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| |    Early and Late Talking: 9 to 12 Months by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Nine months is about the earliest that first words emerge, and most babies do not have true words until later. It's interesting that words first appear at about the same time that babies begin to understand that things in the world continue to exist even when they are out of sight. Up until that time, the baby really doesn't need to have names for things, since the only things that exist are always right there, in front of his eyes: The baby has only to reach for them. Early or late talking makes very little difference in the long run. Many perfectly normal children don't say their first words until 14 or 15 months, or even later. (By 15 months, however, I think it is reassuring to have an assessment--see Red Flags: Signals That Your Child May Be Lagging.) Girls tend to begin talking earlier than boys. Talking late--first words after age two, for example--is much more common among boys than girls. There are almost certainly brain-based differences in this. We know, for example, that the areas of the brain that process verbal language are different between males and females. Early talkers With very early talkers, there is a tendency for adults to overestimate the child's development in other areas. Adults may offer long explanations, for example, assuming that the child can understand. Parents of verbally precocious babies may be tempted to push ahead with academic-like learning (teaching colors or numbers, for example), rather than allowing the child time to explore the world of things with all of her senses and to play aimlessly. "Good children," who are inclined to comply with their parents' wishes, may then miss out on the chance to make messes, stack blocks, bang pans, and explore in a thousand other babyish ways. Late talkers Babies often specialize in one area of development at a time. So between 10 and 11 months, one particularly persistent boy spends nearly every waking moment trying to walk. Once he takes his first independent steps, he is all over the house, walking for the sheer joy of movement. He has little time to think about words for all of the things he is seeing. By 14 months, the walking is less all-consuming, and he begins to point at things, as if to say "what's that?" His vocabulary picks up after that. What about babies who are slow in virtually every area of development: slow to sit, stand, and walk, and also slow to talk? Some babies--some authorities estimate about one in seven--are temperamentally "watchers." They observe, take everything in, and then only let on that they have been learning and growing later. Often this is after their parents have begun to worry that their development is delayed. Many of these late bloomers were born prematurely. Depending on how premature they were, they may take months, or even years, to catch up. Some are simply slow developers by nature. But again, development is not a race. Most of these babies will do perfectly fine in the long run. A small number of these infants who are slow across the board do actually have long-term problems with development. A careful pediatric and developmental assessment can help to identify these children early so that they can get the best possible early help. If you are concerned that your child may fall into this group, definitely talk with his healthcare provider. Our article on developmental red flags may be helpful, but remember: No questionnaire or list can take the place of a careful, hands-on evaluation.
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