My 16 month old doesn't talk. Could he have a speech delay?

Question

He babbles stuff like mamama & dadadad, but he doesn't ask for us by name. He used to say the dogs' names(sort of- he calls Zeus "zzzz" & Guiness "nin nin nin"), but not anymore. When he wants something, he just points & whines.
As a newborn, he failed his 1st 2 hearing tests, and then at 3 & 5 months his eardrum burst (all of this in the L ear only). I know he can hear at least partially because he looks when we call his name & jumps at loud noises.
I called Early On a few days ago & we're waiting for someone to set up a screening for him, and I'll talk to his pediatrician at our Jan 4th check up.
If you had a similar experience, what was the outcome? Did your child catch up, or is he/she still lagging behind?

Answer 1

my son had the same problems boys develop language skills slower than girls, and i took him to speech therapy and this is what they did, took like 20 books, sit on the floor pick one out of all of them and go through the books pointing at pictures and saying what they are, and when you finish one book make him say something like more or another, and get another book to do the same thing with keep labeling everything and after a few days focus on like one or 2 things to really nail down like CARS, and DOG or something and keep builing the vocabulary when he masters a word i did the 30 min session 2 days a week, and also on my own time after i saw what they did i worked with him more and i stopped going to speech, and he is doing good now, when you get him dressed say.....the SOCKS and show the socks go on your FEET!! and so on and he will pick it up! fast my son went from 3 words, to now about 20! He just turned 2 in OCT!

Answer 2

Well, my situation wasn't totally the same, but my daughter was verrrrrrrry late to start talking. She didn't have any hearing problems, she just didn't want to talk. She also pointed and grunted or whined when she wanted something, like your son. She said "ma" for the first time at 22 months, and "da" a few days after that. My pediatrician said not to stress until she turned 2, and if she wasn't gaining language at that point, then I should get worried. So literally a few days before her 2nd birthday, she finally started with a couple of words. Since then there have been dramatic changes. She's now almost 3 1/2 and doesn't ever stop talking!!! Most people understand her, and that's wonderful. I'd say she's still a little bit behind, but not that noticably. Definitely talk with your doctors, and have his hearing double and triple checked!!!! Goodluck!

Answer 3

My little brother, currently 7.5 years (I'm 26) was delayed in his speech. My mom had a hard time getting him into a good speech therapist, apparently all the good ones required recomendations and everyone kept telling my mom he was still in the normal development range. She kept at it and finally got him into speech therapy when he was between 3 & 4, not sure as I wasn't living at home anymore. She found out a few years into it that he had been in the 8th percentile when he started speech therapy. We aren't real sure what caused the delay, his hearing is fine. But, when he was a little over 3 his ear drum burst and he hadn't even complained of it hurting, which caused my mom to wonder how many infections he had had over the years. It very well could have been the cause. His speech is improving. If he gets frustrated it gets worse. We can all mostly understand what he is saying. But it is still tough, my 5 year old speaks much better than him. (Which causes plenty of tension between them)

My niece is completely deaf, they aren't sure when she lost her hearing, or if she was born deaf (she passed her initial hearing test, but my sister isn't confident in the nurse that administered it) My niece was a failure to thrive baby and doctors kept dismissing her health problems with, she'll catch up...

My sister knew it was more than that and brought her to doctor after doctor until she found one that would listen to her. She was close to a year old by that time and my sister had already diagnosed her daughter (she did a lot of research) with CMV, a virus that my sister had contracted during pregnancy, although she (my sister) never had symptoms. Blood tests finally confirmed that CMV was the problem and that as suspected my niece was deaf. She had a cochlear inplant by 18 months and with intense therapy is now speaking. Her vocabulary is exploding and most people can understand her. She is 4.5 years and talks about as well as my 3 year old.

Moral of the Story,- You, as the parent knows what is going on better than anyone, so don't be afraid to be persistant until you feel comfortable with the situation.

I wouldn't worry simply because he is 16 months and not talking, even the regression could be because he has found an easier way to get his way, but your concern and worry is enough reason to get him checked out. Hope all works out well for your little guy.

Answer 4

When my daughter was about 14 months old she started having horrible ear infections. We had her in the emergency room countless times. After A while I got so fed up with the doctors. I suggested tubes. When i was young I had the same problem with my ears, it was when I was 5 years old and I almost lost my hearing. After the tubes I can hear fine. We thought my daughter had the same problem with speech until she got the tubes and could hear much better. She is 3 now and here speech is right were it should be.

Answer 5

None of that happened with my children but I do know that my son (who is 17 months old) doesn't talk very much only when he wants too which is rare. He says mommy, dad, sister and kitty and every once and a while he will say Grandma and his way of saying Grandpa is "Ba".

He pediatrician is not concerned as she said that kids talk when they want. He will start soon and if he does not by 24 months they will have him checked out.

Your son should be fine, don't worry about it. :) Good luck at both of your appointments and I hope that all goes well with your son. Merry Christmas and have a Happy and Safe New Year.

Answer 6

My son does not talk very much at all he loves to point to things. He is more of a climber and getting into stuff than talker. He can go get things if you ask him like his cup, shoes, toys etc. I wouldnt worry until at least 2 years old. As long as he can say some words like mama, dada,. My son only says a few words and the doctor said thats fine as long as he understands a few things you ask him to do

Answer 7

I think boys are just slower to pick up language. My first son went to a speech therapist because his language was slow. All they did was play with him and kept repeating words. They did teach him a few signs this helped him communicate with me when I didn't understand what he was saying. He learned how to say please, help me and more in sign language. He only went for a couple of months. Now he is 7 and I can't get him to stop talking. I think when they are ready they will talk. Just don't compare him to other kids; kids do things on their time. :)

Answer 8

try spending sometime talking to him each day like 30 min.s or so when you do try to have him look at you when you talk play games with him like use a farm and farm animals and say thing like the cow is eating can you have the cow run and as he takes the cow tell him the cow is running also try signing up for Parent as teachers they are great they can help you with teaching your child they also do free screenings.

Answer 9

he is only a baby . give him a chance.