Tot Does Not Talk
Dear Ruth,My daughter is 22 months old and still does not talk. She is very verbal but, except for a few words, it is all gibberish--I do not believe it makes any sense even to her. She has no interest in imitating others. She points to objects and says "Sat?" meaning 'what's that?' She can say 'bus' and 'Boba' (Barbara) and 'blanket.' She slurs her s's, but we have several adults in our family that do that, so it does not really concern me. She was saying "mom mom mom" and "dad dad dad" but now that is no longer in her vocabulary. She knows what you are saying to her, because she takes directions very well--go get the ball, bring me a book, etc. But when I ask her questions she never tries to answer. What can I do to encourage her to talk?
D.S.
Dear D.S.,
Children learn speech and language at different rates. Your daughter is right on track with pointing to objects and asking for their names. But you are correct to be concerned about her speech production; I have some concerns, too. Most normally-developing children in my experience enjoy imitation games and verbal give-and-take with Mommy. These are vital avenues of language-learning for the young child. And it particularly concerns me to learn that she had "Momomom" and "Dadadad" but lost them. It sounds as if there may be something in the way of her growth, and it needs to be checked out.
A child could have a hearing loss that is interfering with her ability to learn language, and yet be able to follow directions such as 'go get the ball' or 'bring me the book.' Or she might have good hearing sensitivity but inadequate mental discernment of speech sounds to support her growth. Or she might have difficulty planning the complex movements required for speech. These are a few examples of difficulties which do not typically disappear with time--but early treatment can make a world of difference.
Consult your physician, visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association at www.ASHA.org, or phone the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071. for a referral to a speech/language pathologist. Your local school district might have an early intervention program. If need be, pay for an assessment by a speech/language pathologist. If there is a difficulty that needs attention, this is the very best time to begin. If not, you will gain peace of mind. Either way, be sure to ask for individualized suggestions for supporting your daughter's speech and language growth.
Best Wishes,
Ruth Alice Jurey, M.S.
Speech/Language Pathologist
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