My daughter is almost two years old and doesn't really talk as much as I think she should be. She does say a few basic words and some words in Spanish. She can point to all of her body parts when you ask her to in English and Spanish. My family and friends just tell me she will talk when she's ready to, but I'm wondering if she really has speech problems or if she is Autistic...I want to get her the proper help as soon as possible. She does have her two-year check-up coming up soon, I will definitely ask her pediatrician too. I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance from other moms...when did your kids start talking? Thanks for your positive comments.
You may be jumping the gun on Autism if her only delay is speech. You should get an eval done through early intervention, they will let you know if she is behind or not. I can think of plenty of little kids that I know that when they were 2 barely spoke but by 3 they could not stop talking. Good louck!
I wouldn't panic, especially in a bilingual house. However, since you are worried you should contact Early Intervention. They will ask you some basic questions and then probably send someone to screen your child. No need to wait for the 2-year appointment for this. You can call now and the screening is free.
You either:
1) wait and see if she becomes, more talkative
2) you check and see, if she has a speech delay.
My son had a speech delay. And was diagnosed and I got our local Early Childhood Intervention organization, to help him. It is free.
Then, on the flip side. I have known other Moms with a speech delayed or speech impaired child. And they did not get speech therapy. The child, then entered into Elementary school, and STILL, had speech problems. And did not catch up, in speech development, until, about 2nd grade.
For me, I simply called our local "ECI" myself. I didn't have to be referred by a Pediatrician. They come to your home. It is free.
My son loved his Speech therapy and his speech therapist. He is 5 now... and he STILL remembers, his Speech Therapist. He had that from 19 months old, until he was almost 3 years old.
Because, the ECI is only for kids up until, 3 years old.
Your child, does not sound Autistic.
Do not jump the gun.
My son was speech delayed, and even developmentally advanced in several areas. He was not autistic.
My son, is ALSO bi-lingual. And now, multi-lingual.
Being speech delayed... does not mean a child is Autistic.
All kids are different and there are those who just sit and watch if they are getting their needs across too you then they do not "need" to speak. They are absorbing it all in and before you know it BAM they are talking circles around you and you will be asking how to shut them up. :)
Keep saying everything and encourage her to say it. Cookie, you want a cookie, cookie please, then give it to her.
Absolutely normal for bilingual kids, but like the other moms said, if you're worried, call ECI. There's no harm in having her checked out! Good luck!
She's probably just fine, but you can help by not anticipating what she wants and allowing her to verbalize it first. That's how I got my child to step up her verbal skills. Most kids talk when they feel it is necessary, but don't if they can get what they want without words.
I really wouldn't worry about it. All kids develop differently. I'm sure she's perfectly fine! I had a friend who's son didn't start talking until he was 3 1/2 and he was just fine. They haven't had any problems with him at all. She's just not ready yet. I'm sure your ped will tell you the same thing.
Find out what your school rules are--here in Wisconsin, if you suspect your child has speech or other learning issues, you can bring them starting at the age of three to the Pre-Kindergarten screenings. If there is an issue, they will test and find it, AND they have to provide services.
My daughter had speech beginning when she was three years old (she'd ride the little school bus from daycare to school), attended Early Childhood when she was four, and then they also did some extra testing and discovered that she suffered from hypotonia, so then she was put into OT/PT. All of it, again, free through the school district.
My daughter didn't talk much and come to find out she couldn't really hear and needed tubes in her ears! So, talk to the pediatrician, maybe get an ENT eval and then you can meet with the Early On people.
She's probably okay but for sure get her hearing tested just to make sure she is actually hearing everything. Beyond that, talking to her is the best therapy.
I think this is the norm for truly bilingual kids. They say it takes a year for each language a kid aquires. I worried about my child at that age. My highly gifted child is bilingual (though not with Spanish) and didn't really speak more than a few words until after age 2. At 3 is when we really saw a language "explosion." I have a friend whose daughter is trilingual who didn't speak more than a word until age 3, when she just began having these high-level conversations. That being said, call ECI if you are worried.
