I'm getting concerned that Catherine may be speech delayed. I know it's very early still, but she doesn't seem to make the connection that words are labels for objects. She responds to her name and babbles with inflection, but that's about it. She says "mama," but it's just a sound; she doesn't mean me. She makes a lot of "noise" but says no other "words."

She will try to mimic some physical activities such as smacking a hard surface with her hand, or blowing raspberries (no clapping or "so big" yet). She makes no attempt at all to mimic sounds when we talk to her. I think she's very smart and exceptionally intense, and all this is starting to alarm her very smart, exceptionally intense (read "Type A on steroids") mother! :roll:

And unless she just got an ear infection yesterday, there's nothing wrong with her ears. Any ideas? Would sign language help verbal development? If so, how do you go about getting started?

Teaching babies sign language is a tremendous help.

I don't know if it helps to know, but here goes. Ian doesn't really talk either. He's 13 months old and doesn't say anything intelligible at all. The only time I hear anything remotely close to "mom" is when he's really mad or upset and then it's momomomomom. He does, however, get that words mean something because if you ask "how big is Ian?" he will throw his arms up in the air and laugh. He can sign "more," "all done," "hi," "bye bye" and "nigh night." Well, hi, byebye & nighnight are the same... he just waves.

A good set of signs would be: please, more, mama, daddy, all done, hello, goodbye, drink, hungry, & milk. Bear in mind that babies often sign the way they learn to talk... the sign doesn't always look quite right, :lol: . The sign for "more" is done with the fingers of each hand being bunched together and moving the fingertips to tap together. When Ian does it, he essentially claps. But it's the *same* every time he does it, and the basic motion is there, so that's how I know he *gets* the concept.

Anyway... babies & toddlers get less frustrated when they can express themselves. It's hard when the verbal skills are at the same level as their understanding is. They often understand a LOT more than we think they do. Check the library for books on signs.. or better yet, dvds you can borrow. Just pick one or two to start with and stick with that sign for maybe two weeks. Add more as she responds.

Oh my, yes, yes, yes. I can't say enough good things about signing. Shae was incredibly delayed with her speech and the first thing the speech therapist had me do was start sign language with her. By the end of it, when she started talking she was signing over 100 words and two-three word sentences with the signs. It was the cutest thing you have ever seen!!!!! But more importantly, it made such a huge difference. We were able to communicate, her frustration level was nile b/c she could tell me what she wanted to. Plus, I finally started to realize that she was actually quite smart. She was 18 months and not even a little verbal, she had fell behind developmently and there were significant concerns with her neurologist that she would always have learning difficulties. It's so hard to know how much a kid knows when they aren't able to express themselves. Well, she picked up the signs VERY fast and once she started communicating to me, I realized that she wasn't that delayed after all (well, her gross motor skills still were). There really was an intelligent little gal in there. It was so awesome! She even started picking up the sign book that we learned from and passing it to me if she didn't know the sign for a word she was trying to express, she'd want me to teach her the sign for it.

Here she is signing boy. (http://www.shaelynne.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2&pos=2)

Here's water. (http://www.shaelynne.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2&pos=3)

Even now, it's been probably almost two years since she has stopped needing to rely solely on the signs but every once in awhile she'll do a couple that she still remembers just to show off.

Many people think that it will delay a child's speech b/c they will rely solely on their signs, but that's not the case. Speech therapists every where are using it for children with speech delays to encourage language development and it worked for us.

There are a number of good websites (I will try to find them again) that you can learn signs from and you can get some books. But I'd start with one or two signs at first until she gets it. Then introduce more. Please is an excellent one to start with, it's the first one Shae learned and she picked it up very fast. Please is done by simply rubbing your hand (palm down) in a circular motion on your chest. Do the sign and say the word at the same time.

More, as she said is also a good one to start with and Shae was the same way, the signs don't always look exactly as they are supposed to so you have to really be watching her movements until you realize that the little hand waving around is actually trying to tell you something.

Anyway, in case you didn't get it from this post, I highly recommend signing.

:lol:

Thanks, Roni and Lucy!

Those pics of Shae are wonderful. She has the most beautiful eyes!

Lesley,
We sign with Emma. She knows milk, more, book, and kitty.

Here is an awesome website where you can click on which word you want the sign for and a small video plays.

The alphabet is at the bottom...you just click on the letter and there are hundreds of words to choose from on the right side of the screen.

http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm

Yep, that's the one I used to use...thanks Amanda.

Now you all have me worried. Lauren is 8.5 mos. old and she was saying mom mom, dada, papa, and baba (not sure she knew what she was saying). Since she's learned to crawl, stand, and now trying to walk, she hasn't said much. She babbles, but nothing that you can understand.

Should I be worried that she is somewhat delayed or is there a guideline to where she should be for her age?

Yep, that's the one I used to use...thanks Amanda.

You're welcome!

:D

Alexys did the same thing...was making all kinds of sounds around 7-8 mos and then just stopped. I was REALLY worried, but then all of a sudden around 10 mos she just started talking and now wont shut up. I think it was she was concentrating on other more important (to her anyway) milestones.

Now you all have me worried. Lauren is 8.5 mos. old and she was saying mom mom, dada, papa, and baba (not sure she knew what she was saying). Since she's learned to crawl, stand, and now trying to walk, she hasn't said much. She babbles, but nothing that you can understand.

Should I be worried that she is somewhat delayed or is there a guideline to where she should be for her age?

Nope!!! No worries... some kids do things in spurts. She suddenly got busy doing the physical, gross motor skill stuff and put the verbal stuff on the backburner. It's still there....

Should I be worried that she is somewhat delayed or is there a guideline to where she should be for her age?

Sandy, everyone is right -- they sometimes stop the babbling to concentrate on other skills. Plus, it sounds like Lauren is doing tons more than Daniel did at that age, and we just had a really good eval done (except he wouldn't do everything that I knew he could do -- just being two :lol: ), and he was only one to two months behind average.

That's great news Becky!! I guess being a first time mom, I get a bit paranoid about everything.

I'm getting concerned that Catherine may be speech delayed. I know it's very early still, but she doesn't seem to make the connection that words are labels for objects. She responds to her name and babbles with inflection, but that's about it. She says "mama," but it's just a sound; she doesn't mean me. She makes a lot of "noise" but says no other "words."

She will try to mimic some physical activities such as smacking a hard surface with her hand, or blowing raspberries (no clapping or "so big" yet). She makes no attempt at all to mimic sounds when we talk to her. I think she's very smart and exceptionally intense, and all this is starting to alarm her very smart, exceptionally intense (read "Type A on steroids") mother! :roll:

And unless she just got an ear infection yesterday, there's nothing wrong with her ears. Any ideas? Would sign language help verbal development? If so, how do you go about getting started?

There is a wide range here for speech and language, Lesley. I will post the "normal ranges" tomorrow as I have them from the SLP. The fact that she has a distinct word "mama", makes babbling noises with inflection and noises in general is GREAT! That indicates pre-language skills and are very good signs. I would concentrate on one word or noise sounds for her. Our SLP is having us teach Iain the sounds animals make rather than telling him it is a puppy, horse, etc. because sounds come easier first. If she is babbling, then repeat her babbling as she is trying to communicate with you. Look to the context of the babbling and try to use short sentences to put it in context for yourself. Example: She is babbling and you notice that she is by a book. You say, "Catherine read a book?" She sparks up and you start making sounds of the animals inside and pointing, make noise for wind "whoosh", make fun sounds "wee" and that will all help. Believe it or not, "wee" is considered a word in SLP world! Hee hee. I will have to look up our assessment from our SLP and post it so that everyone can assess their kidlets. It is really LONG, though and that is why I have not posted it prior. It is supposed to be for the begining assessment so it would be appropriate for most children on the board learning their speech skills.

I am likely out tomorrow night for a time and when I return I will try and post what I can.

By the way, I have heard nothing but great things about signing. We are thinking we may start some with Iain as we have hit the frustration stage with him. He has not got the communication skills and now gets angry when he is not understood. :cry: We went through this with Walker and it is hard to overcome as their is self esteem issues involved. On a positive note, I heard his first sentence on the weekend... "I go" :D

On a positive note, I heard his first sentence on the weekend... "I go" :D

Way to go, Iain!!!!!

Thanks for digging up the assessment info, Leigh! Like with everything else, I always wonder if I'm jumping the gun and looking for problems where there aren't any.

Lesley

My cousins daughter is as bright as can be, but she wasn't talking AT ALL at 18 months. By watching her, you could tell she was very aware and smart, but she just babbled and made little noises as she pointed at things. She's now about 20 months and at Thanksgiving, my mom said she was talking up a storm. I wasn't there, but my mom said she had made a 360 on language development. So, it only took a few months, and then she decided to talk. Just thought this might make you feel better...

Noah says "mama" randomly, and he's said "lucy" a few times (dog). He hasn't said anything for a week or so, but I guess I wasn't too worried. I think he just has his mind on other things.

On a positive note, I heard his first sentence on the weekend... "I go" :D
Woohoo! WTG, Iain! It'll be interesting to read your assessment info., Leigh!

As for signing, we've been doing that with Evan for quite some time, and it really helped him not to be as frustrated when we couldn't catch on to what he wanted or needed. He's finally coming out with some new words again...and orally!!! :D

Thanks, ladies. Iain has not said it again. :? Little turkey. I know that I heard it from him even though I had not had my morning cup of coffee yet I was still lucid. :lol: Lots and lots of funky sounds coming on, though.

Sorry, but tonight I had something that kept me late and I am trying to catch up on some posts. I will definately locate and post the thingy tomorrow. :oops:

Ok, I have made a sticky for the screening assessment. Man, it is good thing I type fast! :shock: I will have to post the milestones tomorrow and will make it a sticky, too.

Hope that it helps. And let me know of any typos.

OK ... another month (and then some) has passed, and my original post of 27 November is still 100% true. We have no meaningful words, we have no back-and-forth babbling "conversations," "mama" is just a sound she makes.

Catherine understands a lot, like "Where is ____?, "May I have ___?" or "Go find _____" She just doesn't verbally respond or seem to have any awareness that meaningful words are supposed to come out of her mouth.

She's not quite a year yet, so I wouldn't be too worried yet. Have you tried introducing a few signs yet?

Do you remember where Trey was at with speech at one year? Often the youngest sibling speaks a bit later anyway, as he/she has someone else to do all of the talking for him/her.

Trey didn't utter a sound at all until he was 8 months old as he lost his hearing at 4 months from recurrent ear infections. Tubes put in at 5 months (3 1/2mo adjusted) but so much trauma had been done to the tissue that it took another 3 months for his hearing to fully return, confirmed by ABR (auditory brainstem response) test. Probably by 9-10 months, he was running off at the mouth and hasn't shut up yet. :director:

Catherine doesn't verbalize at all beyond babbling, and she mostly talks to herself. She can obviously learn what words mean because she'll look around for something if you ask her to find it, or give you something she's holding if you ask for it. She doesn't repeat sounds that are made to her, try to mimic words when we're reading, there is no two-way verbal interaction beyond making a request of her and her responding. It's like she can take in but not put out. Make sense?

As an SLP, Catherine sounds like she is right where she should be for her age, saying at least mama, babbling expressively and understanding simple commands and questions (children always understand a little more than they can express). Sign language is a great idea though - it gives preverbal little ones a way to express themselves, helps you understand what she wants and teaches her symbolic communication (a sign is a symbol for something just like a word is a symbol) which is important in learning how to talk. Use of signs also teaches the give and take of communication, especially how to request- if I do something (sign/ say a word) I get something I want.

Thanks, Pam. That's reassuring.

If she's on track, I can only assume that the parents of all her peers who report 4-6+ words vocabularies are lying. :smt101

Lesley, I think all kids are different. As Roni said Shae-Lynne was extremely behind in speech, but she amazed me in other things...like her signing and even playing on the computer very young! She actually showed me how to put the disc in mine! My other granddaughter, Ciara, was far advanced in her speech. No one could believe the entire sentences this kid would say. I don't think it makes one kid smarter than the other. They are just doing different things at different times.

Show Catherine some signs and I bet you will be surprised! When Roni started to teach Shae the signs, Roni would e-mail me the words she was teaching her and I bought the book and learned, so that when I went to visit I was able to communicate with her. It was awesome! I would sign, do you want grammy to read the "kitty book" or the "doggy book" and she would sign back which book. She also told me when she wanted to color or if she needed help with something.

I don't think you should be concerned, but if you are I also definitely recommend signing.

Best wishes
Jean

Jean is right that development varies from one kid to the next and there is often a wide range of what is considered "normal". Some of these other kids may be saying 4-6 words but that does not mean all 12 month olds do. Also their denfinition of a word may be different from yours. Their kids might say "ba" and they count that as 3 words b/c it can mean 3 different things for that kid - "bye", "ball", "bottle".

Studies have shown that sign language is great not only for kids with speech problems but typically developing kids as well for the reasons I mentioned above.

Cady's the same age as Catherine and although she makes no absolutely discernable words, she does utter sounds consistently to things. The sound "da", stands for dog, dad, and done. She points to the dog when saying it, leans toward her dad when saying it, and puts her hands up when she's finished eating when saying it. It may be just a sound to a lot of people, but it's words to me. If she knows what she means and I know what she means then it's a word. That's the extent of her actual vocabularly. Other than that, she's somewhat quiet, except for various babbling and ear-piercing screams that usually signal to me that she's tired. She definitely has the ability for speech and language and can follow very simple commands. I think the following commands part is the most important part of speech development, which proves that babies understand what is being said. Cady is definitely not as advanced as Kaylin who was literally saying two-word sentences when she was 11 mos. old. "I go", "what's that?" (well, really it was "wazzat?", but we got the gist), "I baba" (for my bottle), etc. It was amazing to watch and that child has not stopped talking since she uttered her first word, "tickle" at only 9 mos. old. Anyway, in my long roundabout way (which you guys know I do a lot), I'm saying I think Catherine's perfectly on track. There's such a wide degree of normal. Not to mention, I have realized that normalcy really depends on the child. For Cady, it's normal for her say "da" for three things and for Kaylin it was normal to be hearing sentences at the same age.