How old was your son/daughter..

[Disneymom2AA]

when they started talking? Just curious. I will start by saying I have 4 children
DS 11-1 wk premature, DS 5-2wks premature, DD3-3 wks premature and DS2-3-1/2 wks premature. They all are healthy children but my DS that is 2 is not talking. He has been seen by a Speech Therapist for about 2 months and I spoke with her this morning and she doesn't understand why he won't start talking. I guess I should say that my 5 and 3 year olds do a lot of talking for him at home. We have tried to get them to not answer his questions, but with no success.

My son can point to all simple shapes-circle, square, triangle; to all colors-blue, red, green, yellow purple orange, etc.; knows animals-cat, dog, horse, pig-makes a grunt sound for the big, bear-growl sound and lion-roar/growl sound. On occasion he'll say dada and has said mamma twice. Just this past week we started potty training and he's doing great!!! But just won't talk.

So just wondering if anyone has had this problem? None of the doctors. speec therapists seem concerned, but I don't understand why he won't talk.

 

[Beth76]

What do you mean by "not talking"? Is he just not using words that you understand or is he physically not speaking? My son just turned 3 and he was always verbal. He would talk a ton and he would repeat things over and over, we just could not understand what he was saying. Like he had his own language. This was more at age 1-2. We knew he could hear and understand us though.

Once he turned about 2-1/2 he started using more and more words that we understood, but still not great. He's been progressively getting better and we understand a lot more. But he still has enunciation issues. We will be getting him evaluated by the school district in the next month to see if he qualifies for speech.

I think as long as your son is verbal and you know that he can hear you, that he's doing just fine. Especially since you've seen doctors and therapists. You just need to give him some time.

 

[MareQ]

When you say 3.5 weeks premature are you saying he was born at 36.6 weeks or 33.5 weeks?

Has he had his hearing tested? Has he been seen by a Neurologist?

My oldest was non-verbal until he was 3 - then he slowly started talking. He's 9 now and has been recxeiving ST since he was 2.5. Some things just take time.

 

[mickeyboat]

MareQ has a couple of good questions. 37 weeks is considered full-term, so if your son was born at 38 weeks, it should not be a prematurity issue. (ETA - I misread your post, sounds like he was born at 36 1/2 weeks. DD was born at 34 weeks, and they did a hearing test in the hospital. They didn't really tell us about it, but I happened to be there when they did it. It might be worthwhile to see if they did one on your son, and what the results were).

Has he had his hearing tested? I would find it strange that a speech pathologist would not have had it tested if he has been receiving therapy for 2 months.

I also think he needs some more time. 2 is still pretty young. I would be willing to bet his language will explode, soon. Keep at it!

Deane

 

[Disneymom2AA]

Not his "own language" just won't say anything. He usually just points to something or pulls on my leg or shirt. He will grunt uh, uh and point. Oh and he says suess but he means juice if he's holding a cup or his shoes if he wants his shoes on/off.

He never really babbled, cooed as a baby either. He was seen by a neurologist but she didn't think anything was wrong and said the same thing "give him time".

I guess my thing is my DD who just turned 3 was potty trained by 16 months and has talked a lot for a very long time. She really is a smart cookie!! But compared to my older boys my baby son is just not wanting to talk. Everyone-Pediatrician, Daycare provider, Grandparents, Neurologist just thinks that he will get it on his own especially since he can do everything else.

My mom just keeps reminding me that my babysister didn't talk until she was close to 5 because we did everything for her!!

I was just wondering the average age of everyone's child when they began to talk.

 

[mickeyboat]

I was just wondering the average age of everyone's child when they began to talk.

My DD's were "late talkers" as far as I was concerned. They said a few words at 18 months, but it was really after 2 before they really got going. And it seemed to happen over night.

Denae

 

[KadysMom]

My DD who is now 5 was talking basic words at 10 months. momma, dadda, baby etc. and has not stopped yet. My cousin had the same issue not talking but he had tons of ear infections when he was little and that had caused him to hear things differently and slowed his speech

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

My son was talking at 1yr full talking and has not stopped since and fully walking when he was 9 months........yes 9 months. Now he's 12 i remember like it was yesterday!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Her first word was at 8 months (kitty) and she quickly became a non-stop chatterer. However, my sister didn't start talking until she was a couple of years old....and now she's a non-stop chatterer too.

 

[Camicar]

Not his "own language" just won't say anything. He usually just points to something or pulls on my leg or shirt. He will grunt uh, uh and point. Oh and he says suess but he means juice if he's holding a cup or his shoes if he wants his shoes on/off.

He never really babbled, cooed as a baby either. He was seen by a neurologist but she didn't think anything was wrong and said the same thing "give him time".

Has he had his hearing tested by a specialist? This sounds very similar to a relative of mine who was not correctly diagnosed with a hearing problem until she was nearly ten. Her problem required speech thearpy and two operations, which they all wish had ben done earlier, so if you can catch a problem now it will be to your son's advantage.

If there is no hearing problem, then I would suggest really working on your older kids not speaking for him. We saw this in action with a toddler my dd babysat. The mother was constantly complaining that the child could not speak and blamed it on his being in a Russian orphanage until he was a year old. We all thought it was because she'd ask him a question and then answer it for him. Well, when my dd would babysit him, he would speak for her because she would not do what he wanted until he spoke. Within about 30 minutes, he said 30 new words his mother had never heard him utter. The kid didn't speak because he didn't have to when his mother was there. When my dd was there, he did speak because he had an incentive to do so.

 

[Disneymom2AA]

but, I think he was due June 6 but it could have been the 10th. He was born May 13.

Yes, he's had his hearing checked and it was fine. He did need some tubes put in because he had so many ear infections. We were at the pedi's office last wk and the tubes are still in and they didn't see anything wrong.

Don't get me wrong, he's not mute. He seems to be trying to talk, but it's just taking time. Just last week he started making the "ta" sound because we are trying to teach him to say two for his age. He can quack when he says a duck along with the other things I mentioned above.

I just wanted to know if they were late talkers about when did they start talking. My other son's weren't as early as my daughter but since they are 5 and 11 I can't quite remember. And yes, I'm a bad mommy and didn't keep track in their baby books!

 

[Disneymom2AA]

Has he had his hearing tested by a specialist? This sounds very similar to a relative of mine who was not correctly diagnosed with a hearing problem until she was nearly ten. Her problem required speech thearpy and two operations, which they all wish had ben done earlier, so if you can catch a problem now it will be to your son's advantage.

If there is no hearing problem, then I would suggest really working on your older kids not speaking for him. We saw this in action with a toddler my dd babysat. The mother was constantly complaining that the child could not speak and blamed it on his being in a Russian orphanage until he was a year old. We all thought it was because she'd ask him a question and then answer it for him. Well, when my dd would babysit him, he would speak for her because she would not do what he wanted until he spoke. Within about 30 minutes, he said 30 new words his mother had never heard him utter. The kid didn't speak because he didn't have to when his mother was there. When my dd was there, he did speak because he had an incentive to do so.

His daycare teacher said he said "look" twice last wk, of course his other siblings are not in his class. So I guess he's showing some progression.

 

[mickeyboat]

And yes, I'm a bad mommy and didn't keep track in their baby books!

Can I join your club?

 

[NMAmy]

My niece has three children. Her youngest didn't start talking until she 2.5. I think she COULD, she just didn't. When she was 2, she gave me a shock when we were out to dinner one night and I was holding her Dora book and all of a sudden I heard an unfamiliar voice whispering in my ear, "Dora."

She had an older brother and a VERY chatty sister who was 2 years older than her. Her sister did the talking for both of them. She just turned 3 and talks very well.

DD was babbling incessantly at about 7 months and was saying her first words at 9 months. She's always just been a chatty girl.

 

[nemonoah]

It sounds like you are describing my son to a T, he knows his shapes colors ect. but he will not say them, and he is 2 1-2, but the Dr. told us not to be concerned about it until he is 3. I know that part of the problem is that we are not really making him talk, he points at whatever,and we give it to him. We have been making him ask for things alot more often, and he is getting better like for instance I had no idea that he could say juice until I made him ask for it!

 

[CocozMom]

I am right there with you.
DS has been in ST for only a month, I am still waiting for some sort of progress. He has 5 words and I am baba, we have yet to hear Mama, makes me a little sad but I will take what I can get. DD is very talkative and protective of her brother. If we (parents, daycare, grandparents, etc) try to get him to ask for something he get frustrated very easily and DD jumps in and goes to bat for him. He is very advanced physically for his age, but is sensory seeking. His ST has recommended occupational therapy as well. She says he has poor facial muscle tone, although I don't see it at all. He has very animated facial expressions. The ST also said that some kids need to be specifically taught to do things that we take for granted. It isn't easy to hear. I really feel like I failed him somehow, but I know that is how he is. I am sure that one day we will not be able to keep them quiet.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Both of my dd's were premies, 5 weeks early.

My oldest dd had very serious life threatening health problems, at birth up until 4 months until she had heart surgery.

She was speaking before she was 1, even with everything she went through.

Is it genetics? Environmental? I don't know.

 

[Karel]

All of my children could be considered slow talkers. I don't think any of them had a whole bunch of words until after 2 years old. None of them have talking issues now!

My middle had two 'words' when he turned 2 and on his birthday, I had evaluted by County Special Services and began our special education journey.

The big thing is that he understands what you are saying to him -receptive language. Can he follow simple directions?

He still has time. Two is still young. I know it's hard not to compare but it sound like he can say some things and that he has older siblings to speak for him.

Keep talking to him, getting him to respond. A verbal rich enviroment where he has a lot of people modeling language is great but you also want to give him chances to respond. I found giving two choice is good and asking a question is good. Try pushing a little too - make him ask him for what he needs but that might be hard with the older kids.

Has your ST tried any sign language?

 

[PoohJen]

It's good and so very important that you are checking into this now, even if, in the end, there turns out to be nothing significant! If, on the other hand, there is a treatable reason for your son's late speech, you are that far ahead of the game in getting help. Has your doctor considered/ruled out autism? Or is 2 1/2 not uncommon for not talking?

My son talked constantly from 10 months old and never stopped. But my friend's son was the same age, and really almost never spoke, even into kindergarten. They were understandably concerned, had him tested, and ultimately he did "grow out" of it. Btw, his test results were pretty much in the genious range.

Good luck!

 

[maddiemom]

I am a speech pathologist and mom of 2. So I have personal plus some professional experience with this (though I generally work with adults).

First off, is he 2 or 3 years old? I was a little confused about that. If he is two I might have a different viewpoint than if he is three. A year makes a big difference at that age. If he is two, when was his birthday?

Kids really do develop at different rates. My own son held out from speech standpoint for awhile. His sister developed early. But all of the sudden the floodgates of speech opened up and now at the age of 4 we say the only time he's not talking is when he is asleep!! Being a younger sibling can be an issue. Modeling good speech is important at home. Try not to anticipate all of his needs, let him try to communicate. If he pulls you to what he wants say something like "Oh, you want the ____" before you get him what he wants.
Also, does he have opportunities to play with same age peers (outside of the family). If not, it might be good to get involved with a play group of some kind. In our area, there is Gymboree play and music and other gym programs for little ones. I took DS there, and it provides great language stimulation.