Let's talk speech.

[thatgirlrachel]

Pun intended.

I've mentioned before that DD had an expressive speech delay (but is thriving after a year of ST), so I find myself being hypersensitive about DS's speech. At his 18 month check up, I told the pedi that he had roughly 20 words that he says consistently and is not doing any 2-word sentences yet. Pedi thinks it's fine, but said he should be stringing 2-3 words together by 21 months or so and pedi thinks he will meet that based on what I told him. One of my bff's has a DD that is 7 weeks older than DS and she has been stringing words together for 3-4 months now. I know, I know - Don't compare (I've even said that here before). But, like I said, I am admittedly being hypersensitive.

All of this to say - How is speech going for your O17? How many words would you say they have? Are they using 2-3 word sentences yet?

[thatgirlrachel]

I forgot to add that the pedi mentioned they don't usually string words together until they have 50 or so words. So, I suppose that is a factor also.

[doodlemommy]

Resident SLP here!
At 18 months we want to see at least 15-20 words (older research gave us 10-20 words but some newer research is saying more like 50. So I personally go with 20+ to meet in the middle until more research comes out).

It is very true that combining words typically doesn’t happen until the 50 word mark. Some kids learn two word chunks (things like thank you or from a song or whatever) but that isn’t considered true combining. Combining words means novel combinations. So things like mommy shoe, daddy shoe, mommy hat etc.

At age 2 I want to see combining for sure. A bit earlier preferred but for sure by age 2.

[doodlemommy]

Now from the parent side...DD was a chatterbox and definitely using 2, 3, even 4 word sentences at this age and her vocabulary was almost 100 words at 18 months (I have a list on my phone...I’m lame). Like she said “want to see” and “I just don’t know” at 19 months. She continues to have a huge vocabulary and be a little chatterbox today at 4.5.

DS was 19 months on Sunday. He currently has 65 words and literally in the last two days I heard the first combination (mommy shoes). He is learning new words all the time and will imitate me if I ask him to. He does have a couple of 2 word chunks like thank you, up and down (from wheels on the bus) and all done. He went through a huge language explosion in the past month or so and his vocabulary pretty much doubled

[doodlemommy]

Also I am majorly impressed at your pedi. They are not totally out to lunch on speech norms! It seems like a lot of pedis spread misinformation to parents about speech and have no idea what they are talking about! So good pedi choice 😛

[thatgirlrachel]

doodlemommy, How do I *always* forget that you are an SLP?! Thank you for all of the information! DS rarely imitates when I ask him (unless it's just mama, dada, etc.). His words come more from his own initiation, which the pedi said was a good sign. Example: we read books every night, so he started bringing me a book and saying "book" on his own one day. He loves playing in water, so one night in the back yard he pointed to our pond and said "water" and still continues to use that word. Pedi thinks that the fact that he initiates these words is great, and part of the reason he thinks DS is on track. While reading these books, I can never get him to repeat "truck" or "cup" or "sheep". DD never did either, and that's probably a lot of what worries me.

[CoachTsWife]

I don't think DS2 has 20 words. He will try to imitate words we say, but hardly ever initiates. He grunts so much.

*grunt*
Me: "Do you want your water?"
DS2: "wa wa"

*grunt and points to chair in his room where I nurse him*
Me: "Do you want milk?"
DS2: "mil mil"

I was really worried about DS1 when he was the age DS2 is now. He wasn't talking much and then suddenly (I think around 22 months or so) there was a huge language explosion and he now (3.5) has a very large vocabulary and does not stop talking. Ever. Our pedi wasn't concerned at DS2's 18 month checkup and now we don't go back until his 2 year checkup this fall. His receptive language seems really good - he understand a majority of what we say. Sometimes I think I should be more concerned, but then I remember how much I worried about DS1 and he just needed a little more time.

doodlemommy I'm sorry, I feel like I've asked this before. I've heard that kids who are more physical early tend to talk later, and vice versa. That was certainly true for DS1 and DS2 is incredibly physical as well so it *seems* true for him too. Does research support that line of thought?

[curmudgeon]

I just made a list and barely got 10 words, and some sound the same. 😔 he has his 18 month visit coming up and I’m hoping the pedi will suggest something because H is very “wait and see/he’s fine” about it. He doesn’t even say DaDa so I’m a bit worried.

[danvers]

Just here to always second whatever doodlemommy says.


Both girls have or currently are in speech because both had under 10 words at 18 months. DD2 still doesn’t have many words (maybe 15?) but she has lots of signs too and we’ve drastically cut down on tantrums so that’s a huge win for me.

I’m always team speech though too.

[thatgirlrachel]

May 14, 2019 10:54:32 GMT -6 danvers said:

Just here to always second whatever doodlemommy says.


Both girls have or currently are in speech because both had under 10 words at 18 months. DD2 still doesn’t have many words (maybe 15?) but she has lots of signs too and we’ve drastically cut down on tantrums so that’s a huge win for me.

I’m always team speech though too.

I guess, for me personally, the possibility of having to send them both through ST makes me feel like I'm failing as a mom. Almost like, where did I go wrong, type of thing. And, I know that that is totally a ME issue.

[doodlemommy]

May 14, 2019 8:23:57 GMT -6 CoachTsWife said:

I don't think DS2 has 20 words. He will try to imitate words we say, but hardly ever initiates. He grunts so much.

*grunt*
Me: "Do you want your water?"
DS2: "wa wa"

*grunt and points to chair in his room where I nurse him*
Me: "Do you want milk?"
DS2: "mil mil"

I was really worried about DS1 when he was the age DS2 is now. He wasn't talking much and then suddenly (I think around 22 months or so) there was a huge language explosion and he now (3.5) has a very large vocabulary and does not stop talking. Ever. Our pedi wasn't concerned at DS2's 18 month checkup and now we don't go back until his 2 year checkup this fall. His receptive language seems really good - he understand a majority of what we say. Sometimes I think I should be more concerned, but then I remember how much I worried about DS1 and he just needed a little more time.

doodlemommy I'm sorry, I feel like I've asked this before. I've heard that kids who are more physical early tend to talk later, and vice versa. That was certainly true for DS1 and DS2 is incredibly physical as well so it *seems* true for him too. Does research support that line of thought?

I don’t know a ton about specific research into that unfortunately. There is obviously variability so sometimes kids who are more motor skill “motivated” are on the later end of the range for speech, but they still should be within the normal range.
Anecdote time... DD was extremely verbal and crawled at 8 months (although she backwards army crawled earlier) and was walking a week after her first birthday.
DS crawled at 6 months, walked at 10.5 months, and is still well within the normal range for speech.
If they are developing speech normally but are just in the lower end of the appropriate range that is probably the case. If they are way lower then it’s something to keep an eye on for sure

[doodlemommy]

May 14, 2019 10:00:08 GMT -6 curmudgeon said:

I just made a list and barely got 10 words, and some sound the same. 😔 he has his 18 month visit coming up and I’m hoping the pedi will suggest something because H is very “wait and see/he’s fine” about it. He doesn’t even say DaDa so I’m a bit worried.

If you’re worried ask for a speech referral. Best case scenario they say he’s fine and send you on your way. Or they may monitor. But if they are concerned about delays at least you are in the right place! Earlier intervention is proven to be more successful than later so I am always of the mindset that it never hurts to investigate if you are concerned

[doodlemommy]

May 14, 2019 12:01:52 GMT -6 thatgirlrachel said:

May 14, 2019 10:54:32 GMT -6 danvers said:

Just here to always second whatever doodlemommy says.


Both girls have or currently are in speech because both had under 10 words at 18 months. DD2 still doesn’t have many words (maybe 15?) but she has lots of signs too and we’ve drastically cut down on tantrums so that’s a huge win for me.

I’m always team speech though too.

I guess, for me personally, the possibility of having to send them both through ST makes me feel like I'm failing as a mom. Almost like, where did I go wrong, type of thing. And, I know that that is totally a ME issue.

I understand this but you are definitely not failing as a Mom! Isolated speech delays (like not linked to a global delay or some kind of other diagnosis/syndrome) have no real known “cause” that can be identified in most cases. And speech delays do often run in families, so it’s not unheard of for siblings to all need speech. Doesn’t make it any easier as the mom though!

[cythe]

Hahahahaha

We dont even say mama anymore. Just babbles.


**sorry this is laughing at my own situation and in no way laughing at you or your concerns. Im just clearly 0 help as my kid is so far behind in everything.

[cythe]

May 14, 2019 10:00:08 GMT -6 curmudgeon said:

I just made a list and barely got 10 words, and some sound the same. 😔 he has his 18 month visit coming up and I’m hoping the pedi will suggest something because H is very “wait and see/he’s fine” about it. He doesn’t even say DaDa so I’m a bit worried.

We are here, maybe a bit worse off. She used to say mama and when she would see me, say it. She has never said dada even tho she 100% knows who that is.

We are definitely going backwards, the only real sounds she makes these days is bababababa

[bootsorhearts1]

Oh cythe I hope little E is just on her own schedule. My friends’s twins were waaaay behind on all their milestones, talking, walking, everything and I remember thinking what on earth? But now they are normal 6 year olds so who knows. 🤷‍♀️

I have literally said prayers for E and I’m not even religious so yeah that’s weird ok, but I think about her, I know we all do. She’s one of our brood. We are here for you guys!

[bootsorhearts1]

Baby girl is saying 2 word sentences kinda, like mama milk, night night dada, unicorn fall, that kind of thing. Well, unicorn comes out as “corn” but we know that’s what she means. She probably knows 25-30 words, maybe more?

[cythe]

May 14, 2019 16:59:48 GMT -6 bootsorhearts1 said:

Oh cythe I hope little E is just on her own schedule. My friends’s twins were waaaay behind on all their milestones, talking, walking, everything and I remember thinking what on earth? But now they are normal 6 year olds so who knows. 🤷‍♀️

I have literally said prayers for E and I’m not even religious so yeah that’s weird ok, but I think about her, I know we all do. She’s one of our brood. We are here for you guys!

I thank you, truly I do.

She has her second EI evaluation June 6 because of course they couldnt get her in for over a month...

[doodlemommy]

May 14, 2019 17:04:26 GMT -6 bootsorhearts1 said:

Baby girl is saying 2 word sentences kinda, like mama milk, night night dada, unicorn fall, that kind of thing. Well, unicorn comes out as “corn” but we know that’s what she means. She probably knows 25-30 words, maybe more?

I love that unicorn is one of her words, that is so adorable!

[doodlemommy]

I’m sorry cythe. It really sucks that you have to wait so long for an eval. I will keep you and E in my thoughts and prayers, I hope you get some answers or at least a plan going forward after your eval!

[Taitai]

DS2 Is a chatterbox, just like his brother. I think it is likely genetic in our case, both of them had speech explosions around this age. DS2 has over 200 words, he can recognize and say the numbers 1-11, and he can recognize/say all of the alphabet. He says phrases “Go see Mama!” “Wheels on the Bus!” “Help me please!” I take no credit for it and don’t mean for this post to come off as bragging or anything like that. It’s just where we are - my kids tend to be super verbal. 🤷‍♀️

Both were slightly late to walk..with DS1 and DS2 not really being able to independently walk without holding on to someone’s hand until around 15 months. So there might be a motor/speech trade-off in our case.

[bootsorhearts1]

We have our first 4 word sentence. Mama! Me? Milk! Pleeeeeease!

How can I say no to that???

[Taitai]

I was thinking about this thread, and I realized one thing that might have helped DS2 voice his words pretty early is related to our bedtime reading routine.

DS2 has many books that he’s basically memorized by now, so when I read them, I will read the whole sentence, and let him finish the last word, or a key word that I am sure he knows is coming up. It’s gotten him used to talking, might help with confidence?

Example- from The Little Blue Truck
Me: “All together, one, two,...”
DS2: “three,”
Me:”One last push, and the trucks were...”
DS2: “FREE!!!!!!!!”

[cythe]

Uh, I think E tried to say dog yesterday. She was watching the neighbors dog and kept saying "duh" and various forms of that.

Every time i ask if she can say something, she just laughs at me. 🤷‍♀️

"E can you say mama? Ma-ma"
E: "hahahahaha" in the most fake laugh you can imagine.

[bootsorhearts1]

cythe dog pretty much sounds like duh here too. Toddlers have their own kinda weird language. Clock here sounds like....well let’s just say ‘l’ is a hard sound to make so it kinda gets dropped. 😬

[duskymonkey]

May 21, 2019 0:46:13 GMT -6 Taitai said:

DS2 Is a chatterbox, just like his brother. I think it is likely genetic in our case, both of them had speech explosions around this age. DS2 has over 200 words, he can recognize and say the numbers 1-11, and he can recognize/say all of the alphabet. He says phrases “Go see Mama!” “Wheels on the Bus!” “Help me please!” I take no credit for it and don’t mean for this post to come off as bragging or anything like that. It’s just where we are - my kids tend to be super verbal. 🤷‍♀️

Both were slightly late to walk..with DS1 and DS2 not really being able to independently walk without holding on to someone’s hand until around 15 months. So there might be a motor/speech trade-off in our case.

Just noticed this thread. I am going to be lazy and quote taitai. Word for word. That said DS is rather on the clumsy side and at 3, he was more interested at having convos with his teachers than interacting with his class buddies as a result he wasn’t as social with his peers. He has since improved. You win some and lose some.

[duskymonkey]

Taitai May be onto something, we read lots with both kidlets, more so with DS cos we had the time. Not bragging either but DS can now easily read level 2 readers no problem. He’s also able to read signs and pruduct packages so I can no longer “lie” to him

[curmudgeon]

We had DS2’s 18 month checkup today and the doctor was completely unconcerned with his speech. She asked if he had at least 10 words and could follow directions we give him. Both yeses. So I guess that’s good? He’s slowly adding words. Slowwwwly.

[thatgirlrachel]

May 30, 2019 19:27:51 GMT -6 curmudgeon said:

We had DS2’s 18 month checkup today and the doctor was completely unconcerned with his speech. She asked if he had at least 10 words and could follow directions we give him. Both yeses. So I guess that’s good? He’s slowly adding words. Slowwwwly.

We are adding words very slowly too. And trying new words. He consistently calls shoes "iss!". So he's trying.

[CoachTsWife]

DS2 has this jibberish phrase he repeats fairly frequently and I really wish I knew what he was saying.

I got a call back from our state's early intervention program yesterday. We should be getting an eval for DS2 in a few weeks or so.