I usually don't about where Tara fits in the world of averages or peers. She's her own little person with her own schedule. I understand that, but I am getting antsy... anxious even, that Tara is not talking.
I wish I did not compare, but when you have kids around you all the time talking, then it happens I am afraid. And it's getting to me more and more.
Her Carer and TinySteps says she says "Hello Daddy". I am yet to hear it... I don't deny it, but I feel she is probably just making her noises and people are assigning words. That happens A LOT.
She says ME a lot. But I think that is just HER sound. A noise. Not a word. She uses it in context, but the intent is not there.
She follows instruction like no tomorrow. She understands LOTS.
When talking to someone about this yesterday they said "Oh, but she can say 'Water' and 'more' and 'up' and things, right?" and I just shook my head. Nope. She does not say any of those. She understands the word, but does not say it.
She does not mimic any sounds/words from books - like animal noises.
I thought she was perhaps saying Puppy occasionally, but I think that was my wishful thinking and projection.
She whinges and whines and grunts with pointing for asking for things and getting her point across.
She only says mummy if waking from a deep sleep and being upset.
She said Hi. That's about the most consistant and clear thing that she says.
So my question is. At what point do I get worried?
Friday, June 29, 2007
I know it should not bug me, but it does.
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OMG, Kristie when I read the title of your post I thought it was about that OTHER thing we were talking about on msn. LOL! I nearly choked on my hot chocolate! :o)
Ok, now back to Tara. I guess I didn't have too much reason to worry with Harry because she was signing. Can you see perhaps if she'll sign? Just one or two signs might allay your fears. I honestly wouldn't worry at all until around two years of age to be honest, I have just heard so many stories of children that didn't talk until around that age.
Tara is only now....what?....19mths? She still has another five months and if you think back to what she was doing five months ago you'll remember it's an awfully long time for development. And for the love of GOD don't compare her to Harry. That girl doesn't shut the hell up (no idea where she gets it from) and seriously is not one for comparisons (not that she's some super genius or something, not at all, just that she is a really BIG talker and most children are wallflowers compared to her).
Love Cass
Kris, take her for a checkup just to be sure.
As a nurse, one of the things we check for is speech, and by 18 months, there should be between 4 - 10 recognisable words that the child can say.
Of course, not every child fits into the 'guidelines' and is still normal. Being out of the speech guidelines but within normal levels for everything else might mean nothing except that Tara just doesn't want to talk! It's not something to worry about, but it is worth getting it looked at, just in case. Because she understands so much, I personally think she may just be a little uninterested in talking.
I like this quote (about 1 - 2 year olds) 'Most babies say their first words toward the beginning of this period, though some start even sooner and others don't start talking until they are nearly 2 years old. If your baby is preoccupied with learning to walk, he or she may push talking to the back burner; this is not unusual and nothing to be alarmed about.'
From http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/growth/communication/c12yr.html
Here's some good sites for development. Trying to find one other one that is unreal for ALL development.
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/NidcdInternet/Templates/InternetTopicNavigation.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7bB861080E-AD3F-43BF-A484-D0E23E9D03A1%7d&NRORIGINALURL=%2fhealth%2fvoice%2fthebasics_speechandlanguage%2easp&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest#mychild
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/not_talk.html
Hope this helps a little. I think it's just normal for Tara and one day she's going to wake up talking in sentences and skip the learning words stage all together ;)
Liisa
It's hard not to worry but I'd be erring on the not worrying side at her age ... maybe if you look up some common causes of delayed speech, and associated behaviours, you'll feel more at peace? Like she obviously doesn't seem to have any hearing loss. Does she chew and swallow well? That kind of stuff. Might give you some peace of mind while she gets around to it :)
I personally wouldn't worry too much yet. Trust your instincts about her generally. Did you know Einstein didn't speak till he was 3?
The fact that Tara is understanding and following instructions suggests that nothing is wrong. Both Ben and his young cousin Ewan didn't speak until very late (about 2 1/2-3 years of age), as they did not want to until they were sure that they could do so properly. It's not uncommon in gifted and talented kids. :)
Yeah I agree. The fact that she understands is great, and Id wait a few more months, and if your still worried you could always try a speech pathologist.
I know Tara signs, I've seen her! If you are really worried I guess it could be a physical thing (did she have tongue tie?). I have to say though, like someone else said I think she'll just start talking in sentences one day & skip the one word stage altogether.
Hey there, I've had kids at both ends of the spectrum (ok, not as far along the talkative end as Harry, but talking early and lots all the same)... Anyway, Erik seriously did not talk until he was two. At his 12 months check up (at 15 months of age because I was a slacker), the mchn was concerned enough to ask me to bring him back at 18 months and if he wasn't saying words by then she was going to refer him to an speechy. I didn't go back when he was 18 months because I didn't want that referral. He understood everything we said to him, and he made himself understood through gestures, so I figured he just didn't feel the need to talk yet.
Anyway, he started talking around age two, and by 2.5 he was saying 2-3 word sentences. By age four he NEVER shut up, and pretty much hasn't since. He has a fantastic vocabulary for an 8 year old...
If you gut is telling you something is wrong, then listen to that. A friend of mine who's son wasn't talking much was worried, I told her not to worry, she didn't listen to me, LOL (some people don't, can you believe it!), and as it turned out he did, indeed have sensory intergration issues which have been addressed and at 5 years of age, he is all but caught up... But, only listen to your gut, not what anyone else's child is doing...
this is just a test comment
With Dashiell one of the things I learned early on was to stop looking at other people's kids and what they do. It's a world of hurt waiting to happen, even if you don't have a kid with delays, because there is always going to be someone with a kid who does something faster, earlier, better or whatever. And some parents really turn it into some kind of pissing contest too.
If she's meeting other milestones, and she obviously has a grasp on language, i.e. you know she can understand what you're saying to some degree and responds/acts accordingly, then the odds are that nothing is the matter. Grasp of language is more than just speaking, it's also reacting and responding to what is said, and I get the feeling that she does that just fine.
The range in "normal" is very large, some start saying words very early, and others don't speak at all until 3 or later. Some kids just don't feel it's important to say anything for a long while.
You'll probably also know in your gut if something is really wrong.
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