17 Month Old Isn't Talking

L.,
Congratulations!
That is so wonderful.
But don't worry so much. She's only 1.5 years old. I wouldn't expect more from the situation. She's been relocated and has to adapt to new sensations and stuff.
If she's trying there's a connection. Be patient.

My son is 19 months and says very few words. It is clear that he understands me when I converse with him. If I ask him to put his toy in the bucket he does, if asked if he wants something to eat he understands and runs towards the kitchen. I'm not too worried about him only having a handful of words since he does understand when he is spoken to. Sometimes I think he just doesn't have much to say. :o) Good Luck.

Hi L.,

Rest assured your daughter isn't verbally delayed by any stretch of the imagination. She's actually quite advanced -even for a girl. That's quite a vocabulary she has there. Forgetting some things is kind of normal, as she makes way for the new works, abilities etc. They'll come back without you even knowing it.

My grandson is 19 months and I was worried about the same thing, until I was with him on vacation. I realized all the words he was saying, and the ones I hadn't learned how to quite make out, until we were together.

So you can relax, she's doing great!

Warmly,

S.

L., my twin boys, adopted from Korea when they were 6 mos, were delayed in their speech, too. It was about at the same age your daughter is now that I became concerned. My pediatrician said it wasn't a big deal, but it still bothered me. I took them for an evaluation at Ken - o-Sha, which is in Grand Rapids. One was diagnosed as speech and language impaired, one as speech and language delayed. They started in an early intervention public school program when they were 2 and continued schooling ( with help there also from an occupational therapist, speech therapist) until they actually went to school. I am so glad I didn't listen to my dr. and got my boys help. I felt sad that I had to send them to school at such an early age. Who knows if they would have been okay if they hadn't received help from any early age? But I had to do all that I could for them. It was so helpful to have specialists (o.t., speech therapist, teachers) assisting me...At home, my kids were not understanding simply requests (receptive language skills were poor also) like "go get your blanket." How is your daughter's receptive language? Does she seem to understand you? That could be an indicator of whether or not she needs help. If I were you, I'd get her evaluated by professionals. Then, if they say she's fine you don't have to worry. If they say she could use the extra help, then you can get it.

L.,

No worries. My son will be 16 months old this week and is speaking about the same. Sometimes at this age they just want to show their independence and choose when they are going to "show off" and when they aren't.

L., Don't worry it IS normal, One day she will start speaking in full sentences. Give her time! K.
Mom of 5 grown and Childcare provider for 30 years

You might want to talk to your doctor, just to be on the safe side. However, at the same time my daughters will know something, but when asked to do it for someone else (or even us) they pretend not to. Both of my girls are older, but they both have went through this phase from the time they were able to do things and haven't stopped. I remember a time when our oldest started walking, when my mom got home (she lives with my husband & I), we tried to get Josephine to walk and she wouldn't. Not one minute after my mom went to her room she started to walk again!! It seems that whenever we want them to "perform" they don't want to - unless they are born natural performers I guess. At the same time, because she was adopted you may not have received all the information about her living conditions/environment during those 5 months (and you may have) and some of that may have impacted not only her speech development (or understanding of the English language) but also her motor skills development as well. A doctor should be able to help put some of the anxiety to rest. It is entirely possible that it is completely normal though - especially if you have seen, or had, her do it before. Some things just take time.

Our youngest was probably 2 1/2 before she started talking really clearly. We have a friend who is a speech pathologist and she told us that if it continued after the age of three to call the place she works and set up a consultation. She heard her talk, and seemed to think she would adjust - and she has. It seemed to happen suddenly over night.

If you're sure her hearing is normal, I wouldn't worry too much about this. Just enjoy her and try to keep things secure and fun for her. She might be trying out not doing what you want to see what happens. I'd mention it to her doctor when you go next time, but it doesn't sound like a big deal to me at this age.

L. ~
She'll talk when she's ready .... and then you probably won't be able to get her to stop! My grandson is the same age and only says a few words. When they get what they want without words, they don't worry about it. My grandson babble constantly, and you'd think he had tons to say, be we just don't understand his language! Every child is different. You could always ask your pediatrician what the normal age range is, but I'd be she falls right in there.
D.

L., sounds like your girl is saying a ton of words! I'm sure she understands much more than she's saying.
I have 5 sons and the youngest is 16 month olds old and that sounds about like where hes at.
Be sure to listen for a repetive sound for something that she uses consistently- like my boy says dada and waves and he does it every single time, hes really saying bye bye but it counts! His word for Dad is just Da. Something else to listen for is just plain old babbling, even tho she's saying some words, most of what she mutters during the day should be babble, thats how they learn to talk, so babbling is a good sign.
Another thing is it sounds like shes talking in sentances too! Even if they string 2 words together, thats a sentance! I think it sounds like she is doing great! I dont't think it sounds like she is verbally delayed at all.
Somthing else toddlers do is master one skill and do it over and over and then will completely stop doing it, especially when you want to show them off! But thats normal too, I think they need to make way to master the next thing.
When you are talking to her does she seem to know what you are talking about? For instance something like "lets go________" My son will head right for the door, doesn't matter where were going, hes ready to go! He also knows what eat and bite mean too. He will head right for the kitchen, or the nearest person with food.
I hope this puts your mind at ease. God bless.

All children develop at different rates and "normal" is all over the map. Try not to worry. However, if you are very concerned, give you pediatrician a call or make sure you bring it up at her 18 month well-check appointment. Enjoy this very fun age.

It is also quite normal for children to seem to "forget" skills they knew only yesterday as they attempt to master new ones. Often speech is one of the things that kids regress on most with young toddlers, but don't worry - your little one will likely be right back on track before you know it. Plus, at 17 months old, little ones are just starting to realize that they are autonomous and have thier own desires. Aka: They've realized that although they know they *should* listen - they've realized they don't *have* to. She may just be being stubborn about the high fives, etc because she's realized she can be. In my experience, the "testing" of parental authority (and a lot of those "terrible two" behaviors) often make their first showing around 18 months. Your little one sounds perfectly normal :)

Hello L.,

I can tell you from my experience, when our little guy (going to turn 3 in September) was about that age he seemed to quit talking so much, then at 18 months took a complete turn around and said absolutely everything. I was watching and making mental notes of the things he seemed to not be doing anymore. After 18 months and when he was saying everything, I assumed he was doing alot of absorbing during that time period.

Also I know I have a nephew who is 17 months right now and doesn't say a whole lot yet but you can tell he is just fine when you are around him.

Best of luck to you! L.

Hi, L.. I wouldn't worry too much for every child is different. I would however, have her ears and hearing checked with an Ears, Nose and Throat Dr. Your Pediatician can refer you. My son had so much fluid in his ears that he was a delayed talker. He had tubes put in and he flourished. I wish you the best of luck with your pursuit. Denise.

I wold have them check her ears. We had this problem with our son and found out he couldnt hear us because he had fluid that would not drain in his ears 9 behind ear drum. It was actually so thick it was like a mucous. He got tubes n his ears and has been great since. he caught up on his language quickly.

Is she speaking at all if you try to speak in her native language?

My cousin was adopted from Korea and he talked nonstop ( even cursed) in korean. It did not take him long to catch up but my Aunt had hm take private lessons and had another family who had adopted from Korea do day care when she worked so it helped his transition

It is actually pretty normal my daughter just started to really talk this summer and she is 2 1/2 years old. Every child is different and develops differently. My oldest son talked at an earlier age but like I said she just started to really talk. Don't be discouraged her time will come.

Give her time :) Lots of adjustments for her still, is my guess. And some little ones just take time to talk. My oldest is four. She started talking when she was 20/21 months. Before that the ONLY thing she would say consistently is "eye" and point at her eye. NOT so helpful ! LOL She is now a VERY verbal little munchkin with a fantastic vocabulary. Keep in touch with your pediatrician, but I'd say, again, give her time.

I wouldnt worry but just watch - I have an adopted daughter who is a bit behind but just with the range of normal and if I remember right that is still normal to not talk - my daughter is almost 7 now :)

Hi L.,
Just a thought but when my daughter wasn't talking much, I had her ears checked and she had had so many ear infections that she couldn't hear. We had tubes put in and she hasn't stopped talking. That was 5 years ago.
R.

have her speech evaluated.....it can't hurt....i caught my youngest speech delay early and she isn't that far behind now.. her hearing was checked first so do that also...it may be the changes she has been thru but it may be she just needs a little help...good luck