I just took my son in for a 15 month check up today. The doctor said that my son may have a mild speech delay. I personally do feel that my son seems to be a little behind comparing to other kids. But I need help identifying it to see if he is really having trouble with his speech. And I also hope to find some methods to help him improve if he does have speech delay.

Here are the words he spoke or speak, when and how he uses them:

"Daddy" - He has been bursting this word out ever since he was 6 months old, but never uses it to refer to his dad. His dad was not always around either and is now deployed.

"Mama" - He said it for a short period of time. Never used it to refer to me (his mom), he used to say it when he wanted food.

"Gon gon" - Chinese for Grandpa. He learned it and applied it correctly. He also would points at his grandpa when people says "Gon gon." This is probably the only word he really keeps using correctly.

"Eye" - He learned this from his American grandma. Then he keeps point his face and say "eye." He uses it right several times while poking his own eye or poking other people's eye, but now he would point at other parts of his body and say "eye."

"Hi" - Not sure if this is counted. When he was 10 months old, he started saying "Hi" and wave to people. He still loves going up to strangers. But he just rarely say "Hi" and wave now.

He loves copying the words and action that people say and do, but he just doesn't retain them. He also loves singing and copy the melody people hum.

Furthermore, I am not sure if our bilingual environment is causing his speech delay. I used to speak to him in mainly English. But now that his dad is away, I just speak to him solely in Chinese.

Despite his speech delay and shortage of vocab, he has a great desire to communicate. He always like to start a "conversation" with anyone he meets. When this lady winked at him, he even tried to wink back.

So do you guys think he has a speech problem? What methods do you recommend to help him?

Thanks!

I know for "walking" the doctors don't even start to "worry" until 15, more like 18months. I don't recall when they start to "worry" about speech. But when I took my little guy in for his 18 mon checkup, and had to fill out about 8 pages about him and what he can or can't do, for speech it asked if he speaks like 5 words. Maybe it was just three. So I think if he says a handful of words, that's probably totally within the normal range! Some just "speak" later than others, just like some walk later than others. I notice you said the doctor said he MAY have a MILD speech delay. I know as a mom, we're all ready to freak out at the drop of a hat. But I don't think you should worry just yet! If anything, he will probably be quite advanced speech wise since he will be/is bilingual! Do you know how awesome that is that he will know Chinese and English? I would just talk to him a LOT, engage him with every little thing you do ("Should I wear the red shirt or the green shirt?" "Look at that little blue car! Look at that big black truck!" "Do you want to eat broccoli or green beans?" "This is your eye! This is your nose! This is your ear!" etc.) Keep speaking to him in BOTH languages consistently. Before you know it, he'll probably be talking your ears off! Best wishes!

Thank you for your input.

I agree with you. I should talk more to him and identify things around him more often.

I hope he is just taking his time. We will still do what the doctor asked us to do: mark down the words he says within a 30 days period. Then we will see whether the doctor thinks he needs special help or not.

Not a mom, but I guess since you're bilingual, and you're currently speaking to him in Chinese, maybe he'll relate to Chinese more? My mom and dad RARELY spoke to me in Chinese when I was younger, and I probably first had a proper conversation in Chinese only when I went to school when I was 3. Till now, I'm actually still not very good in Chinese but I can cope and still understand and speak the language. Maybe I should have received listening to both languages in equal amounts, so that I could communicate and understand both English and Chinese well. HAHA If the words you're marking down are supposed to be in English, then I guess you should start speaking to him in English more. But just check and see if he would tend to understand and relate to Chinese more.

GOOD LUCK! and don't worry too much. In my lectures, I remember my lecturer once mentioned that boys tend to speak a little later. Children would also tend to like.. understand the word more than being able to speak them. So do lots of identification "games" with him. It'll probably help.

From what you've said it doesnt seem like He's behind my partners son is 3yrs old and still says um um for food. And "who" for you and ow wow For shower..... And i think thats a way Behind...especially when i see other 3year olds speaking fluently.

As a teacher I highly recommend parents start reading to their child this helps their (talking)vocabulary and later their reading vocabulary. I teach 1st grade right now but I have taught 3 year olds to 10 year olds and teachers can tell which chldren have been read to daily since birth. They are the most verbal and are the BEST readers. Read to your child daily, different books from the public library. When your child gets 3 years old if you feel he is behind in his speech or not speaking clearly go to your local public school and ask that the speech teacher screen him. If he needs speech you can get the school system to work with him after he turns 3 years old.