talk up a storm & can actually be understood by most people. I really wouldn't worry about it.

 

Mine had no words until 25 and 27 months. Their receptive language was excellent, and late talking runs in my family. I never had them evaluated. Once they started to talk it was a cascade effect as they began, caught up and surpassed age-level expectations. They tested at a 6th grade level for verbal/reading skills at the beginning of second grade. If they are saying a few words and can understand your instructions, I wouldn't worry about it. Some kids just talk later than others.

 

Are you including the ECU Pirate "ARRRRGGGGHHHHH" because that counts.

 

I also think your friends twins sound very verbally advanced. Don't forget to look for some other area that your girls are more advanced in. Kids usually don't develop all skills at the same pace and tend to concentrate on one for a while, while letting other skills areas fall behind. My 18 month old only saids about 5 words. But his motor skills AMAZE me! He can kick, throw and even CATCH a ball. So when I think, gee my girls could say about 30 words at 18 months I remind myself that they couldn't kick or throw and they certainly couldn't catch at ball at this age.

 

The milestone is 2 word phrases (want juice! big dog!) by 24 months, so you have plenty of time. Two word phrases usually emerge between 18 and 24 months, so those 14 month old twins you know are quite advanced. Definitely do not worry.

 

I agree with everything people have said about developing at different rates. My kids were very late talkers, but now things are coming fast and furious. I did take them to be evaluated at 2 though just because we were having so many frustrations and meltdowns over them not being able to communicate. It helped me a lot to understand where they are vs. where they should be and also gave me some tools to help them start to talk, so I would recommend speech if you're having those kinds of troubles. If not, I wouldn't worry!

 

I also think they are just fine. My guys are 19 months adjusted and DS just started talking (about 15 words) but has great receptive skills--he's just always been a quieter guy. DD just started putting 2 words together. One of my brothers started talking before a year and he is still talkative. If they are meeting their other milestones and can follow directions ("put your baby in the stroller") I wouldn't worry.

 

Reading where other's kids are really helps so much more than the ranges I'd found online. Thanks!

Alexis is more verbal in a constant stream of babble sort of way. She points at things and talks and talks as if we're having a real conversation. We usually respond with "Really? The TV is on? Is daddy watching something?" just to watch her get excited and continue talking.

Samantha has the same vocab, but she doesn't seem to "say" as much as her sister. She's more direct- "that," "dog," "more."

They do talk to one another a ton and they understand commands very well. And, as Bex said, they know how to cheer on the Pirates (Aaargh).

I just confirmed our well-baby for next month. I'll probably jot notes between now and then just to touch base with the Ped, but I already feel much better.

 

I'm way too exhausted to read previous posts, but if you're concerned, I would definitely suggest getting them evaluated Steph! I know a couple of states (it may be all? who knows) that at and after 2 years old they require a 50% delay to receive help. Before 2 (here, Colorado, and Missouri I know for sure) require a 35% delay, so it's "easier" to qualify.

At 21 months, the boys were 36% delayed based on their 18 month adjusted age. We didn't actually get any of their OT and Speech started until July because of various waits, but thankfully they qualified. Now at 2 they switch over to their actual age and they are 47% delayed so we wouldn't have received help! They only know: Momma(Wyatt)/Mommy(Riley), doggy, uh oh, more, hi, bye. That's it. Nothing more. Not even daddy! Like I said though, we've only been getting help for about 2 months.. speech only for a month! They've learned to sign eat and more now though.

It stresses me out like no other because everything else they had pretty much caught up on ... even though they qualify in a few other areas, they are of no concern for me because they delays are in the 20 something %'s and I think it's more due to shyness.

 

My boys have recently been diagnosed as "delayed". With twins it's very hard to determine if they are just speaking their own language or are delayed. At 3yrs you (and others) should be able to understand 75% of what they say. If not, then have them tested.