Fifteen Month Old Stopped Speaking
Dear Dr. Susan:
My son is 15 months old. I am trying to make him repeat words but all he keeps doing is screaming. He used to say mama and dada but recently has not said those words. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been making him watch Blues Clues. He loves that show and wants to watch it constantly. If you have any suggestions on what I ca do to help him begin speaking please let me know soon. Thank you.
Darlene
Dear Darlene
Fifteen month-olds are very busy, especially if they are very good early walkers. They spend all their time walking and climbing, and forget the words they know – too busy. Be sure he has no hearing loss or ear infections. “Blues Clues” is fine, but it’s not a substitute for you and your toddler to talk, play, get down on the floor, hum, sing, play hide and seek, repeat words and make animal sounds. Talk to him. Repeat back what he says. Expand his sounds into real words, such as “ogie”, say cookie”.
Toddlers should not watch much (if any) TV because they need to do and say things they touch. They need to interact with objects including other children. Get him into a playgroup or a childcare setting where other kids are talking constantly. He’ll get it. If he doesn’t say the words for things, ask him anyway, “What’s in the refrigerator? What do you want” Tell me, Oh, “Gagy”…you want an apple?”
Language is not a high priority for very busy 14-16 month olds, but he’ll learn more language from you than a TV set any day. Turn it off. Turn him on to books. Read to him everyday. Have fun!
Thanks again for writing.
Susan H. Turben, Ph.D.
