word and speech question

[faithsstuff]

So I just had a lightbuld moment and realized my 20 month old ds isn't talking. Yesterday it hit me that maybe it was time to start looking into this more. He says ball, tete (paci), itty (kitty) and few and far between will shout da when he wants daddy. He shakes and nods his head for yes and no, he can follow directions, he definately communicates, just doesn't use words. He doesn't try to mimic sounds or lip shapes. i can point to objects and count to three and he points right after me making a humming sound instead of words or consonants. At his last check up the pedi told us to cut back on the paci to get him talking, but it just aint working. How many words does a child his age usually have, and would you ask about speech therapy if me?

[simplemama32]

I would consult a dr. if you're truly worried, but for comparison's sake...

When DS was that age (around last December), he said a few words, and would communicate a lot through body language, like pointing and saying "uh-uh-uh!" when he wanted something. Between then and his bday in April, there was a huge language explosion, and he is now (at 28 months) speaking full sentences and is in general a Mr. Chatterbox. ;-)

[pbjmama]

I would say your ds has 4 words. My ds had 5 @ 22 months but his receptive language (understanding) was 99%, I had him tested and because of his receptive language his score was average. Usually there has to be a 50% delay for state therapy. His lack of language continued to be a problem but he never qualified for therapy. I ended up getting him some private therapy (very expensive) and it was enough. Now he has speech problems (articulation). All of that said, I think alot of kids have a language explosion right around 2 years old, so I would keep an eye on it, see if he is gaining words and wait until he is 2 to seek evaluation. That is if you had a hearing screening - otherwise I would go ahead and have the hearing test now.

[YayJennie]

My 17 month old son isn't talking much either. He has 3 or 4 words that he'll say randomly, but the rest of the time he just points and says "eh". He signs a bit and can understand complex directions, but just doesn't talk. I figure if he's still not talking by 2 years old, I'll worry. But because he has good comprehension and does babble a lot, I just figure he's taking his time actually talking. If I were you, I wouldn't worry