My Son - Grand Junction,CO

Does Sissy talk for him?
We have a Sissy who talked, walked, got, did everything for my number 3. Hence Number 3 didn't wal until she was 18+ months and didn't talk but screeched unitl she was 2 1/2.
I took her to all the speech pathologists. We had to train number 2 to stop getting everything for the baby. But she still does and they are 13 and 16.

My brilliant wonderful amazing thoughtful poetic son didn't say a darn word before 2 1/2. He speaks wonderfully now at 3. Lots of boys I know barely talked at 3.

AND, get this. My 2 year old difficult daughter? NO talking yet. Her sister was talking in full sentences a long time ago at this age. She's the one pointing and screaming in my house now because she cant' talk.

All kids are different. Don't worry!

I agree with other advice. You can also use brain cards with max the monkey at barnes and noble or flash cards. Try to have him repeat you when you talk to him and like a mom said below, use simple words if he can't repeat bigger words.

Last year I posted a question almost identical to yours. My son was about 2 and still had a very limited vocabulary. I never took him to a speech therapist. He was very good at communicating without words and most of the time we knew what he wanted. Within a few months all of sudden he was talking and within another couple of months he was talking more than any of the kids who started to talk early. He was talking very clearly and in complete sentences. It was like he was just absorbing everything before he actually started to talk. He was like that with crawling and walking as well. A little late, but once he did it he did it perfectly. Give it some time and gentle encouragement.

Someone has to teach them the language, they dont learn it on their own.

i strongly second the advice to get in contact w/ your states early intervention program. it is a federally funded program and every state has one. they will evaluate your child at no charge and if they qualify, they will receive services paid for by the state. my daughter was 2 y/o when we had her evaluated and she received top notch services that helped her immensely! there is a critical period (birth to 3) that the brain is it's most malleable and receptive to speech therapy. also, regardless of what your pediatrician says you have the right to an eval you DO NOT need a referral!
sadly, peds are rushed and/or just not educated, they will tell you everything will be fine to just wait and see. most often, not the case. please, please, please listen to your mommy instincts- it is right on- and it is trying to tell you something. i wish you and your family all the best!

.

Milk Please.

Hold me, please.

These are the types of things he needs to be able to say.
Just make sure you give him is words. When he screeches, figure out what he wants, or needs.

Give him his words for his feelings.
I need a hug.
I am scared.
I am tired.
I am hungry.

He will come up with his way of saying these things, but at least he will have the words in his head.

Our daughter used to say, "Hold you me?" and raise her arms up.. This meant, "will you please hold me?"

"Milk peas?" Meant "May I have some milk please?"

Do have him evaluated just in case, but just try to really match up his actions with the words he is searching for.

I am sure he is fine. I bet he will be taking a mile a minute by 2 1/2. Seriously, don't worry YET.

I would look into Early Intervention services in your state - they are free for children under 3. He may be fine, or he may have some form of speech delay. Call them for information and take the time off from work for an appointment if necessary. I also wonder if teaching him sign language right now might be helpful since he sounds like he wants to communicate but is having difficulty and is getting frustrated. He can learn simple signs for things like milk, drink, all done, more, etc.

I urge you to make an appointment for an evaluation. Federal law requires that school districts provide free evaluation and treatment if it's needed. I'd make an appointment with Early Intervention ASAP. The benefits from one law ends at age 3. We didn't get my grandson, who wasn't talking, in until he was 2 1/2 and so he missed out on a lot of help. He's still not talking well at 7 even tho he's been getting help thru the school district and privately since that time.

You can also have a speech therapist evaluate him. My grandson's medical insurance paid for that but he has numerous other difficulties which are being addressed by other specialists.

check him for fluid on his ears. with this they can hear but it is garbled. Your describing my son to a tee and he has hearing issues. Fluid, earinfections, wax blockage and so forth. Screaming , yelling and pointing is a sign of hearing issues. they scream so they can hear themselves talk. and pointing is cause they can't communicate. Take him to an ent and get him checked for fluid. Mine is 3 hearing issues and he still doesn't talk much. I bet you get fustration tantrums too.. Throwing fits cause of his inability to communicate. Get him checked just to make sure.

Please consider getting your son evaluated for a speech delay. It could be that there's no issues and he'll start talking more later, but if there is an issue, they resolve so much more quickly with early intervention. Our son started speech therapy when he was 2.5 and did it for a little less than a year and a half. It helped so much and he is a great talked now. Under the age of three, kids are eligible for FREE services in your HOME or DAYCARE! It makes it so easy! However, after three you would need to take your child to a school to get services, and it's harder to qualify. It makes so much sense to start services earlier, both because the services are more convenient and because kids make more progress when they are younger. There is no reason not to get an evaluation. If there is no delay, you get peace of mind, and if there is one, you can start getting services to correct it. Here is a list of the different places in Colorado that provide the evaluations and services:

http://denveroptions.org/ccb-list

Since he just turned 2 he is still young to carry on a conversation, but he should be babbling with a mixture of real words included, singing, saying phrases, making requests and so on.

Where is he during the day? Is he surrounded by lots of speech? Is he in a learning environment? Before now were you encouraging him to communicate or were you anticipating his needs so that he never needed to talk much?
It may be hard especially if he throws fits, but get him to use the simple words.
Getting an evaluation just to be sure will be good, in the meanwhile keep talking to him all the time about everything he sees and is doing. Keep reading to him every day and emphasize out key things ( dog, baby, cup, etc.) teaching him some simple ASL signs may help with his communication you can find free videos on Youtube.
Best wishes. :)

Don't worry about his talking. My first son was saying full, clear sentences before he turned one and my second born hardly said a word until he was 2 1/2 and when he did, you could hardly understand him. Now that they are older my second son (who was slower to speak) is far more advanced academically than my first born. So you just never know, all kids kick start at different times. If your doc is not concerned, I wouldn't be either and try your hardest not to compare.

One thing I will share with you though is on the screaming for things. If you respond he will continue. When he screams, you look at him and tell him he needs to speak in a nicer voice, or indoor voice, or whatever verbiage you want to use. Then tell him how you would like him to say it, do not get it for him or ask him what he wants, tell him how YOU want him to ask. Even though he is not saying words, he can understand you.

Your goal is to get him to say "I want a drink of water please." and if you keep asking "Do you want a drink of water?" the he will learn that yelling and pointing works, but by saying "You need to use a quieter voice, and say, 'I want a drink of water please.' then I will get it for you." He may only say "please" or "drink" but now you are encouraging him to use words, not putting words in his mouth. Hope this makes sense.

Just a last note, you will have some breakdowns for a week or two before he catches on to your requests. Just hang in there, it works I promise.

Good luck.

Try not to worry (easier said than done). My oldest son started talking in one or two words at a time at 10 months but didn't communicate well until he was over 3. My 2nd had exactly 12 words at his 2nd birthday (his pedi would have referred him to early intervention if he didn't have 10). Then his language exploded at 2.5 and he hasn't shut up since ;-). My 3rd son barely spoke at all until he was 3 - he probably qualified for EI but I knew that his hearing was fine and he was communicative (could follow directions, could let you know what he wanted, would listen when called). When he felt good and ready, he started talking in sentences. He has a mild speech impediment with transposing sounds but not enough to qualify for services.

Anyway...even siblings talk at different rates. If you are concerned, talk to you pediatrician. He or she should be able to reassure you that he is on track developmentally - they can look for certain things, like does he attend to you when you speak to him, does he follow directions at day care, does he communicate what he needs (pointing, grunting, etc.). You can certainly request an EI screening if you really want it, but he sounds just fine to me. Three years from now you'll be writing a post about your boy who just won't stop talking :-)

Also, talk to your childcare provider - if he goes to daycare and has experienced teachers, they are usually very good at picking up on whether or not a child has "a problem" or is just on the quiet side.

first of all, NEVER compare your child to someone elses! EVERY child is different.
your child is speaking, he just needs to build his vocabulary! this will happen in time. if he wasnt saying any words t all i would be a little concerned.
keep reading to him and keep talking to him as much as you can! especially sounding out words slowly so its easier for him to hear the sounds and the differences in the sounds of different words.

youre on the right track! keep doing what youre doing and be patient! i know its hard with the first one, everything seems to happen so slowly!

one thing that helped my son speak in sentences was to be around other kids who spoke to him. he was 2 and a half when he started speaking in sentences, his little sister was 18 mnths when she started sentences!! so it goes to show that every kid is different!

I haven't read the other posts, but my son had a speech delay and didn't talk until he was past 3. With that in mind, he is almost 6 and there are many days I wish he would stop talking!! haha

My son had feeding issues and a SLT pointed out that a lot of kiddos get the first practice at speech by requesting items such as food. So, since my son was not at all interested in food and not requesting it, he missed that chance for language practice. I think it would be a good time to practice speech when he is requesting items such as food, toys, etc.

Kids are all different so don't worry if he is talking less than another kid his age. I think you are doing WONDERFUL things by speaking in full sentences rather than baby talk (I hate baby talk). Keep reading to him that is absolutely wonderful!! Good luck! I'm sure in time he will pick it up and then you will wish he would be quiet!!! :-)

Not all kids are very verbal at 2. And a few months can make a huge difference! It may be that your son is developing in other ways first. I had one child who was, at her 2-year appointment, talking like a 3 year old. I had another who was still mostly at the point and yell stage at 2. Both are intelligent, verbose, fabulous kids.

The hardest thing for parents is to not compare their kids with other kids. But there is a huge variation in what is normal, healthy development, and most of the time comparing is going to stress us out!

I think O. of the best things you can do is to keep reading to him! Kids get a LOT out of hearing the spoken word, voice inflection, flow and emotion in reading stories.
Often either motor skills or verbal skills happen first. If I had to guess, I'd bet that your son is a runner, a jumper, a climber, etc? Sometimes language takes a back seat from 18-24 mos. b/c they are so focused on developing those motor skills.
Get some books with O. word per page (like an ABC book or colors) and read it every single day (before the other "exciting" books!).
Don't make the mistake of comparing your son to your nephew--that's not productive and not fair to ether of them. All kids are different!

Just curious, what does the daycare say about his verbal skills during the day? Are they concerned?

If you see him mainly after work, he's already tired, and screaming is just a quick and easy, already workable way to get what he wants.

And boys are notoriously slower talkers than girls. Your son is undoubtedly more advanced in something else than your sisters 2 year old son, just not talking like her. If you think about it your son is probably more advanced in something physical, like climbing, or running or how to open baby locks...

Keep your sentences shorter and repeat them often in a loving, gentle way. Smile and praise him when he uses words. Say thank you for using your words. Please use your words.

GL!

I think speech comes later for boys. Don't compare him to your sister's son, either. You'll just make yourself worry. That said, my son has a marked speech delay and we started speech therapy at age 2. I also spoke to him in full sentences and we read many books each day. The speech therapist asked me to spend some time each day using two word phrases with him. If he said "tree", I was to say "tall tree" or "green tree". If he said "cat" I was to say, "Black cat" or "Soft cat". Whatever - just expand on what he had said by one descriptive word.

Try not to worry. He'll catch up. I'll bet he knows how to do some things that your sister's child can't do yet. :)

Your son may qualify for free speech therapy. Where I live they have a preschool program that is run throught hte local school district, free for families who qualify. My friend sent her speech delayed son there by asking her Pediatrician for a referal. Ask your pediatrician or your district health office for information on what is available in your area.

At the risk of repeating someone elses answer, I will go ahead and give you my thoughts. Kids all develop at different times. I think the biggest thing is: Does your son understand what you are saying to him. I used to work day care, in the 2 year old room. We had talkers and non talkers. One little boy barely said anything. I remember the day he called my name, I was in shock that he talked. Pretty much from then on he talked, non stop, complete sentences.
You said your son hears fine, and I think as long as he is understanding you, don't worry. He will talk when he is ready. If he is still not talking at 3, then maybe worry.
Good luck.

Don't stress on this, and please, don't compare your son to your nephew.
Kids all develop differently in different areas. I worked for 2.5 years exclusively with kids 20-30 months, and trust me, it sounds like your son is fine. There's a very broad spectrum of language development: some children don't speak much until they are three.

Keep speaking to him, reading to him, and providing time to play and express himself through this. Just love on him. His brain hasn't built the connection yet between *Knowing the Words* and actually being able to SAY the words. This will happen when it happens, just like so many other areas of development. So keep talking to him, keep narrating for him, because you are giving him rich language, and then be patient with him. This isn't a case of stubborness, this is a little guy whose brain just hasn't grown into it's connections yet.

If you want more on human babies' brain development, check out "The Science of Parenting" by Margot Sunderland. Totally great, easy to read book. I loved it.

yep, your son could be one of the boys in my daycare! He'll be 2 later this summer & he still screams/yells/wails ...instead of talking.

By contrast, his partner in crime (same age) talks conversationally, with full sentences - he can even sing 3 full songs! Both boys have 3 older siblings. Both boys are rocket scientists, for the most part.

The only difference in the 2 families is that the talker is encouraged to behave. The screamer is not.....to the point that Mom is proud of how strong-willed Mr. Screamer is. OMG, it is soooo wrong. She wants her child to be the one kid in the room not complying. She wants everybody to know "who" her child is....whether it is thru inappropriate actions or not!

I do not agree with this style of parenting. I do not like the screaming. Mom knows that I nip it in the bud every single time he starts. Mom knows that he is placed in timeout if he is directing this behavior toward his friends.....& she doesn't care. It is so unfair to the others to be on the receiving end of this behavior! There are days when no one can touch anything in the room without him flying across the room to:
1. scream 2. try to push the child away from the toy 3. scream again.

Mom swears that this behavior does not happen at home.....are you ready?.. because "his" toys are "his" & no one else in the family is allowed to touch "his" belongings. He is the Crown Prince. She applauds his determination to protect what is his. End of "her" part of the Subject.

All this said, I work daily with this child to encourage his speech. Earlier this year, I addressed the pacifier issue...his parents were using the pacifier repeatedly as a method to shut him up. He does not suck on it, he uses it for 2 seconds & then throws it....usually at someone. This was removed from our days without issue, & I was so happy to see it go!

This child's need to wail is incredibly a part of him. I have spoken with Mom several times & have clearly stated that speech will not come until the wailing stops. I applaud you for recognizing this in your child. The question now would be: how does daycare handle it? I believe that is where the root issue is.....are they intervening or just letting him get his way? How strong-willed is your son.....is he at all like the boy I spend my days with?

The only recommendation I have is: when you are encouraging his speech, don't give him "yes/no" questions....such as "do you want...". Instead, state it in a way which requires him to make a choice! "Do you want milk or water? Tell Mommy, milk or water. Please say: milk or water." I make sure I'm on his eye level & I make sure I have the patience to encourage/wait for his response.

If I see the wail begin, I place my finger over his mouth & tell him "NO. You need to say...." 2 chances to stop the wail.....& then he's redirected to timeout. When he's finished with his meltdown, then he's always ready to comply with my request....even if it's a grunt! & what's interesting is that he's also willing to apologize with a hug if he's offended a friend! Night/day difference with before/after that timeout! I truly believe it's diligence on my part....that's getting any results from him. !!

Within this past month, I've been able to pull single words from him regularly. What's interesting is that he seems to be dropping the beginning/end sounds of each word. We are working on being repetitive with our words....but it's very rare for him to do so on his own. Most kids this age have a finite vocabulary (10 words, 20 words, etc). With this little boy, he's a one-word wonder....if that!

I hope intervention at his daycare helps. I would also consider having him screened by your school district. 2yo is usually the benchmark for beginning speech.....Good Luck!

It happens. And not just to boys. My oldest son was a late-ish talker, but even then needed speech therapy because he speech was largely unintelligible. My youngest daughter-who will be 3 in July-was also a late talker. She JUST started talking a couple of months ago. She spoke literally only a handful of words (yes, no, mom, dad, and occasionally a few more but that's it!). She went from 99% of her communication being "uh" or "nnnn" to full sentences practically overnight. And now not only has she begun speaking a ton, she has incredible enunciation and uses all sorts of large words. Don't worry. It's hard to sit back and wait, but just keep encouraging him. If he doesn't want to say full words, start by having him make the first sound of the word. if he wants milk but wont say "milk", get him to say "mmmm". Work on one sound a day, then start stringing sounds together. It is very rare that a child needs any sort of intervention in speech before 3yrs old. Be patient, keep working with him. If his vocabulary hasn't increased at all by 2 1/2, check back in with your pediatrician and see if he is speaking little enough to need an evaluation. I've learned that way too often we want to jump on something and get it evaluated and try to push forward with some sort of therapy when most kids just needs a little time. (and I have a special needs child so I know that evaluations and therapy certainly have their place!)
Keep working with him, be patient.

Rather than make suggestions, like "do you want the cup?", try to coax him into speaking more by saying "what do you want?", rather than answering the question for him.

My oldest hardly talked at all until around the time he turned two. He did use sign language a lot before then, so you might try that. Really, though, I wouldn't be too worried yet--some kids just talk later. As others say, as long as he seems to understand and interacts with you then I wouldn't worry. Incidentally, while my oldest hardly talked at all, my youngest was speaking in complete paragraphs by age 2. All kids are different--it sounds to me like you are doing everything right!
J.