Mothers of Boys Around 2 Years Old and Speech Development

Hey, don't sweat it. My nephew, who is now 3 was the same way and he talks a lot more clearly now. When he was 2, my sister took him to one of those places where they actually test the child's speech and they told her he was just fine. So, I really don't think you have anything to worry about unless it doesn't improve at all by the time he is 3.

Take Care!
C.

Hi R., I am a speech therapist and in my opinion you should trust your instinct and get your son a speech evaluation. At age 2 a child should have 250 words. Ask your dr. for an evaluation referral he will know where to send you.

I would say if you are concerned to call ECI. My son was not saying anything at his 15 month check - up. The doctor said if by 18 months he was still not talking then to contact ECI. So, we did and he has therapy once a week at our home through them. He has improved tremendously with them. We have had them coming for about 5 months now. My son is almost 25 months now. He still has a way to go but his vocabulary has grown a ton.

How's the speech now?
I was told the the same thing from our Dr. "Don't worry about it. Boys are later developers and he has many people who will talk for him. My guy turns 3 in March. He started speech therapy three weeks ago. He "talks" all the time. Slowly-in the last month or two- he has been adding sounds and syllables to his conversations. We taught him a few signs to help with the needs. We were becoming frustrated with understanding each other, so I took him to be evaluated. I think he would probably work it all out eventually. The therapy hasn't done much, yet. He understands everything we tell him. But he only has a few words (ma, da, baLLLL, ba-usually brother). He uses sounds and signs. I make sure to have a good model in my and my family's speech. He is my third one to have difficulty with speech. The first one had some therapy, but I just listened to what sounds were coming out and worked around those and built on that. The second one stutters and we work on "slow, easy speech". We are working on a home program from a therapist. We check in once a month. Modeling was/is the key to every one of them. Time and a little daily effort is another important factor. Right now I am working with three of my guys in the speech area.
I would be happy to share what I can to help. It can be soooo frustrating.
Good luck.

Dear R.,
My second child was exactly like this. He is 6 years old now and is doing well. My first son was an early talker and had a very developed vocabulary by the age of two. I too found the pediatrition and other moms to be dismissive. I did not give up and finally found a speech therapist who suggested ECI (early childhood intervention). I did not learn of this until my child was 3, and I am not sure how young they will assess, but I do know that they stop at 4. They are state funded and will charge based on your household income and circumstances (we paid $15.00 a month). My child qualified for speech therapy and a speech patholigist came to my house once or twice a week for 30-45 minutes with a tub of toys and worked with him until his 4th birthday. At that age, they are turned over to the school system and have to be re-assessed. He did not qualify for pre-k or speech (although I still had to interpret much of what he said). It was extremely frusterating! My pediatrician remained dismissive and we continued working with him repeating all the things that we learned through the visits with ECI. When he started kindergarten, I again had him assessed and he qualified for speech. He will remain in speech until he is able to properly pronounce all his sounds and his conected speech. It is a long process and everyone who has been through the program says that it just takes alot of time. There are some speech products that I have found that work well. There is a music CD called Speechercise (I found at adventures in learning) and A plastic pipe called a tubaloo that they can use to hear their own sounds better. I am not sure if any of this will help, but I do know that identifying with other moms brings comfort. If your child does have speech problems, there is no quick fix. It takes years of practice and repeatition. Hang in there!

God Bless You!
W.

Both of my boys speech was slower to come in clearly than most of my other friends. But....my 3 year old now speaks clearer than most. My youngest will turn 2 on thursday. His speach is not real clear but I can tell what he is saying. If you have any more concerns/questions I would definatley talk again to the pediatrician- or even a different one. We panicked because our first child said only around 10 words at18 months. we went to the Audiologist and found out he could hear just find and that as long as he was using words (even his own) for things than he was okay.

I haven't worried about it with my youngest. I was also a teacher and panicked because "I was supposed to know" how to do these things. Don't put that kind of stress on yourself. You will do the best you can. The rest will come from people God placed here to do their work...if that is a speech path, audiologist, etc...

I bet he is fine. My son's both said "MOPE" for milk. It all worked out.

Dear R. - There is a friend that has a soon-to-be 3 year old son and he hardly said any words until he was 3. but - he is a happy, smart and healthy boy that just isn't ready to be President of the US!

Unless you see other signs, I sure wouldn't worry about him yet. Kids are amazing... they really do have their own purpose and we just have to love them and guide them while their on thier own journey.

I hope this helps. God Bless.

Hi R.,
I have a daughter with CP who desn't speak so I was very sensitive to the issue when my son was little. My son was delayed in speech. At 15 months he did not have any words. I just picked up the phone without talking with his doctor and called the Early intervention department in NYS. There is a organization in every state. They do not charge you and it doesn't hurt to know whether he will qualify for services. If he doesn't they will monitor his progress and give you tips about things that you can do. If his does qualify (in NYS it was behind in development by 33% in one area or 25% in 2 areas) then you will be set up with a therapist and a plan. ***If you have doubts, just pick up the phone and call. It takes a little time to set up the evaluation. Also I reccommend picking up a baby sign book and there is another called "It takes two to talk" that is useful. Good luck.
Susan

Don't worry about it. Your doctor is right and you can't compare your son to your daughter. They are to separate and completely different people. It's so easy to do that when we're parent, isn't it? Lol. As moms, we just worry too much.

My first two were saying complete sentences by the time they were 18 months. My youngest, who is two now has only just begun to really talk.

Have you tried baby signs with him? That helped my youngest communicate until she could verbalize. Imagine how frustrated he must be, knowing what he wants, telling you and you not being able to understand. The baby signs help my littlest one not to be so frustrated because she was able to tell me what she needed and I could understand...a lot less tantrums. :D
She could even tell me when she needed a change. Try it, it may help.

My son is a little younger....almost 17 months, and he is showing the exact same signs as yours. He doesn't talk a lot, but he does try to mimic what I say and most of it comes out as "da" or "duh" or "uh", and, like you said, 2 syllables are out. He, too identifies things, but just doesn't seem to want to try to prounounce things better.
I hope this helps you. Girls are just so much smarter :-)!
S.

When my daughter was two, I would be worried because she wasn't talking all that much. She had her basic phrases down, but I was hearing other kids around that age talking a whole lot more!

Then one day the dam opened up! Now she doesn't stop!!! (LOL) If his hearing is fine, then I could only suggest that you coach him a bit with his words. Don't let him do the "point & grunt" way of getting things. If he wants something, make sure he's actually using words to ask for it. Then, help him with those words. This is a good way to work on please & thank you as well. Don't worry too much...I think he'll be chattering soon. :)

Good Luck & laughter,
K. L.

My daughter was way different from my son too. My son was my first child...I read, sang & talked to him all the time to help him with language development but he was slow. He spoke about 15 words by the time he turned 2. I blamed it on his ear infections but he never had tubes so no one or doctor truly beleived that was the reason for his "slow" development. Bu, also, no one was worried about it. But then along came my daughter & she's NON-STOP talking. She could speak 30-40 words (of course not all perfectly clear) by the time she turned 2.

My nieces were also the same way versus my nephews. Girls are just given the trait to talk!!!

I wouldn't worry this early on...wait until 3-4 to have a few worries.
Take care!

Both my boys were like this, and then right after they turned it was like a flip was switched. They are both extremely verbal now (at 8 and 2 1/2). I think boys spend a lot of time absorbing and then all of the sudden it bursts forth. My mom told me stories of my brother who used to make noises and grunts but little else, until she caught him in his crib one day speaking in sentences to his bear. This is similar to my boys who had maybe 10 words at 20 months and then at 26 were going crazy with sentences.

I would say just make sure you are speaking slowley and clearly. Don't use 6 words if 2 will do. My nephew had a few issues because my sister is a little hyper and speaks very quickly. And instead of saying do you want a drink? She would say do you want a drink? Juice? Milk? Cuppy? and then keep talking about other things a mile a minute. It seems like it took him longer to figure out what she was talking about.

I am sure in a few months it will all be better, but good job keeping an eye out. Have fun in the quiet now, eventually he will never stop talking!!

I have to strongly disagree with the wait and see mode of thinking. My doc said not to worry until he was at least 2 1/2. At 22 months we began a wonderful speech program. I began with ECI and sign language was suggested. My best friend up north is a highly respected speech pathologist. She was against the sign language idea. (I am glad that I didn't stick with that because he would still try to use a word or two for about a year and a half. It took me forever to break him of that.) My son was diagnosed with a slight case of apraxia at just about 3 years old. Fortunately, because he began therapy so early he was able to develop enough speech by age three so that an acurate diagnosis could be made. Therefore, starting the correct type of therapy even earlier. Due to identifying this early he will be fine in time. However, had I listened to everyone including the doc we would be behind by about 8 months-which equals out to a full school year. I am a former elementary school teacher myself. I absolutely believe in being proactive not reactive!!! No one is a better advocate for your child than you. I would much rather have gone through the process of identifying a problem early or better yet finding out that there is "no" problem sooner than later. I have checked into many places and had many opinions and I can steer you to the best, if you are interested. Please feel free to email me at ____@____.com Good luck!

Hi R., I would listen to what Bridget C. said on august 28th. Dont worry about it. my son is two and a half and he says some things but if you try to have a conversation with him. he is just basically talking a different language to me. I mean he understands like if I ask him to bring me his cup, the remote , his blanky and other things, But I believe they will talk when they are good and ready. Dont take him to any speech therapist or anything like that, I think that is CRAZY. I love my son and I would not change anything about him. He will talk full sentences when he is good and ready. Just enjoy him while they are still little. It seems like yesterday when I had him and in 6 months he will be 3. Good Luck and dont worry about a thing. God Bless, K.

Hi R.,

I used to be a child advocate here in Houston. I would often contact ECI - Early Childhood Intervention when I would notice developmental delays. They are great and will often do homevisits - which is nice with toddlers.

Here is the link, http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/index.shtml. I haven't used them in a very long time, but I would give it a try if I were you. It is a free service - and it can change your son's life - for the better - if he is in need.

I agree with Diane. ECI check in to through the school.