Toddlers Talking.

[andy-hughes]

At what age should a parent be concerning about a child not speaking?

A friend's little boy is just eighteen months old, and so far, has not said any words.

He is extremely well-developed in physical tasks, he walked at ten months, and his physical capabilities have all come in early.

He clearly understands things said to him, but so far, is not vocalising regularly, although he is beginning to vocalise some vowel sounds, and his concentration levels in play are increasing.

Should my friend be worried, or is his little one just a bit late in picking up speech?

[Milo2]

I can see why it might be a worry but apparently I was a late talker. I have a degree and according to some people, I now talk too much.

[Patsy33]

Has your friend's child got an older sibling? Sometime the younger child gets lazy and lets the older child do all the talking! Thats what happened with my second son. He was nearly 3, by the time he started speaking properly!

[sandyRoe]

I'm told that I didn't utter a word until I was nearly three.
Maybe some of us are late developers

[pixie374]

My oldest son was nearly 3 when he really started talking. I really wouldn't worry.

[andy-hughes]

Patsy - // Has your friend's child got an older sibling? Sometime the younger child gets lazy and lets the older child do all the talking! Thats what happened with my second son. He was nearly 3, by the time he started speaking properly! //

He has a brother who is eight who worships him - may be he does the talking!

[Neveracrossword]

My sister's son said virtually nothing at 18 months, and very little at 2. When he did start talking, he seemed to take to it very quickly- by 2 years 6 months, his phrases, sentence structure, sentences were way ahead of his peers.

[ummmm]

Leave him be.

[andy-hughes]

ummmm - // Leave him be. //

Why do you think they would do any other?

This is a concern, not a boot camp candidate!!!!!

[naomi24]

Einstein didn't speak until he was four (allegedly) and when eventually asked why, said he had nothing to say. That little boy will talk when he's ready.

[Buenchico]

If I see Sherrardk around I'll ask her to post here, as she's familiar with this situation.

However, as I understand it (from her posts here), one of her children was struggling to talk when he started school but now, at the age of ten, she can't shut him up!

[Jackdaw33]

Little boy never utters a word until he is seven. Suddenly at breakfast he says, "Not enough salt on this porridge".

Amazed and astounded his parents ask him why he has never spoken before today.
Boy replies, "Well,
g".

[Jackdaw33]

Something went wrong there. The last line should read, "Well, the porridge has been OK up till this morning".

[Cloverjo]

It's generally said that the early walkers are late talkers, and vice versa. No need to worry yet.

That myth about Einstein has been debunked I think, Naomi.

[Sqad]

Providing that there is no evidence that the child is deaf or has impaired hearing, then I agree with all the above posters that this is no big deal.

[ummmm]

Andy....too much pressure on parents and little ones. My health visitor said to me that leave them be and let them develop in their own time.

My youngest used to babble away to me and I couldn't understand a word he said but his brother and sister could understand him.

People worry too much and shouldn't compare their kids to other kids. They do things in their own time. How many adults do you know that can't speak?

[Jackdaw33]

Until he was about three my baby brother always called me Gaga as he couldn't pronounce my real name.

[ummmm]

Lol...yeah, my youngest used to call his brother 'the boy'

Me - 'who made this mess'
Him - 'The boy did it'

It's stuck....he's 21 now and we still call him 'boy'

[Sqad]

jack.......i have sympathy for him as Gaga is easier to pronounce for a young child than is Jackdaw ...;-)

[Jackdaw33]

Jackdaw is not my real name. It starts with an M and ends with an L.

[ToraToraTora]

my grandson is 18months, he tries to copy words and sounds but no clear words are evident yet. Sounds fairly normal to me Andy.