13 m.o. and no "mama" or "dada"

[SeattleRain]

The title says it all, my son is 13.5 months old and doesn't say "mama" or "dada." He doesn't even seem to know the words mama and dada. We use the words around him all the time, like I'll say "We're going to see daddy!" or "Daddy is home!" or "Give the ball to mama." He doesn't seem to respond to them at all. I'm starting to suspect that he may have a social/speech delay. He doesn't make a ton of eye contact and he generally seems to be in his own world. Coupled with him not having a lot of speech, I'm starting to get worried. I wonder if maybe it's a boy thing, like maybe he's just a late bloomer in that regard. Or maybe there is something going on with his hearing as he doesn't seem to respond to us when we whisper or even yell his name, it often feels like he just doesn't hear us. His hearing was tested as a newborn and it came back fine. He's never had ear infections or taken antibiotics for anything.

Anyway, do any of these things sound like something to be concerned about? If so, how should I proceed?

[Jenni1894]

Yes, it does sound like a delay of some sort.  

I've had 2 kids in speech and the earlier you catch any delays the better.  

However boys do talk later than girls and at 13.5 mos don't have a whole lot of words.  I have no experience with "normal speech development.   But my ydd is almost 17 mos and has said mama/dada for quite some time.  The other 2, well that was about all they said.  

I am in IL and we have Early Intervention, which I think is required in all states.   Talk to your pedi and they will set up and eval (developmental, occupational and speech) and they will take it from there.   EI will do home services till 3 and then (at least here) you are transisitioned to the school district. 

[mckittre]

My kid (who's incredibly verbal now at 2.5) didn't say mama or dada until a bit later than that.  His first word was around 13.5 months, and was "moon", but he clearly knew what many common words meant by that age (could point to the appropriate person/object/animal when asked, etc...).  Not understanding would worry me more than not saying words that young.

[Hannah32]

I think you should talk to your pedi and set up an EI. I don't think it's necessarily a big deal, but the sooner its dealt with, the better. 

Our kids are almost exactly the same age, that's why this thread caught my eye. Just for comparison, my son only has "Mama" as a consistent word, but has said "cat," "dog," and "dada" before. He also can understand some simple instructions, like: "Get me a book," or "Can Mama have the ball." He also points at what he wants and babbles a commentary about it. Is your son pointing to express needs? 

I hope you don't take my post as bragging. I'm not trying to brag. I don't think my son is advanced at all. I think he's very average in this way. I've even been a little concerned at waiting for more words. Just thought you might like a comparison with a baby only 12 days older. 

[chel]

My 19m isn't a big talker and was no where close to saying anything at that point. The other things such as not seeming to hear is concerning, but not the lack of talking by itself.

[SeattleRain]

Originally Posted by Hannah32 

I think you should talk to your pedi and set up an EI. I don't think it's necessarily a big deal, but the sooner its dealt with, the better. 

Our kids are almost exactly the same age, that's why this thread caught my eye. Just for comparison, my son only has "Mama" as a consistent word, but has said "cat," "dog," and "dada" before. He also can understand some simple instructions, like: "Get me a book," or "Can Mama have the ball." He also points at what he wants and babbles a commentary about it. Is your son pointing to express needs? 

I hope you don't take my post as bragging. I'm not trying to brag. I don't think my son is advanced at all. I think he's very average in this way. I've even been a little concerned at waiting for more words. Just thought you might like a comparison with a baby only 12 days older. 

He's not pointing at all, thats actually one of the things that caught my attention. He doesn't seem to make any effort to communicate with us other than a few instances. If he's at the top of the stairs (doesn't know how to get down yet), he'll put his arms up for us to pick him up and take him down. If he's playing on the floor he will at some points come over and put something in our lap, or pull our face towards him to give us an open  mouth kiss while he squeals. He seems attached to us, but he has zero stranger anxiety. He'll let literally anyone carry him around, but when my husband leaves for work, he cries or when he's having fun with a sitter and they leave he'll cry.

He just started walking tentatively on Saturday. Do you think they're all related? Like, is his language/social development delayed in some way because he's been working on walking? Is this a boy thing? Is this within the range of normal?
 

[chel]

I would think that at the start of walking other thing might get pushed to the back burner.
Socially he sounds fine.
I think we just here more about the shy kids. I have one very outgoing kids and one more moderate.

Did you do a 12 m well baby? You might want to schedule a 15m one for reassurance.

[SeattleRain]

That's what I'm hoping. We did a 12 month WBV and she asked me about some of these milestones and told me basically "he's absorbing all that you're saying, so keep talking to him and eventually he'll talk back." It's SOP at our ped to do a 15 month WBV. It's Sept 7 so not too far away.

I actually took him to a playdate today with an 18 m.o. and he played very nicely with the other baby and was interested in her. I think it's possible that he's not getting enough influence of other children and mimicking what they do since he's at home with me 24/7 and I haven't made enough of an effort to get him out and socializing. I'm going to try that and see if it makes a difference.

[mommyofgb]

My best friend's son was around your sons age and he was too not pointing or talking, and had just begun walking where as my son was 10 months and was walking, pointing and had a few words. Again, all within the normal range. Does he ever reach out to things or use his whole hand to gesture to things? He doesn't have to use just the pointer finger to be pointing at something. Oh, and my first born, didn't say a single word until she was 15 months old and it was only ''dada.'' I agree with the other posters that he should be looking at you when you talk to him and be able to understand what you are asking/saying to him. You should bring it up with his ped. at his 15/16 month check up if he hasn't reached those milestones.

[mommyofgb]

I also wanted to ask, when you smile at him, does he smile back?

[SeattleRain]

Yes, he's very smiley. I went ahead and called my pediatrician, totally expecting her to react like I was an overprotective overworried parent. To my surprise, she called me PERSONALLY in the middle of the day to ask me in depth questions about my son's speech and socialization. She believes he's totally on point socially, he's just a very busy toddler and wants to DO DO DO. She said it does sound like he's a little behind speechwise. She's sending us to a hearing center to have his hearing tested to rule out any physical barriers to speech. She said that she's noted a few times over the past year that he's had fluid in his ears, but that she wasn't concerned because it wasn't infected, and he seemed to be progressing normally. If he does have fluid in his ears, he could really just not hear us well.

[mommyofgb]

Honestly to me, and I just don't want to come off like I am trying making you feel better, but he does sound like a busy toddler. My friends son is same way. Hes also smiley and social, but lagging a bit on some of his language milestones.

[NZJMama]

I think it is always better to get any concerns evaluated by a professional sooner, rather than later. In my opinion pediatricians wait too long to refer kids for services and valuable time is lost.  I would be more concerned that he doesn't seem to be hearing you than about his lack of words. Especially in light of learning to walk recently. I think you did the right thing calling your pedi now and not waiting and it sounds like your pedi is on top of things. However, don't hesitate to call your local school district and get him an evaluation by the early intervention team. You do not need your pedi's referral to proceed on your own,

[petriescz]

Hi there,

I highly recommend the Boyer Children's Center in Montlake. We received EI services there and hey were amazing. Also, we had a fabulous hearing screening at the Bellevue Children's HOspital facility by Overlake Hospital on 116th. We also had a speech eval at Mosaic by UVillage and UW. If you want more info let me know.

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

I think your child is just fine.  Now, if he still isn't saying anything by 15-16 months, I would recommend that you contact an early childhood development program.  I would not be concerned at all at this point though.