What counts as speaking late?

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My parents say I was "slow to get going", but they don't really seem to know what age I began to talk (I always thought parents made a note of their kids first words and other milestones but apparently my parents are the exception to this rule!)
I was considered to be 30% deaf as a baby so there is some confusion as to whether that caused my slowness or not.

I've looked on google trying to find what counts as delayed speech, but there don't seem to be any straight answers. I'm interested to know, given that speech acquisition seems to be the only different between a diagnosis of Asperger's or HFA.

Any ideas?

A speech "delay" as referred to by the diagnostic guidelines of AS in the DSM:

- single words not spoken by age 2 (by 24 months)

Commonly, kids talking at age 20 months are considered "late talkers" or even "lazy talkers" but in terms of ASDs, their delay is considered a "normal" delay that doesn't matter and not a clinically significant delay.

- "communicative phrases" not used by age 3 (by 36 months)

Either semi-officially or inofficially these communicative phrases should consist of more than one word and should be spontaneous, communicative (=to be used during a conversation, to request and to respond) and non-echolalic.

ICD says:

- any clinically significant loss ("retardation") of language is to be treated like a speech delay

Taking into account somas description, slow to get going sounds like you made your first words at about the right time, but took a while to get your vocabulary up and start building phrases.

Jason

average is one word phrases at age one and two word phrases at age two, though soma's explanation is more precise.

This is a general guideline but don't panic if your child is a little bit behind milestones. Often, by the time children are in school they'll be caught up by their peers. You should try and encourage early language by talking to your infant/toddler, describe what they are doing as they are doing it in good detail, use proper emotions, talk slowly and in good tone. Read to them and use sign language when possible.

Before your baby hits 12 months old they should be cooing and babbling. They should slowly be beginning to recognize what certain words mean.

Between 12-15 months babies should be babbling and saying different types of speech sounds. They should start imitating people (ex-"What sound does a duck make?" You say quack quack, baby would say quack quack. Babies should be able to say one or two words around this time. Baby should be able to follow one or two step directions.

Between 18-24 months, most toddlers should be saying about 20 words at 18 months and 50 or more words by the time they turn 2 years old. By the age of two, toddlers should be saying two or three words to form small sentences. They should be able to identify common objects, basic body parts, understand words like "hungry", "Potty", "juice", "done"....etc. They should be able to follow two step demands.

Between 2-3 years of age your child should be using many words in small sentences. Child should be able to recognize colours and basic concepts.

Try no to worry too much as most children catch up with their peers by the time they get into first grade but if you think your child is way behind an early intervention might help. Just go to your doctor or a parent resource centre to get more information.
I've worked in early childhood education for awhile now.

I'm also hard of hearing (completely deaf in my left ear and moderate loss in my right) and when I was tested for AS, I was diagnosed as PDD-NOS, mostly because the psychology associate and psychologist wasn't sure if my speech delay was from my hearing loss or from me being on the spectrum.

I didn't talk until I was about 3 years old and my mother had to encourage me to play with other children. I would have to ask my mother more specific questions regarding my development as a young child.

Interesting topic, PM me, would love to correspond with you and share stories!

3 second rule, if you don't have a witty reply in that time, use the interesting point later in a conversation, if it somehow applies to the topic, makes fun of the other person, but isn't meant to be an insult. It will be a bonding moment. You cannot plan it, these things only happen if you hang on to everybody a little.