No words still at 16 months?

DS is almost 16 months & he doesn't say any words other than just jibberish sounds-- "numbumadabam" things like that--- no words. He makes sounds but not with any meaning.

The ped said he should have 4 or 5 words by now that he uses with intent, like "up" or "no" or "mama" and "dada"

He understands certain things. If I ask where my head is, he'll pat my head, or nose, chin, ears, etc. He seems to recognize a few words like "banana" (he'll point to it), if I tell him "close" he shuts his book, when I say "open" he opens it. Not a ton of stuff, but he knows a few things.

The doctor seemed concerned that he has zero words, but I wanted to see what was normal for other babies at 15/16 months or so. I need to have him evaluated for motor skills anyway so I figure I'll get him evaluated for speech too. What was/is your baby saying at 16 months?

No words still at 16 months?

My DS was def talking by 16 months. I can't remember what he was saying but I remember my dr being concerned when he didn't have at least one word by 12 months....which he did not. He had it shortly after but I was concerned and told myself I'd give him 2 months.

I'd have him evaluated. It can't hurt but they also consider if the understand things at that age so he may not qualify but I'd rather be proactive.

No words still at 16 months?

I work in EI so I will give you both sides. My advice would be to have him evaluated. Its free, it doesn't hurt and if you don't receive services, the SLP that evlauates will give you a few tips and let you know what is "expected" as he gets older. They also can re-evaluate in 6 months and if he hasn't increased his language, they can use the intial score to help.
With that said, it can be very hard to be eligible for EI. You must be greater than 1.5 in two areas (receptive and expressive) or greater than -2 in one area OR have a large gap (high receptive, very low expressive).
Nassau referral is 516-227-8661
Suffolk referral is 631-853-3100
I don't want to mention what Agency I work for on here but FM if you are interested. I happen to think our SLP is the best evaluator and she also owns the agency.
Best of luck with whatever you choose :)

Sorry I just saw that you were having him evaluated for motor skills. I would definitely have him evaluated for language as well. It can only help him receive additional services and if he is delayed gross/fine motor that can help if he is only slightly delayed speech.

Message edited 11/26/2014 6:49:00 PM.

No words still at 16 months?

DS was stringing 3 word sentences by 16 months, but had very few words by 12 months. He just became very talkative out of nowhere. Some kids take longer. I would be concerned about no words though. If you're having him evaluated anyway, I would extend it to include speech as well. GL

Re: No words still at 16 months?

My oldest started closer to 2, my Dr was not worried?? I called for eval but they said if he understands what your saying it was more important. I personally did not speak till almost 4, I'm okay now! I had speech in school.

Ei is great, if needed it will help alot I'm sure

Good luck!!

Message edited 11/26/2014 7:28:50 PM.

No words still at 16 months?

My ds is currently getting pt through EI. The agency calls to check in monthly. When i asked about speech they told me to wait until 18 months for an eval, as the qualifiers change at that point and he would have a better chance of getting qualified bc of that. Before 18 months they wont qualify based on no words alone.
Feel free to fm me.
And btw, when i had him evaluated for gross motor i didnt realize they automatically test for everything under the sun. So regardless you will get results for all areas. Its so hard to go through all the results. I was incredibly overwhelmed.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

My ds has about 10-15 words. My pediatrician said 8-10 words is average. Every kid develops at that own rate but I would get him evaluated just for piece of mind.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

I think you're taking the right step getting him evaluated. They might be able to give you some pointers to get things going.
I had some concerns when at 10.5 months my DD still wasn't crawling. I asked a PT to take a look and she was crawling after 2 sessions.
Good luck

Message edited 11/26/2014 9:21:17 PM.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

My daughter is 21 months. My ode said to wait til 2 to have her evaluated. The only real word she says is MA, angus her receptive language is great. Believe It or not, she qualified. She is starting speech next week. You've got nothing to lose. I'd definitley get an evaluation.

No words still at 16 months?

DS was not talking at that time and we had him eval'd at 15 months. He has been receiving speech 3x a week since (he's 2 now).

If you're already getting him eval'd for motor planning, definitely have them test for speech as well. If he doesn't qualify, they can at least give you some helpful pointers/tips etc. Good luck!

No words still at 16 months?

At 17.5 months we were starting to really worry. A week later 20 new words and now she repeats everything. If you are worried him evaluated but I wouldn't freak just yet.

No words still at 16 months?

I would say if your concerned have him.evaluated. it cant hurt.
My dd by 15 months was talking a lot but she started talking young. I would say i saw an explosion of vocabulary at 15 months.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

My girls may have had 3/4 words around 15/16 mo. They had an explosion after that. They told us to wait til 18/19 mo but they had word explosions by then. DD1 was in EI bc her receptive language was delayed. She didn't get speech til 16 mo. though.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

No words still at 16 months?

It's positive that your DS is making sounds and even more positive that he understands you. However, he is behind in language development and as pp said it can't hurt to get him evaluated although it can be hard to qualify at his age. I would do it and just keep in mind if he doesn't qualify you may have to revisit in 6 months. GL!

Re: No words still at 16 months?

There is such a wide range for when kids start speaking. Our pediatrician wanted at least 5 words by 18 months. DS2 didn't say much at 15-16 months, but had a word explosion shortly after that. Boys also tend to talk later than girls. Is he trying to mimic your sounds? Does he know animal sounds yet? What about the first syllable of a word? It doesn't hurt to have him evaluated, but you may see a difference over the next few months.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

Ahh, we are dealing with this too. Went to the pediatrician two weeks ago and were told 15 1/2 mo old DD should have five words by now. She doesn't. She has a couple, but points to things, and does understand us. We're a bilingual household so I'm wondering if that has any effect.

Dr said we would reevaluate at her 18 mo appt. I really don't see her having much more then so I won't be surprised if we end up getting her evaluated too.

No words still at 16 months?

My nephew is 26 months and is now just starting to say a few words. They had him evaluated and he qualified for free services. I think if you are concerned it doesn't hurt to have him evaluated. I wouldn't freak out though. My nephew on my husbands side didn't say a peep until 3.5 - 4 he too qualified for free services.....now the kid doesn't shut up! He's a perfectly healthy, smart, and sweet 6 year old now.

No words still at 16 months?

my daughter is 21 months and she only says "mama". we've had her evaluated twice. the first time she didn't qualify because she scored very high in the cognitive area. we're waiting to hear back from this second evaluation this month. my husband didn't speak till he was about 3.5 and it must run in the family because all of his neices and nephews (minus one) had speech delays and all had to have EI to help them along. it doesn't hurt, so i would have him evaluated.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

Thanks everyone! It's good to hear all the experiences, it's amazing how different kids can be. I called EI today to set it up & was told I'll hear back next week for an appointment.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

I would definitely look into having your son evaluated for speech. My daughter didn't have any words and not much in the way of babbling @15/16 months, but she still didn't qualify for speech bc at that age they're not so concerned with words. Once your son turns 18 months the expectations change and he's now considered into the next age bracket as far as the testing goes so he has a better chance of qualifying. If he doesn't qualify this time around, you don't need to wait 6 months. You can have him reevaluated after 3, once he hits the next age bracket. That's what I did.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

My ds is 14 months and has 3 words: mama, dada and yeah. My dd had way more words then that at this age. Every kid is different. As long as he understands I wouldn't be too concerned.

Message edited 12/4/2014 11:23:38 PM.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

Dont WORRY! My one DC was talking by 10 months, my last, I was literally going to call EI that week bc of it, DC was just a few weeks shy of two and had like 4 words, maybe. Then the week I was going to call EI, DC vocab EXPLODED and DC just immediately started speaking in sentences. Now, DC speaks just as well as other kids their age and youd never know DC didnt speak until 2.

Re: No words still at 16 months?

The good thing here is that he understands and points to objects. It couldn't hurt to get an evaluation, but if he doesn't qualify now, then you can get him re-evaluated at 18 months.