How many words (intelligible) can a boy say at 15 months?

[Dualta]

My son is 15 1/2 months and although he seems to understand everything we say, e.g. get me your cup, go find daddy etc, he only says three words takk for thank you, out and 'that' for everything else. he can do animal sounds/ point to pictures etc but a friend told me their son was referred for speech delay at about his level/age. should we be concerned? it's almost. as though he is just not able to enunciate the words yet? I know there are loads of threads on here but any advice would be hugely appreciated. thanks all

[Fairypants]

If it helps, some family friends had a boy who didn't speak at all until over 2. He understood everything and they took him to all the specialists but he just didn't feel the need to talk. He is now a perfectly normal, well adjusted adult so it didn't mean anything at all.
Sorry I can't offer anything more helpful. I simply can't remember when my girls go going with talking.

[bigkidsdidit]

Mine couldn't say a single word. Some sounds but no clear words

Now he is just two and speaking in full sentences and has hundreds of words.

I thought you wouldn't get referred before 2 because so many children are like my DS?

[Themobstersknife]

Speech delay at 15.5 months!? Sounds well OTT! DD1 didn't really speak until 2, but no-one was worried because she could understand everything. I really wouldn't worry. DD1 never shuts up now!

[mamij]

I wouldn't worry about it. Dd2 is 15 months and doesn't talk yet! She says "mama", "milk" and "bye bye", but that's about it!

[BertieBotts]

I'd say one or two is average. Three is great! :)

[hazeyjane]

I think it is quite unusual to be referred for SALT under 2, unless there are other issues, or problems with eating. Ds was referred at 10 months, but he was severely delayed in all areas, and had difficulty swallowing, and chewing.

I think if your son has good understanding, and is saying a couple of words, making animal sounds and pointing, then he is within normal range.

[CecilyP]

Sounds pretty normal to me. DS didn't say much until 18 months; then after 21 months, he really took off and by 2 was speaking in sentences.

[AntoinetteCosway]

DD is 16mo and doesn't say anything except Mama and Dada, and even those aren't usually anything to do with us. I wouldn't worry!

[ReallyTired]

The only children I know with SLT at 15 months have major special needs like Downs syndrome. It is not unusual to for a child to be non verbal at 15 months. The fact that your child understand what is being said to him is good.

There is a huge range of ablity when it comes to speech. I had one child who din't say a word at 15 months and my daughter who was speaking in full sentences at 16 months. My son who was slow learning to speak caught up later on.

[cakehappy]

I must admit, I have no idea why you posted this, are you truly concerned?My DS is 15.5 months and only says dadda, daddy, mamma and only occasionally! I'm pretty convinced he would have no idea what "get your cup" meant either:) I totally refuse to even think that he might be slow as I'm expecting him to speak on his own time, they all develop so differently!

[extracrunchy]

My DS was the same. Now he's 21m and chatting non stop! His language will suddenly explode and then you'll wish he'd shush for 5 minutes

[ReallyTired]

cakehappy its fine for OP to post about speech on behaviour forums. It can make the most confident first time mum feel insecure when one of their friends is bragging that their child who is the same age is holding a full blown conversation. It is hard to know what is normal variation and what is a speech problem. There is no health visitor anymore to answer silly questions. Why not ask the collective wisdom of mumsnet,

[forevergreek]

According to the health visitor ( I think)!, they should on average say 6 words at 18 months. But they aren't bothered if they say none

[ZooAnimals]

They're all different OP. There is no one answer to 'How many words (intelligible) can a boy say at 15 months?'.

DS1 had about 15-20 words at 16 months, some of which were only intelligble to us.

DS2 didn't speak at all until 2.5, and then it wasn't clear, he had speech therapy and is now a very clear, very articulate 5 year old.

DS3 is 17 months and makes lots of word like sounds, but doesn't use any reliably i.e. he says 'mama' and 'dada' but not to us, just generally.

If it's any comfort to you DS2 is the most easy-going, laid back child I've ever come across, he's never had a tantrum, he never really cried unless he was hurt. I'm sure his lack of speech was due to being so content, he just didn't need to speak.

[DewDr0p]

When my 3 were little (oldest is 8 now) they had an 18 month check and the HV was looking for 6-10 words at 18 months

[DewDr0p]

I think animal sounds count - anyway what I meant to add was your ds sounds well on the way.

[HoratiaWinwood]

My two boys said their first intelligible words at 18 and 19 months respectively.

They never fucking shut up now.

[Dualta]

thanks everyone your responses are so reassuring. I guess I have been worried for no reason.

[LubyLu2000]

Apparently Einstein didn't talk until he was four

[hazeyjane]

it is perfectly legitimate to worry about your dcs speech development, it is all very well fir people to say that they all develop in their own time, but some children do need extra help, and benefit from early intervention, so if you are concerned in the next few months there is no harm in seeking advice.

[DewDr0p]

Well said hazey - I know people mean well but comments like that delayed me getting help for ds3. 3-4 words at 15 months sounds good though

[tinyk]

I'm just so impressed one of his first words is thank you!! I hope you are suitably proud

[whatwhatinthewhatnow]

My DS did not speak a word until he was 18 months and then suddenly he was talking in sentences. He can sing all the words to twinkle twinkle now at 25 months (obvs not all words intelligible, prob about 75%)

Dont worry. I was pulling my hair out and was told by friends he was behind as their DC's (all girls) had spoken by 12 months. It all came good. I'd say give him another 3 months and then see. Even in a month you can see so much difference in them at this age.