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Expert Q&A
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| By Mindy Hudon Speech and Language Pathologist | ||
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My 18-month-old nephew does not seem well to me. He never utters a sound. I have heard him try to say "more," but no other sounds at all. He fell down the other day and bumped his head. When his grandma went to get him, his face said "I'm crying," but he did not vocalize this. He rarely smiles, and doesn't play with others. What do you think about this?
At 18 months old, toddlers are usually beginning to learn and use new words. His understanding of language is growing and he will understand more words than he will actually say. A toddler will listen to his parents and caregiver's speech and start to imitate new words. He will use "jargon" (unintelligible talk with adult like inflection patterns) frequently and then start to combine true words with jargon to communicate a message. He is starting to put two words together and enjoys sounds and words. Toddlers at this age are usually very animated and enjoy interaction with others. However, they are still in the "me" mode of thinking and may or may not cooperatively play with peers.
If you are concerned about your nephew, I would first discuss this with his parents. It may be difficult to approach this subject with his parents, but you should talk about what you've observed and suggest that they discuss this with their pediatrician. The pediatrician can help them make the decision to have his hearing evaluated and refer him to a speech and language pathologist or other professional as warranted.
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