Early Intervention / Speech Therapy?

[Baby Beluga]

At 15 months how many words do you expect children to say and use?

I have a 15 month old in care now he says mama and dada - that's it. Everything else is grunting and pointing. He understands some sign language (but won't sign anything himself).

Listening wise he is getting better. When he first started at 12 months he did not understand anything. Sit, stand, eat, nadda. It was like I was speaking a foreign language. Now he understands a good deal of instructions but we still struggle with the basics.

I guess I am wondering at what point do I bring this up to the parents? He seems to know what he wants to say and is trying to communicate by grunting and pointing but no actual words are coming out.

[Leigh]

I don't expect much at that age, but the one kid I had who was so advanced everywhere else still didn't talk. He wound up with blocked ears. Once they put tubes in his ears, he was talking like mad. It's only been a few months and he is speaking in complete sentences and I understand about 70% of what he says.

[daycarediva]

I wouldn't be concerned as long as his comprehension is fine and he is attempting to communicate.

Repeat yourself and ask him to try. "Can you say UP?" UP? You want up?"

[Baby Beluga]

Okay, good to know I am not missing anything at this point

[Indoorvoice]

I don't worry about words too much until age 2 as long as comprehension seems ok.

[Ariana]

If it were MY child I would be worried and I would take them to see someone. For children in my care I do not mention anything unless they ask or when the child turns two. At two the milestones become a lot bigger and will therefore be taken more seriously when a child is not meeting them. My daugter did not say anything until she was nearly 2 years old and began speaking in sentences. You just never know! I did take her to an SLP who didn't think there was anything wrong with her so we just waited.

Every child I have had in my care over the past few years has had speech issues and the parents never do anything about it.

[Unregistered]

I works for B to 3 for awhile. If a referral came in for a 15 mo old with two words but understood directions like throw this away or go get a diaper and made sounds I doubt I'd have referred it on.

[daycare]

look at other areas of the child's life and I bet you will see that they are mastering something else.

[Jupadia]

It's always a hard call for me I uselly wait till around 2 to become worried. My own kid only said a handful of words before 2 after 2 started breaking out in full sentences all the time, catching up and surpassing space milestones. And has no issues now. But I also watched out for other things like he was advanced in his fine motor skills and grear with gross. Also would understand things and follow directions as much as any other kid that age. So I was never truly worried (though a part of me did).
If there behind in a lot of milestones then mabey say something if not take then mabey take the wait and see apoach.

[happymom]

I works for B to 3 for awhile. If a referral came in for a 15 mo old with two words but understood directions like throw this away or go get a diaper and made sounds I doubt I'd have referred it on.

I agree. I have a 16 month old and this sounds like him. I'm not worried at all