[huggabubbamumma]

Hi All

I was looking at the milestones for a 20mth old just to see how my son is doing and a lot of them say that the child should start to say 5 - 10 new words per day or progress from being able to say anywhere from 50-300words per day. Now at best my son can say 20words. He is seeing a pead and a speechie and they have both said he has an expressive language delay. He originally was going to them due to other issues however they have been sorted and this is what they have said.
For the most part my son is very normal however his speech is very slow and he is such a quiet little boy. He can undress himself, build a tower of about 6-7blocks, loves being read to, point to objects you name in a book, understands everything you say and is starting to want to play and chase with other kids. He is also pretty laid back and does most things you ask with little fuss.

So do you think it is reasonable to expect that most 20mths olds are able to say 5 new words per day and are up to being able to speak about 50words. My older son was like this. However i am trying to just let my younger son develop at his own pace however when we see the speechie or pead i feel like he is way behind.
Cheers

[ejox]

Hi

its hard to say if the have a speech problem or are just lazy. When i was little, i never spoke. When i started kindergarden they told mom i have to see a speech therapist. But in the end i just refused to speak. Now i dont shut up.

if you are really concerned, get them checked out, he seems very bright as he can do other things.

Follow your instincts

[ourlittlegirl]

Not sure where you got that info. It's supposed to be 50 words by 24 months.

5 to 10 new words a day isn't right either as children often have language spurts. So they have a big jump, then no new words, they just consolidate the new skills they have learned, then another jump.

20 words at 20 months sounds pretty spot on to me. You still have 4 months for the other 30 words (to get to 50) and that is certainly realistic.

I wouldn't class 20 words at 20 months as an expressive language delay.

This post has been edited by ourlittlegirl: 05/06/2008, 08:12 PM

[salsydney]

I have to disagree with the above poster... it's more like 50 words by 18 months, at 2 yrs you would expect 2-word combinations...

WillandBrody - it sounds like you're doing all that you can for your son, just keep persevering...

[Shelly3]

50 words at 18 months??? Holy crap!!! My DD doesn't have anywhere near that many.

In fact she has only in the last week extended her vocabulary past 5 words.

I must say though - without this sounding rude because it is not intended to - I am really getting tired of people expecting all children to develop like a text book. My DD may not have 50 words but she is expressive, happy, healthy and loved without conditions. I am sure she will learn 50 words when she learns 50 words, not when "they" tell me she should.

[LottieCait]

I absolutely agree with you Shelley3!

Why do we feel the need to place so much pressure on our children? They are still babies for goodness sake!

My DD has just turned 18 months and I have no idea how many words she has. She can communicate just fine so I am not worried at all. Some of her little friends have more words and one can even speak in sentences but this doesn't make me think my child is behind developmentally.

All children are different and as a child care worker I have seen the whole spectrum. I don't think anyone really needs to worry until the child is at least 2. Give them a break!

[ourlittlegirl]

it's more like 50 words by 18 months, at 2 yrs you would expect 2-word combinations...

Sorry, I do this for a living. It's 50 words at 24 months and starting 2 word phrases. That's what I was taught and that's what the research says. If it was 50 words at 18 months then 90% of the children I know would have a language delay.

The period between 18 and 24 months is SO variable that as long as a child is understanding language and is babbling and has some words then I wouldn't be too concerned until 24 months.

This post has been edited by ourlittlegirl: 06/06/2008, 08:46 AM

[shaggybanks]

hi ive just come in to ask a similar question.

so what words should they be able to say??

tillie babbles an awful lot she says

wees mumma dadda grace poo goosles (translates wiggles)not much more though.

my first two talked in their sleep they talked so much.

matilda grunts alot and says ehhh ehhhh ehhh...it drives me nuts. so apart from her speech she is pretty "normal" and is even fully toilet trained.

is it because she has 2 older sisters who do everything for her and who do you see if there is a problem?

[mumaboo]

Hi Will and Brody,
My ds is 21 and half months old, and you have just described him! I think though, that my son also sounds more shy than yours. He tends to back away from other kids, and laugh from a distance rather than join in. My ds also communicates a lot non-verbally, and babbles a lot, but also makes a LOT of 'TS' and 'K' sounds when he is pointing something out of interest etc.

I am not too concerned yet, but have him booked in for an assessment with a speechy in about 3 weeks. Ihave heard so many similar stories where one day around 2 or older the child just has a language explosion. My ds has a brilliant understanding of language. Just not able to express it.
My DH however apparently barely spoke till he was 3, then never has shut up since!!
Hope that helps!

[TPS]

At 18 months, my DS quacked at everything ("Yes, darling, it IS a cow!") and said ta, Mum, Dad.

He is now almost 23 months, and the last month has been a MASSIVE spurt of words - repeating EVERYTHING and I figure now he's got around 100 words that he knows, understands, uses regularly. That is expanding everyday. He has just started putting two words together (eg: "more, please").

His little friend is 25 months and has been speaking in full sentences for 4 months. They're all different!