Speech Development- 18 month old daughter is...

[half_cowgirl_half_angel]

...behind. Any advice? Personal experiences? My daughter, who is very bright in all other aspects, is behind in her speech development. I read that at this age that she should be saying 6-10 words, but the only "word" she really says is "bye-bye". She communicates with gestures mostly, like using the gesture I always did when I would ask her "all done?". Instead of saying dog, she pants like our dogs do. She "talks" all the time, and her inflection is right on, as if she was talking, but in a language I just don't understand. If she's angry, sad, happy, etc., her inflections and pitch are right. We're 99.9% sure it is not a hearing problem.One theory is that she regressed when my son was born. They are a year apart. Anyone with kiddos this close together, please let me know your experience. She is an excellent problem-solver and very smart in every other aspect, but she babbles like a baby, and it is very frustrating. Would playing with other kids her age or slightly older help motivate her to talk? Ideas, advice???As far as other developments such as crawling, walking, etc, she was very ahead the usual timeline. And I do make it a point to talk to her all the time. I have a little brother 10 years younger than me who was born with a minor cleft palate, and I was taught how to talk to him to teach him how to talk and speak properly when he was a baby. Another reason this is SO frustrating! My aunt is a speech pathologist, but 1500 miles away unfortuantely. We are going to ask for a speech referral at her next doctor appointment this month, but curious to hear other parents' experiences and what worked for them.

[mvmnexprt]

yes I think that playing with other children would help immensely but the thing that would help the most is talking to her allot and get her to talk as well even if it is not sensible correct her and then move on. The more you engage her to speak and really talk to her the better she will get, it is that simple. Talking is a motor skill and it needs to be practiced to improve. The other thing that many parents overlook is that there is a definite mind body connection to learning kids who are delayed in their motor skills (walking running jumping climbing etc..)Will have delays cognitively as well; so take your child to the park play with them often and get them moving this helps the brain with problem solving and will help your child learn. Reading is very important as well read to your child use flash cards identify everything, they are little sponges and they will surprise you and say something days or weeks later that they only heard once. Good luck.

[getrd2go]

You need to have her evaluated by a speech therapist. Most states have agencies (child development) to provide free screenings and therapy if needed until the child is of school age and the school system takes over from there. When my oldest son was little, even though my pediatricain said all was fine, I was concerned with his speech delays, and had him evaluated. Found that he indeed needed therapy and started treatment within a couple of months. He recieved speech classes through the end of third grade and now you would never know he had a problem. The earlier treatment is started the better. Good Luck.

[wwlic2kil]

Being the parent of 5, three of which are 16,15,13 now, never let people speak "baby talk" to them. I found this very important because since there were 3 of them, they talked enough in there laungage. Childern mimic all most everything, so the more adult speach(of the right kind) they hear, the better they will learn. I would'nt worry she'll just start in her own time.