No words at 13 months - problem?

[Anonymous]

This may be another case of an FTM being driven batty by "What to Expect" but I thought I'd throw it out there -- our 13 mo DS is a happy, cheerful kid who seems to be hitting all the physical/motor skills milestones right on time, but he still hasn't started using any words. He makes sounds (ya ya ya, da da da, ma ma ma, etc) and babbles at us or to himself, but he isn't attaching any sounds to objects yet - so, for example, mamama isn't me, or milk, or anything in particular, it seems to be just the noise he feels like making at the time. Our pediatrician took note at our 12 month visit and said to keep an eye on it for another month or two. It's been a month - is it time to start worrying? Or more importantly, time to start doing anything about it? I assume the next step would be some kind of testing, but who/what/where? I'm not even sure where to start.

[Anonymous]

Too early to worry. Just keep an eye on it and continue to do lots of talking, reading, and listening.

[Anonymous]

Early intervention will evaluate for free for kids under 3. However, I don't think it's really a cause for concern until your kid is two with no words.

Our son said the same handful of words for months and months (da for dog, mama and dada) and was a few months past two before he really started talking and stringing words together. At one he said nothing at all. We ended up getting him evaluated at about 18 months and while he was slightly behind (a couple of months) in verbal expression (can't remember what they called it) it was completely within the normal parameters.

[Anonymous]

My nephew was making up his own language at 1.5 yrs, not really speaking any English words. His ped said wait til he's 2, that intervention that early did not help. Right at 2, he started speaking in English sentences. So I say don't worry! We all kind of miss his special language now too

[Anonymous]

A boy? Don't worry - if in 5 to 6 months there are no words then worry.

[Anonymous]

Agree that it's too early to worry. My DS didn't talk at 13 months and now at age 5, never shuts up!! I remember being a but concerned also at that age because it seemed like the other girls in our play group were already speaking 'better'.

Give it time OP!

[Anonymous]

My DS is 13.5 months and very similar. FWIW, my pediatrician didn't even take note - he seemed more interested in how interactive he was and how he was communicating generally.

I worry about most things, but for some reason this one isn't worrying me. I can tell he's really working on his language (alien talking, trying out different sounds, understanding when I ask 'where is the ball', etc), and that's what gives me comfort. Also, the fact that he's a boy and exemplifying 'boys are walkers, girls are talkers'.

[Anonymous]

You'll have another ped visit at 15 months - talk about it then, although it would still probably be too early to worry.

[Anonymous]

My 13.5 month old says one word...bubble. At our 12 month appointment, the ped said he should be evaluated if he still isn't saying anything by 15 months. I'm not too worried. He understands things just fine and will point to body parts, objects, etc. he has also been babbling to himself while he falls asleep at night. Maybe he's gearing up to start saying a little more!

[Anonymous]

WHAT???? No, this is totally NORMAL!!! Listen, your child is making sounds, is babbling a ton, and all that is perfect -- joyfully perfect -- at one year old!

Does your child point to things and make a sound (any sound)? Great! Is he watching your lips with interest when he's close and you're carefully enuncieating something interesting like his name? Woot! Is his receptive language starting to emerge, like if you say, "Where is your nose? NNNNNooose?" can he point to it? Wow, that's pretty cool for a 13 month old!

You can help him associate sounds with words with objects by repeating it (joyfully, excitedly, like you're introducing a young Hellen Keller to the world of words). So, like, he points to his milk and says "Ya!" and then you say, "Oh, you want milk?" point to milk "Milk? Say mmmmmmiiilk!" (and he says "Ya!") and you say, "Yes, mmmmilk! Milk!" Then give him the milk. "Milk! Yum, yum, milk!"

He'll be talking by three.

[Anonymous]

We have a friend with a 18 month old who never went thru the mamamamam,dada stages, her only word at the moment is Up but she doesn't make sounds or try to copy words. She seems to understand directions when given but I remember my DS being an early talker by 18 months his vocabulary really took off. My nephew didn't say much until almost two - but was reading by 2.5. Our nephew did go thru the sounds stage and the doctors told my SIL that things were fine. Our friends doctor has asked them to get their daughter evaluated because she isn't doing the sounds altough she understands instructions so its not a hearing issue. They don't think its a problem and haven't gotten an evaluation. At 13 months I wouldn't worry as much as I would at 18 months.

[Anonymous]

WAY too early to worry! My DS had like 6 words at 18 mos. Had about 100 at 19 mos. It was bizarre. I was worried- I had even called DC early intervention. Don't fret a bit.

[Anonymous]

Sounds count as words if your child knows what they mean.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry to see some really inaccurate advice (that if he's a boy, don't worry, that it's 2 years old without words that is cause for concern, etc.)

Having said that, I think that there is no cause for concern at 13 months. He really should have a few words by 15 months (even if just Mamma and Dada that has specific meaning to you and your DH, not just babbling). If not, then further evaluation is warranted, watching carefully. SO MUCH can happen in 2 months, though, so I would just keep reading to him and speaking to him and most likely, you'll be hearing words soon.

I have 3 kids and one child did have a speech delay. He said his first words at 15 months but it was slow going and we started speech therapy by about 20 months. Most family/friends thought it was overkill because he had lots of pluses going for him, but it was once we got help and evals that we saw other things. With time, his differences became a little more apparent and I was so glad that we had started intervention early. He's 4 now and has some issues but therapy has helped a lot. I'm meeting quite a few parents now who are just now at around 3-5 yo starting therapy and their children are quite behind and less likely to respond as well and as quickly than if they'd intervened earlier. So many followed bad advice from well meaning people.

So OP, chances are you have nothing to worry about. If you remain at all concerned in the future, just get an eval.

[Anonymous]

My DD is 14 months and she doesn't say a word. I'm not particularly worried about it. It will come.