My Korean daughter came home at 7.5 mos, understood everything at 12 months, said her first word at 18 months (it was her only word for 4 months).  Started saying more around 22 mos, she is now 3 years old and doesn’t stop talking.  I had EI evaluate her and she qualified based on speech everytime until after she was 2 years old.

My daugher from China came home at 12 mos, she is 18 mos now and says a few words like mama, dada, baba, but that is about it.  I will probably have her evaluated by 24 months if she’s not talking more.

My Korean son came home at 9 1/2 months.  He said his first word about two months later (“light”) and gradually added to his vocabulary so that by 18 months he either was on par or even a little ahead of his peers.  We used the Baby Signing Time videos from the moment he came home, and he was able to sign approximately 65 words which then followed into actual words before long.  I’m a real advocate for the videos which are fun to watch even for the parents (yes, you will sing the songs all the time), and I believe have gotten the seal of approval from either the AMA or American Pediatric Association.  The videos use illustrations, cartoons, live action (mostly other toddlers signing), and written words. 

Right now, we’re waiting to bring home our second son who is 13 months old.  We hope to have him home no later than mid-June.  It should be interesting to see how much more delayed, if at all, he will be than our first son.

Early intervention is always best.

The brain is trained before one year to decode and understand the language spoken to the baby. I wouldn’t been too concerned but most states have zero to three services that provide OT PT speech in the home (evaluations and treatment) at little too no costs. It is called Help Me Grow in Ohio I don’t know what it is called in other states.

You might want an evaluation to set your mind at ease. They will know if there is a problem and provide ways to help.

Our son came home at 13 months and was saying a few words in Korean. When I took him for his 18 month checkup I expressed concern because he wasn’t saying a whole lot in English. I asked the doctor about speech intervention & he said to wait because it (speech therapy) may end up being a traumatic experience having not been in the country for long. I was glad I waited - seemingly overnight his vocabulary took off & by two he was completely caught up to his peers. (Now he is almost three and talks NONSTOP!) My advice is to wait until he has been in the States around a year or so and seek a speech eval at two if he is not saying much by then. Good luck!

Our son came home around 14 months, he also came home saying a few words in Korean.  By 18 months he was able to say approximately ten words.  His speech really began to develop around 23 months.  I nor my pediatrician were overly concerned.  He just needed a little time to catch up.  I work with numerous speech therapists who also told me to give him a bit of time.  Just create an environment rich with language and read lots and lots of books together, your child will get there!!

Perhaps the children are used to the sound of their own languages? Is their speech delayed, or just delayed because they have to learn English, not what they are used to hearing, at the same time that they are developing speech?

Perhaps the children are used to the sound of their own languages? Is their speech delayed, or just delayed because they have to learn English, not what they are used to hearing, at the same time that they are developing speech?

My sons were adopted domestically but I can second Jersey Writer about the Baby Signing Time DVDs.  I used them for my older son starting when he was about 14 months old and have just started using them with my younger son who is 15 months old.  Because of the great graphics along with the baby signing, I think they would help a toddler whose first language is not English to understand more English words.  Plus the videos are fun.  My 14 month old had no trouble concentrating throughout the half hour video.  He learned dozens of signs and I think that really helped his spoken language too.  I would try them.