my daughter is 22 months old, speaking words like amma, thatha, mama, nanna, hello, hi, bye, no etc words and not speaking sentences but she understands everything and does whatever we say to do ans she recognises everything say meow to cats and bow bow to dogs. Is this normal or should i worry because of speech delay

Question

Accepted Answer

It sounds like your 22-month-old daughter's language development is progressing within the normal range. At this age, many toddlers primarily use single words or simple phrases, and sentences typically start forming closer to 2.5–3 years. Here's a breakdown of what you might expect and how you can encourage further development:

Current Developmental Milestones:

1. Vocabulary Growth:

A vocabulary of about 50–100 words is typical for this age, and your daughter seems to be progressing well.

Words like "Amma," "Tata," "Mama," and phrases like "Hello" and "Bye" are a great start.

2. Understanding:

The ability to understand instructions and follow through on them (e.g., bringing an object or pointing to body parts) is a strong indicator of cognitive and language comprehension.

3. Sentence Formation:

Combining two or three words into phrases ("Mama come," "Bye Tata") often starts around 2 years. Full sentences typically develop by 3 years.

How to Encourage Speech Development:

1. Talk to Her Constantly:

Narrate your activities and describe the world around her. For example, "We are going to the park. Look at the green grass!"

2. Read Books Together:

Choose picture books with simple sentences and point to objects as you name them.

3. Ask Questions:

Ask simple questions like "What is this?" or "Who is this?" to encourage her to respond.

4. Expand Her Phrases:

If she says, "Mama," you can expand it to "Mama is eating" to model sentence structure.

5. Encourage Play-Based Learning:

Use toys, pretend play, and songs to introduce new words and concepts.

6. Limit Screen Time:

Focus on interactive activities rather than passive screen time.

When to Seek Help:

While every child develops at their own pace, consult a pediatrician or speech therapist if:

She isn't trying to combine words by 2.5–3 years.

There are concerns about hearing or responsiveness to sounds.

You notice difficulty in understanding or following simple instructions.

Your daughter's ability to understand and follow instructions is an excellent sign of healthy development. Keep encouraging her in a fun, engaging way, and her language skills will continue to grow!