Speech - Hinesville,GA

To reiterate what many mommas have already said it varies between children but I think my ped said there should be a minimum of 30 words by age 2. I had read in many books that there should be up to 200 words by that age but doctors only trying to find the worst case situations, not those that may be on the slower end of developing (which isn't a bad thing). Although both grandchildren may be 2 years old a few month difference can be huge in terms of speech development. At one time my nanny's 25 month old daughter seemed to know about 25 times as many words as my 22 month old and I was concerned, but by the time he was 25-26 months he was on track with her at that age.
I know that friends with children with chronic ear infections have had some speech development issues so the can be an indicating factor. Good luck.

My son will be 2 in Aug, and he is not saying many words. I am not worried cause he understands everything and knows how to get his point across. Every child is differant. The pediatricians chart isn't made for every child. I would NOT worry. Relax and enjoy cause one of these days you'll wonder when he's gonna be quiet!!!
Cheers, H.

Most definitely get him tested if you are worried! Some states provide free speech therapy too. It can't hurt ti inquire and it can only help him. When doctors say boys are slower at talking than girls I don't believe it. My youngest son started talking earlier than all of the girls in his playgroup. Also, read a lot of books to him, get him involved in playgroups, talk to him a lot and do flashcards with him. Good luck and always trust your mother's intuition!

Girls do tend to talk sooner than boys and children tend to pick up language and conversation skills at different times in their development. Even though he is not talking yet, how is his interaction otherwise? Does he point to objects or pictures in an effort to try to communicate or share wihat he is seeing with others? Does he turn his head to look when you call his name? When you are with him and you point something out for him to look at, does he turn his head to look? Is he engagin in imaginary play? Does he seem interested in other kids or other people? Or does he shy away from them? Does he babble? Does he seem to understand what other people are saying to him? How's his eye contact when people are talking to him?

As you are going through these questions, if there is any thing there that raises a red flag for you, I would suggest that he have his hearing tested and have him evaluated by a speech therapist. You can refer him to your State's Early Intervention Services Department to have him evaluated and, if there is some kind of delay going on, they will provide free in-home therapy services until he turns 3. There's usually a delay from the time that you make the call and the time that services begin, so the sooner you make the call, the better. Also, if you have private insurance that will cover the costs of having his hearing tested and speech evaluated, then I would definitely pursue that route (in addition to contacting Early Intervention). From my own personal experience, you receive better quality services and the therapists are more forthcoming about what your child's issues are and what your best treatment options are when you are the one paying for the service.

Hope this helps.

check his ears at an ent for fluid.

i would definitely get him evaluated. if he can receive services, why not? its a good thing. my son gets it, it has made a huge difference. i figure, i pay my taxes, and plenty of them, why not get some one-on-one for him while i can? there is nothing like one on one. and by the way, all kids develop differently, i know its hard not to compare, but your grandson is probably just fine. but its not just the language. when my son was 2, i knew he was delayed. i wasnt worried about his intelligence, and i knew he would catch up, but it started to affect his behavior, as it probably will for your grandson soon if not already. they get frustrated and act out when they start to realize that they cant make themselves understood. then it gets into a whole behavior thing, a terrible cycle. im so happy i nipped it in the bud. and by the way, he loooooooves his therapist. (i would never have one that he didnt love, it is his first teacher after all...) as far as he is concerned, its like his own personal buddy coming over to play, he waits for her with his face up against the door, so cute.

I would have him tested by a speech and language pathologist. My daughter had speech delays and while a visiting nurse (she was hospitalized as infant and had chronic ear infections) from the county and pediatrician said she was fine, I should have pushed. She ended up behind in school with reading.

The baseline for age 2 is 50 words. I called early intervention when my son was 2 because he only had 20 words. Turned out he had some other language foundation problems that I hadn't even noticed until they pointed it out and he got therapy. 3 months later he is a different child. Don't wait...it takes a while to get someone out there. There is no stigma although if they do say he needs therapy, it hurts a little. If he doesn't, well, that is pretty great!

Alot of boys are slower to talk. I wouldn't worry. Read books, ask him to identify things in the stories, teach colors, animals, body parts, anything to stimulate his curiousity. Enjoy him--- soon enough you'll just want him to give you a quiet moment!

Girls often talk much earlier and more often than boys (that second part never changes! ;-)). As long as your grandson can string a few words together and adults can understand around 50% of what he says, testing is probably not necessary. You should measure him against your other granddaughter; but if he is talking much less than other boys his age, you may want to suggest testing. I find books like "What to Excpect: The Toddler Years" helpful for giving me ranges of what is normal and not normal. Hope this helps.

My oldest child is a girl, and I have 2 younger boys. My daughter spoke very early, by 18 months she said all KINDS of words. My boys however weren't speaking well until about the age of 3! They just one day exploded into saying all KINDS of things around 3 years old. So I definitely believe there verbal skills lag with boys. They were average on other motor skills (walking, crawling, etc) but they were always hitting those milestones later than my daughter did too. If he responds to things and acts like he understands, he's probably fine. Have you tried sign language? If he can pick that up, there's probably nothing to be concerned about. If your daughter feels there is something wrong, then by all means have him tested. :)

It never hurts to get an evaluation since you can start intervention early, but it's possible that he is just normal. :) Boys rarely develop speech as quickly as girls (don't know why, but it's true), so you would do better to compare his abilities to other boys his age, rather than a girl.

I had the same issue with my 3 year old who was then about 1 1/2 or 2 at the time. I had him evaluated by psychological services. However, I was told that they really don't like to test kids that young because they really can't get a accurate score for them because they are so young.
But there was a vast improvement with my son between the ages of 2 and 3 in his speech. I would give it another six months or so. You will probably be surprised at the difference a few months will make.

He has nothing to lose by getting an evaluation. With matters of development, you should just never wait and see. The question is, is your grandaughter advanced, or is he behind? He should have between 50 and 100 words and be putting two words together into simple sentences. He shoudl be intellegible (but not without articulation errors which are typcial and expected) and his langauge should be purposeful. If his sister-cousin is way ahead of this mark, and he is making this mark, don't worry.

Generally, when someone who has had children worries, there is cause. An evaluation is a win win. Either you walk out knowing that nothing is wrong, or you walk out knowing what to do to set it right. What is not to like?

M.

Yes, the sooner the better. He should be evaluated by the Part C provider in his state. In Georgia he would be evaluated by Early Intervention in Public Health. Part C is from the federal law called IDEA. Part C focuses on infants and toddlers to assure they are off to the best start.

Please have him tested. My son was not talking as well as my first son when he was two. At his 24month doctor's appointment, I brought this up with his pediatrician. He said that boys talk later than girls. I went home and didn't do anything about it for a few weeks. My mother finally convinced me to get him tested and follow my gut. So at 2 1/2 he was tested and they found that he was not only behind in Speech but in gross and fine motor control. He qualified for FOUR hours of therapy a week through the state.

He is now seven. Though he still receives therapy, he is speaking (there was a time I question that this was going to happen) and is above grade level in school. It makes me sad to think about the wasted months. Perhaps we would be farther down the road to clearer speech if we had started earlier.