Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
14-Month-Old Not Talking | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
My grandson will be 14 months in 3 days, and he has not said any words. I babysit him just about every day. He seems to understand a lot of things, his name for instance. I can tell him to bring me something or do something and he will. I talk to him constantly and try to get him to form words but he doesn't. An example of what he does do is as follows. I have some children’s music CDs that we dance and listen to. When he wants to hear it he will point at it and whine. Should I start looking into finding a specialist or should I wait a few more months?— Tessie in Clarendon, NC | | | ANSWER |
September 23, 2002 | | | Dear Tessie,
I think it's fine for you to wait a few months. Young children who are just learning to talk normally understand more than they can say. A toddler who is slow to talk, but who understands well, is probably going to turn out just fine. We know from research that most of these children catch up with their speaking before age five, and those who do catch up before age five show no long-term problems at all. Delayed talking (with normal timing for understanding) is more common in boys than in girls and often runs in families.
If you're still concerned, when your grandson has his 15- or 18-month doctor visit, talk about the issue with his doctor. In the meantime, what you are doing--lots of talking, singing, asking questions, looking at picture books together, and encouraging your grandson to express himself in words--is all helpful. For example, if he points at something he wants and whines, you can say, "Oh, you want the CD. Say CD!" Since he's still quite young, he probably wont say "CD," but over time he'll get the idea that he can ask for things with words. Many perfectly bright, well-adjusted children are late talkers. Keep enjoying your grandson, and try not to worry.
For more about talking and how it develops, see our section on Language: Talking and Understanding.— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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