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Is
Your One-Year Old
Communicating With You? |
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"Dada." "Mama." "Ball." What will your baby's first words
be?
Whatever the word is, when you hear it, it's an exciting moment in your
child's language development.
However, language skills begin long before the first spoken word. Your
child starts to communicate with you during the first year of life.
Children respond to you and the world around them with eye gazes, smiles,
gestures or sounds. Later on, you'll notice more obvious "speech"
skills or milestones.
Read more to learn about early language and social milestones and possible
signs of language delay. |
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If you have any questions about your baby's development, share them with
your pediatrician--the sooner, the better. |
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Milestones
Remember, children develop at different
rates, but they usually are able to do certain things at certain ages.
The following developmental milestones are only guidelines. |
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By 12 months your baby should:
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Look for and be able to find the source
of sounds. |
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Respond to her/his name most of the
time when you call it. |
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Wave goodbye. |
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Look where you point when you say,
"Look at the ____________." |
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Change from monotone babble to babble
with inflection, as if telling a story in a foreign language. |
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Take turns "talking" with you--listens
to you when you speak, and then resumes babbling when you stop. |
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Say "dada" to dad and "mama" to mom. |
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Say at least one or more words in
addition to "mama" and "dada." |
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Point to items she/he wants that are
out of reach or make sounds while pointing. |
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Between 15 and 24 months, your
baby should:
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Follow simple commands with, and then
later without, gestures. |
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Get objects from another room when
asked. |
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Point to a few body parts when asked. |
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Point to interesting objects or events
to get you to look at them too. |
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Bring things to you to "show you." |
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Point to objects so you will name them. |
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Name a few common objects and pictures
when asked. |
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Enjoy pretending (for example, has a
tea party). She/he will use gestures and words with you, or a
favorite stuffed animal. |
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Learn about 1 new word per week as
she/he approaches her/his 2nd birthday. |
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By 24 months, your toddler
should:
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Point to many body parts and common
objects. |
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Point to some pictures in books |
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Follow 2-step commands. |
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Say about 50 words or more. |
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Say several 2-word phrases, like "daddy
go," "doll mine," and "all gone." |
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May say a few 3-word sentences, like "I
want juice" or "Me go bye-bye." |
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Be understood about 50% of the time. |
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About developmental language
delay
Delays in language are the most common types of developmental delay.
One in 5 children will show a developmental delay in the speech or language
area. Some children will also show behavioral challenges because they
are frustrated when they can't express everyday needs, desires or interests.
Simple speech delays are sometimes temporary. They may resolve on
their own, or with a little extra help from family. Sometimes formal
speech therapy is needed.
It's important to encourage your baby to "talk" to you with gestures and/or
sounds before filling a need. In some cases, your baby will need more
help from a trained professional.
Sometimes delays may be a warning sing of a more serious disorder that could
include hearing loss, global developmental delays or autism. Delays
also could be a sign of a possible learning problem you may not notice until
the school years. It's important to have your child evaluated if you
are concerned about you child's language development. |
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Not typical behaviors
Sometimes language delays are associated
with behaviors that may concern you, like if your baby:
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Doesn't cuddle like other babies. |
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Doesn't return a happy smile back at
you. |
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Doesn't seem to notice if you are in
the room. |
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Doesn't seem to notice certain noises
(for example, seems to hear a car horn or a cat's meow, but not when you
call her/his name). |
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Acts as if he is in his own world. |
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Prefers to play alone; seems to "tune
others out." |
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Doesn't seem interested in or play with
toys, but likes to play with objects in the house. |
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Shows a strange attachment to hard
objects (would rather carry around a flashlight or ballpoint pen than a
stuffed animal or favorite blanket). |
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Can say the ABCs, numbers or words to
TV jingles, but can't ask for things she/he wants. |
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Doesn't seem to have any fear. |
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Doesn't seem to feel pain. |
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Laughs for no clear reason. |
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Uses words or phrases that are
inappropriate for the occasion. |
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If your child seems delayed or shows any
of the above behaviors, tell you pediatrician. Also, tell your
pediatrician if your baby stops talking or doing things that she/he used to
do.
When autism is the reason for language
delays, the child will also show some or all of the above-listed behaviors.
Most likely, your child will then be referred to a specialist or a team of
specialists knowledgeable about autism and its many related disorders.
The specialist(s) may then recommend speech therapy, but also specific
interventions to improve social skills, behavior and the "desire" to
communicate. |
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What Your Pediatrician
Might Do
After you share your concerns with your
pediatrician, he or she may:
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Ask you some questions, or ask you to
fill out a questionnaire. |
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Evaluate certain aspects of your
child's development by interacting with your child in various ways. |
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Order a hearing test and refer you to a
speech and language therapist for testing. The therapist will
evaluate your child's speech (expressive language) and ability to
understand speech and gestures (receptive language). |
If your pediatrician doesn't seem to be
concerned and instead tries to reassure you that children develop at
different rates and that your child will "catch up in time," it's OK to say
you are still concerned. You might also ask you pediatrician if a
referral to a developmental specialist might be appropriate.
If any of the steps above lead to the
conclusion that expressive language ONLY is delayed, you may be given
suggestions to help your child at home. Formal speech therapy may also
be recommended.
If Both receptive and expressive
language are delayed, and the hearing is normal, your child will need
further evaluation. This will determine whether the delays are due to
a true communication disorder, global developmental delays, autism or some
other developmental problem. |
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Programs
Regardless of the cause of your child's
delays, your pediatrician may refer you to a local developmental or school
program that provides intervention services to children with various delays.
The staff there might do an independent evaluation. You may be
reassured that your child's development is, indeed, within normal limits, or
the staff might feel that she/he would benefit from some type of
intervention.
If your child is younger than 3 years,
the referral may be to an Early Intervention Program (EIP) in your
area. This is a federal- and state-funded program that helps children
with delays or behavioral challenges. You may also contact the EIP
directly.
If your child is eligible for services, a
team of specialists will, with your input, develop an Individualized
Family Service Plan (IFSP). This plan becomes a guide for the
services that will be provided until your child turns 3 years of age.
It may include parent training and support, direct therapy, respite, and
special equipment. Other services may be offered if they benefit your
child and/or your family. If your child needs help after 3 years of
age, the EIP staff will refer your child to the local school district.
If your child is 3 years of age or
older at the time of a concern, the referral may be to your local public
school. You may also contact the local public school directly.
If your child is eligible, the school district staff will, with your input,
develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This plan
provides many of the same services as the IFSP, but the focus is different:
school services are mainly for the child. The level of services may
also be different. If your child continues to need special education
and services, the IEP will be reviewed and revised from time to time.
The IEP should be revised to meet your child's changing needs as she/he
grows older and develops new skills. |
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Resources
American Academy of Pediatrics
National Center of Medical Home
Initiatives for Children with Special Needs
www.medicalhomeinfo.org |
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Remember
Your instincts as a parent should be
followed. If you continue to have concerns about your child's
development, ask for a reevaluation or referral for more formal testing. |
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