My son will be two on April 27th 2009. As of right now, he says around 10 words that you can actually understand. Of course he has his own words for things, and if someone new were to hear them, they would have no idea what he was saying. He babbles all the time and then when I try to get him to repeat a word he just won't. The word please is the worst. If I ask him to say please he will hide his face, turn his head and almost act embarassed to try to say it. I have had him around other children his age and they talk very well, or are on their way. I think he is behind in this aspect. He understands EVERYTHING I say to him, but just will not talk. I'm not sure if I should be worried or if he's just slower in developing speech. Any ideas or comments would be great. Has anyone else had a slow talker? I know boys are slower than girls but I didn't think this slow. Oh and he's not in daycare, I stay at home with him but we do have a lot of playdates.
Thank you to everyone who responded! I am less worried now and believe he will start talking when he feels like it....he's very stubborn anyway! I will be making his two year check up next month and will talk to his doctor at that point to see what she thinks. But, for now I will just have to learn Zachary's language LOL. Thanks again to everyone.
My son started talking a couple weeks after his 2nd birthday.
He's 2 1/2 now and he NEVER stops talking!
I'd give him a little more time and if his speech hasn't improved by the time he's 2 1/2, talk to his ped. about a speech evealuation.
My son didn't talk until he was 3. Now...people tell me that he is a little genius. I think when he was younger, he was just taking everything in. lol
Don't worry. They'll talk when they're ready. :)
Hi S., My brother was 2 1/2 before he talked. My Mom took him to specialist's, they said there was nothing wrong with him, but that he was maybe a little spoiled and got what he wanted so he didn't feel the need to talk. Then one day after never saying a word but UH! he went up to my Mom and said "Can I have a glass of water" It freaked her out. Can you imagine? Any way I'm not saying your's is spoiled, but it may not be his time yet.
Blessings.
C.
i am a retired preschool teacher and if you are concerened with your childs speech or taling development you should contact your local intermediate school districts great start program they offer free testing,free home visit were they help you to work with your child. also just before your child turns three you can contact macomb county head start program they have excellent programs for three and four year olds their number is ###-###-####.also your local health department does screenings
My daughter was much like that (she will be 12 on April 27th!!). She simply didn't want to talk until she could form sentences. This is the same trait as her father, he refused to talk until he could form sentences and it was just after his 2.5 year mark.
My daughter was read sections of the newspaper on a daily basis by my mom from the time she was an infant until about 3 when she was far more interested in other things than sitting for any amount of time. My daughter was cared for at home until she was 5 - then she went on to the PEEP program with the Kalamazoo Public School System. She has always loved books and still does. Perhaps finding more books to be interested in and maybe reading more "adult" material appropriate for children of course(like parts of the paper) might encourage him?
The fact that he does understand everything you say should be a reassurance that he's not really behind, just chosing "HIS" time to talk.
What does your pediatrician say? I have 3 children who were speech delayed. All of them needed speech therapy which you can get through your school district and through health care. His hearing should be checked to rule out any hearing disorders that may be affecting his speech. The sooner he is evaluated the sooner he will catch up.
There could be lots of reasons why he doesn't speak. Some children just don't. If you are really worried, talk to his dr. and they will probably recommend a speech therapist. My husband's nephew didn't speak for a long time and if he did they were words no one could understand. Today he is 10 and speaks just fine. My sister also didn't speak until probably 3. We found later that she was deaf in one ear and that probably impeded her speach. Good luck!
Hi S.. My son was the same way. I have a group of friends that all have boys around the same age and my son was not talking like they all were. He started the early ons program when he was about 2 1/2. He just turned 3 and is doing much better. He still is behind, he talks a ton, but a lot of it is unclear. I can understand most of it, but others can not. I work so hard with him. Finally he is trying to say things right, before when I would work with him he would just keep repeating it wrong. I am not sure if the speech therapy is doing the trick, I think it is more working at home and just his age. We only go to speech one hour a week and acts up a lot in it, so it might not be that great, but we are sticking with it. I think that some kids are just slower and will eventually get it. And please take my advise and don't let anyone scare you into thinking that there is more wrong with him, some kids can just be slow in speech and not have any other problems. Go and get him evaluated for early on, it will make you feel better as a mom that you are at least trying.
S.,
I don't think it's a boy vs. girl thing as my son was the early talker and my daughter the late one. She suffered from alot of ear infections and appeared to understand what was being said to her but babbled words that no one could understand. At her two year checkup we struggled to come up with 20 words that she spoke clearly and could be recognized. We did have her evaluated and it was determined that she needed tubes in her ears to drain the fluid. It was amazing how things turned around after that. She spoke not just her first two word combination but her first sentence by the time she was 2 1/2 years old. We participated in the early intervention program through the state that is provided for free. They were great about working with her on a weekly basis and giving us great ideas on how to improve her vocabulary. She's now seven years old and has a huge vocabulary and her pronunciation is impecable. If you weren't aware of her speech delay you would be shocked to be told.
Don't worry but have it checked out. She was our first child so I do understand how the "unknown" can be scary. We did teach our son a few sign language signs to help him communicate until he could form the words because he would get so frustrated trying to say a word that we just couldn't understand. Once he was able to tell us more he was a much calmer child.
No worries. My son turned 2 in February and does the same thing. He has his words that he says in his way and he understands everything we tell him. Other than that he babbles. I stay home with mine too. If you are worried about him communicating maybe try teaching him some sign language. That works for us.
My daughter is 4 and was singing songs by 2 1/2. Boys are about 6 months behind girls. If he's still doing this at 3, then worry. Until then just keep working with him, loving on him and enjoying him.
Dear Sam,
Well I just wanted to tell you I don't think you have anything to worry about. My grandson was the very same way my daughter thought the same thing so she had him checked from LISD but he was fine just slower then his age group he will talk when hes ready. now my grandson is almost 4 and is doing very well. C. yonts in tecumseh
S. ~
Don't worry about it! My grandson is/was exactly the same! He turned 2 in January...babbled alot (we call it Zach language!), but totally understood everything we said to him. A month and a half later and he is like a little parrot! He repeats everything anyone says! Sometimes people make a big deal out of exactly when children do things, don't worry so much. Boys are slower than girls, but I'm sure your son is just fine...watch a little bit and see! LOL Just make sure that when he points to things he wants you say what it is, he'll pick it up in no time!
D.
don't stress it!
Boys are more visual while girls are more verbal.
Personality plays into it also.
My 2nd child (boy) didn't "talk" until he was closer to 2 1/2... Yea, he'd say a word once or twice than lock it in his treasure chest of vocabulary and you couldn't bribe him to say it again... Until about 2 1/2... Then the treasure chest was all filled up and he was speaking in sentences.
Both my boys are grunt and pointers. That is how they let you know what they want.
Neither of them have been very motivated to speak. But when the speaking starts it is far and ahead of what other kids their ages are saying...
My 3rd child (boy) is now 22 months also and grunts, points, and babbles when he wants something. (there are new studies out that say that the kids who delay speaking and do more grunting and pointing as comunication have LARGER vocabularies by the time they hit kindergarten than those that speak earlier.) I know that he will talk when he's ready.
Keep reading to him, and asking him questions about books, shows, life, etc... The more you put your day into a commentary for him the more he soaks up and one day the flood gates will open and you will fall on the floor in shock. (especially if the first sentance you hear is like my 2nd ones "mommy, He's really big!" (HE was actually a SHE))
Just wanted to let you know.... Its normal.
It's worth asking the doctor about his hearing and if there's fluid in his ears. Sounds like he hears pretty well but fluid can slow them down from talking clearly. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry if he comprehends and babbles. Both are good signs that he'll talk better as he goes along. Sometimes kids work on other skills for awhile and don't progress in certain areas then switch back and jump ahead. As you said, boys can be slower about certain things. Sometimes girls are more verbal - but then that's true of adults too, huh? I don't think you have anything to worry about but I would be sure the ears are OK.
Yeah, this could be par for the course. My son's words came slower than my daughter's. Now, he won't stop talking. (He is 7 and she is almost 5) She is in pre-school and writes better than he does. But, he is reading past his grade level. And, we did have to learn to not answer for him all the time. That way he could learn to answer for himself. I still catch myself doing that. It is hard not to. I answer the kids in the car all the time and then they have to tell me that they weren't talking to me. They are talking to each other. If you still feel unsure then your doctor should be able help answer any questions you might have. Good luck!
I am not a doctor or anything like that, but I'd say don't worry about it especially if he is able to follow directions and understand. We have 2 sons our first was talking real annuciated words before 1 and sentences shortly after 1. Our second is 31 months. He,on the other hand, talks alot but just started 3 word phrases and constantly has to be reminded to "use his words".
Try the Early On or Birth thru Five program in your area. They will come to your home and do a development evalation including speech development. If he qualifies, they will do speech therapy right in your home. I have a four year old and a set of two year old twins, and my two year old girl is curently in speech. Actually, she has an appt this AM. Our speech therapist is wonderful and it's amazing the progress our daughter has made. Good luck.
Order Dr James MacDonald's book from Amazon about late talkers and play
Check out the "Learn the Signs" campaign at the CDC web site and make sure your son is hitting all of his developmental milestones
Look up a CHAT test (checklist for autistic toddlers) and make sure he's passing that one, too
Call EARLY ON in Michigan and fill out all the paperwork to have him screened
and order this book, too: The Late Talker: What to Do If Your Child Isn't Talking Yet (Paperback)
by Marilyn C. Agin (Author), Lisa F. Geng (Author), Malcolm Nicholl (Author)
He is probably just a bit slow in this area of development. With that said you may want to get him evaluated by early intervention. I am not sure who you need to contact hopfully another mom can help with that info. Your local school may also be able to help you get the info.
Blessings, K.
When my son was 2 he had the same problem. He is just now turned 4. Had has just finished his speech classes. We went thur the Early one program it is great. You will have to get his hearing checked to make sure it is not a hearing issue. They speech teachers help them in a playfull setting and help us parents with things to do when we are at home with them.
Hello S.,
The fact that he understands you is a wonderful thing.
When my youngest was about 15 mos I noticed there was something wrong. (She didn't talk either, among other things). Everyone told me not to worry about it but for me, what would be worse is finding out later that there was truly something wrong and I didn't do anything about it.
I second those who say to contact early on (1-800-early on) http://www.1800earlyon.org/.
My daughter started speech and occupational ____@____.com was diagnosed with ____@____.com almost 2 she now engages with her peers, maintains and initiates eye contact and has started to speak in sentences.
There may not be anything wrong with your son but an evaluation won't hurt. It may simply be a weak muscle issue. Speech Therapy can help with that too. It is a very social environment and the children do enjoy themselves. I almost want to call it play therapy.
D.
