Child About to Be 2 an Doesnt Talk

My daughter was the same way. Now she says at least 8 words. Sometimes kids are observers and when they have something to say, they will.

I wouldn't be too worried about it. As long as she is repeating words from the TV, that's a good sign.

Try playing her favorite show REPEATEDLY...this helps. Blue's Clues has a good DVD for counting and speaking...Shape Detectives. my daughter loves it.

Good luck and relax,
Nanc

Remember that all children learn at their own pace, and while the experts can say what they "should" be doing at a certain stage, each child is different. My daughter had very few words at her 2nd birthday, and then her vocab just started to explode a couple months later. Let her go at her own pace and she'll be fine.

don't rush her!! once they start talking it doesn't stop! :)

but in all seriousness, she should be fine. my daughter is almost 2 and only says mama, dada and ball.

i would wait till she's a little older to get any kind of evaluation. talk to the Ped. about it. some kids just aren't ready and that's ok. if she was 4 and not talking, that's a problem.

-L.

Hi S.! I have the same situation. My son will be 2 in September and doesn't talk much at all. He says between 5-10 words and not very clearly. We decided to take him to be evaluated by a speech therapist. This is the best thing we could have done for my son. The therapist said that at this age the child should say 50 words. She strongly recommended that we give him speech therapy. We are going to go with it and we feel so good about it. You can call your local hospital to find out about programs. One good world wide program to go with is called Birth to 3.
It's state run and very affordable. They come to your house to do it all.
The number is 1-800-505-7000.
I hope you decide to do this.
Realize that this is really the best decision to help your child and there is nothing to feel bad about. It's just the stage your child is in and can happen to any child in any family.
All the best to you S.!
D. C

Our son was 21 months and babbled a ton but didn't actually say words. We were very worried. One day when we were busy painting and not paying any attention to him at all, he got frustrated, stamped his foot and said clear as a bell "I want sammich". LOL Once he broke that barrier and got his sandwich he talked practically non-stop. He asked over and over "You paint a walls?" And he has been a very talkative guy ever since. He's 32 now. We found that he never jumped right into things. He watched for a long time and then when he tried something he could just do it. Hope this helps

S.,
I see you have a lot of different oppinions here, so i would recommend to follow your instincts. In my case, my older son was mumbling until he was 2yrs 3 months and then we sent him to daycare and within 2 months he was talking great. I think your kid is at the point where the language "breakthrough" would come any time now, you just have to be patient.

Absolutely have your child evaluated. Sorry, but 2 is really late to be speaking. Yes children speak at different times in their life. My son truly didn't start speaking until about 3.5 and he had intervention from the time he was 18 months old. He is super smart, but his speach is still holding him back and has caused a lot of problems for him. Your town will supply a birth to three person to evaluate and take whatever services they offer. After seeing what my son went through and how much help he was given I think any person who doesn't take advantage of what is being offered is doing their child a disservice.

Your pediatrician can fax birth to three and they will call you within a couple days to set up an appointment.

As far as your husband not wanting people to think you don't teach your child enough - that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. There is no stigma to late talking or any speech issue and it has nothing to do with parenting. Tell him to put his child first and not worry about what other people may think.

Sorry I am blunt, but I truly believe in early intervention and the help it can bring not only children, but their entire family.

Talk to your pediatrician, who might recommend early intervention. It has nothing to do w/you or thinking you don't "teach her enough". Some kids just need extra help and earlier is better.

Hello~
We know all kids develop at different stages, but it can't hurt to have your daughter evaluated for a speech delay. There are a lot of great therapies out there, if a delay is found. In the meantime, I might suggest cutting back on the tv (or cutting it out altogether, if possible). Many studies have been done on this subject, and most recently it's been found that tv watching in babies/toddlers can cause (temporary) speech delays because kids tend to learn much faster and more productively with the "call and response" that person to person teaching provides. Try reading to her instead of letting her watch tv.
good luck!

You can ask her daughter first what she thinks. They have free agencies that can come and evaluate her first to see if she does need it. Also, have you had her hearing checked? That always help!

Firstly, what does your pediatrician say? Secondly, no one would ever think that you are not teaching child. Parents are a childs first and most important teacher. Third, an evaluation may be helpful because in many states, the state may cover the financials but only up to a certain age. Take advantage of the modern world and get help if it is needed. If the evaluation says she's OK, she will talk in her own time. Good Luck!

My professional opinion is that this is more than just a speech and language issue. She needs to be evaluated sooner rather than later. Go to your pediatrician who will give you all you need to know.

There are some things that are beyond your control and have absolutely nothing to do with the way you and your husband parent. It is incredibly selfish to not get your child help because of your own insecurities.

Also there are many things that cannot be fixed by you as the loving mother. There is a reason why there are professional people out there who are trained to specifically handle certain situations. Unless you have that experience and degree I am afraid that regardless of what you think you can do by yourself to remedy any problem, it would be a terrible injustice to your daughter.

Good luck.

A.

You should contact early interventon. You can nearly free services for a child under 3. For either Speech, Occupational therapy or physical therapy. After 3 then you would most likely need to go thru your private insurance. I have multiple friends that have used early intervention for speech and it has been wonderful for them. A lot of inprovement. You can call your local elementary school and ask then for the phone #.

I think you've gotten a lot of good advice here already. I just want to say that your husband's concern is unfounded--no professional person would EVER criticize you for seeking input and help. It has nothing at all to do with your 'not teaching her enough' and the very fact that you are concerned reflects your love for her.

God bless.

My son is now 3.5 yrs old, but at 2, he was also not saying much at all. Even now it is hard to get him to repeat words. I didn't go thru any "early intervention" programs because at the time I didn't realize they existed. My son is the 1st child in our entire family that has needed speech therapy, so it was new to us as well. On the advice of a friend, that had twins the same as age as my son and having speech issues, we started the process right before he turned 3. It took approx. 4 mths to finally get him evaluated and in a program, but it was worth it.
I got real lucky because our town offers a Pre-K program for children with "disabilities". He goes M-F for 2.5 hrs and a shuttle van picks him up and drops him off right in the driveway. All compliments of our Board of Ed. Dept. During those 2.5 hrs, 2x per week he is pulled out of class for 30 mins for speech therapy. It is helping, slowly, but it is helping. He doesn't say more than 3-4 words in a sentence. His therapists are amazed that he has conjured up his own sign language to compensate. It is amazing how well he communicates without words, however, that has become a crutch and I/we have to ween ourselves from it and "demand" he use his words. That seems to be working the past few weeks. His therapists are concerned that he may have aproxia (sp?), basically weakening of the cheek muscles. If you feel cause for this, practice using straws and get rid of sippy cups. Also, play games like bubbles, blowing whistles, or blowing cotton balls across the table with straws....he loves all these games. Blowing bubbles in the tub is a blast.
GOOD LUCK!!
D.

My twins daughters didn't talk till they were almost 3 years old. They had their own language so they could "talk" to each other though. I was very worried about it and after a full examination of their ears/hearing, etc, their doctor wanted me to wait just a little longer before we went to a therapist. He said he noticed that if they wanted something I didn't give them the chance to ask for it. I usually knew what they wanted when they would stand in front of the fridge and point so I just gave it to them. So he suggested I try something different. Like if they wanted juice but wouldn't say the word and only pointed to it, I was not to give it to them until they said "juice". If they wanted a toy, he told me to not let them have it until they said the name of the toy. There were lots of tears when they didn't get what they wanted right away but within a very short time they were both talking up a storm. And now that they are all grown up the only reason they don't talk is because they are busy texting each other on their cell phones!

Have your doctor check her to make sure there is nothing physically wrong. And try to wait till she asks for things by name. Sometimes parents know their kids so well they don't give the child a chance to actually ask for it.

We have had 3 people come to my house the past couple of weeks to observe and evaluate my 19 month old twins for early intervention. They both qualify for speech therapy (cause they don't have many words at all) and special instruction to pair off with that (to keep them focused).

They say that every child can benefit from early intervention. I think that it is great that they offer these type of services. I was even told this is type of early intervention will help them manage their frustration and help me with dealing with the "terrible twos". I'm happy about that part! :)

Best of luck with your daughter!

That can be normal, especially in a household where more than one language is spoken. My niece is the same way. Our family is bilingual and she understands both languages but does not speak as much as most kids her age. And this is perfectly normal. It takes bilingual kids longer to talk because they are working hard to learn both languages. She turned 2 in April and she understands everything perfectly. You can ask her to do something and she will do it. She didn't start speaking regularly until a few months ago. And you can't expect full sentences out of a 2-year-old. She may only be able to string 2 words together. Even if only 1 language is spoken, give it a few more months, she may just be taking her time. As yourself if she is able to understand you if you tell her something or ask her to do something. You also have to remember that a 2-year-old is stubborn and will not repeat a word just because you ask them to say it. That is true of any kid. Just make sure you read books to her regularly and interact while you read them. Point out the pictures and ask questions about what is on the page and about the story. The more you interact with her and give her access to words, the better she will speak. Also, you may want to stop or cut back on the TV. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no tv for kids under 2 and only 1/2 hour a day for 2-5 years old, and then only 1 hour a day for older kids. TV is a passive activity. Kids don't have to think to watch it and it cuts into their playtime. there are lots of things that kids can not learn from watching, but only from doing. It can also contribute to ADD type behavior, since it helps shorten attention span. It also can contribute to childhood obesity, since kids are sitting around rather than running and playing and getting exercise.

Hi S.,

I am a speech language pathologist and just want to let you know that if your daughter truly does have a speech and language issue, no matter how hard you try to teach her she may need specialized techniques to help her along. Her reluctance to speak when you ask could be related to apraxia(when people can't act upon command) or from something else. She should have approximately 50 words at 2 years and be starting to put two words together (baby bottle). I suggest calling your county office and requesting an early intervention assessment for her. If all goes well, then you'll have peace of mind for free. If not, then you will know exactly how you can help her. Make sure that if she does receive any therapy that you are instructed on how to work with her yourself. It is very important to be directly involved. Please feel free to message me if you have any other specific questions. If you are looking for someone private, depending upon your location, I can help direct you. I am here to help. Good luck!

Early intervention was one of the best things we ever did! Our pediatrician reccomended it for my son and he was evaluated and serviced in our home until he was four and a half when services were no longer needed. Yes I could do alot of what the speech teacher did, but I didn't know that I needed to.I didn't know the mant stages of "learning to talk", just like many people don't know "the many stages of learning to read" Some people seem to just know how--- I was able to take what the speech teacher did and do simular things during the week. We actually used early intervention in two different states and were just as happy with it in both states. Its a great resourse and now when we hear too much chatter we remember the days when we worried :-)

You should have her evaluated because the longer you wait the harder it will be.

L.

Hi S.
You are right to be concerned some, but have you mentioned your concern to your ped. It seems that would be your first line of attack. If you mentioned it before, that is ok mention it again.
There are age frames, so continue to mention. He'll test, then order appropriate testing.
God bless you and your family
K. SAHM married 38 years, 4 kids 37,32, and twins 18 years.
Talk to your mom, she may have some sage advice as well.

hello, i am a speech pathologist, and you should follow you instincts and get your dtr evaluated. as stated before, call you board of ed, you are entitled to an EARLY INTERVENTION eval. talk to you MD & have then write a prescription for an evaluation. then go from there. just get empowered with information and if your drt needs help, you'll help her. it is good that you asked for information, how can you know everything about children when you are new to this?

This is sureal, my daughter will aslo be two in August and we are going through the exact same thing. She talks alot in her own language and says some words but not much else, but as of two weeks ago she is starting to say alot more words but when she wants. She just started to say juice when she wants it and shoes when she puts them on but no sentences yet. I asked the same question on here and Ive decided Im going to wait until she is about 2 1/2 to see how her vocabulary has blossomed then because
i keep hearing that it will blow up by then. Wait and see how she does after her second birthday and read and repeat everything to her. Ive seen that this has helped. Good luck!

i went thought the same thing...i thought that my son wasn't going to talk straight.. so signed him up for therpy as well as let him grow on his own...it took time but now he talkes with out a problem..and sometimes just wont be quiet...i prayed for him to talk and GOD answered my prayers...and he will answer yours too...just give them/HIM time... =0)

If you are truly concerned about your daughter thatn you should definately get an evaluation. You can have an evaluation done through early intervention srvices for free and if your daughter does need speech services, this will be free as well. DONT worry about someone thinking you are not doing your job with helping her to speak. There are many reasons for speech delay, including hearing problems. If you are concerned and don't get her evaluated than I would say you weren't doing your job in helping her out. Trust your instincts. Moms know best :)

My daughter didn't talk at all except a couple of standard words. what she did do is babble in her baby words which was so adorable. then right before her 2nd birthday she said her name (which is a very hard name to say) and then from then on she slowly started saying so much and now she's turning 7 and can't stop! i would wait and see but the best thing is to read to her constantly throughout the day... that's what i did as soon as she was born.

Hi Surjey-
You should have your daughter evaluated by "Early Intervention" Call them, tell them your concern, and they will schedule a time to come to your house and evaluate your daughter.
Hope this helps-
K.

S., children are not taught to speak. Language is a natural progression, children imitate sounds, then they realize the the names of things and say them, then they string words together in a sentence. They don't just repeat words, they learn language, accumulate a vocabulary. While some children are late in their speech skills, if your daughter has any type of speech disorder, you will not be able to "teach" her or fix her, you don't have the professional skills to do so.
Good luck.

Our oldest DID NOT speak till he was 2 1/2, now at 3 he just got evaluated(today) to see where he is at.... we were shocked when we were told that his speech is on the level of a 5 year old and that he is advanced in other areas(he is not in preschool). It would not hurt to get her evaluated, but I would not worry just yet, kids develop differently, maybe she is just a late bloomer:)

Have you had her hearing or ear canals checked? Something very similar happened to my friend's son, and it was because he had severe ear wax impaction. If you get the hearing checked, you may solve your problem. Also, don't hesitate on the speech therapist either. If you think she should be talking, then get her checked! Don't wait!

you can call and talk with someone over the phone to see if your child needs to be evaluated or talk to your pediatrician. i don't think you should put your embarrassment before your child's health. there may be something seriously wrong (or not!), but early intervention is essential. good luck.

Pls consult with your doctor and a speech therapist. There could be many reasons for this, and it could very well be that this is her pace of development. My cousin's daughters both spoke articulately later than the "normal" curve, and are fine. But, my ex's son spoke later and is beginning spectrum autistic. This is not to create fear, but to say that you should definitely follow up with professionals (and get second opinions) to put your and your husband's hearts at rest. If you do need to treat with any kind of therapy (speech or otherwise) it is always best to start sooner rather than later...Best of luck to you and your family!

As my own mother just loves to remind me when I worry my own sin isn't speaking enough...I didn't speak a sound until I was 2 and a half. And then one day it was full sentences.

Does your child understand you? You can tell by the way she responds. If she seems to understand you then I wouldn't worry too much. She'll talk when she's ready.

that being said, I think you might relax a bit if you had her tested. Best case, they reinforce that all is well, worst case they find another cause and then you can proceed from there. Either way you might feel better.

My son had some gross motor skills delays, and I had him evaluated by early intervention. He qualified for services and starting recieving physical therapy once a week. My husband kept saying, "He'll be fine" and I knew he would be, but I wanted to get him some help so that he would be fine sooner than later. It ended up being really helpful for me, because I learned specific things that I could do with him when the physical therapist wasn't there.

I don't think your husband should worry that people wwill think you don't try to teach her. Talk to you pediatrician about it - my son is 18 months and at his most recent check up they said by 18 months, they should be speaking 5 to 10 words, and by 24 months they should be starting to put two words together. I don't know if this is the general consensus or not, but if your daughter is only parroting words she hears and not really talking, it might (and I stress MIGHT) be an indication of something else going on.

Good luck!

Hi S.,
I am a speech pathologist and I work with little kids. First of all when a child has a speech or language delay it has nothing to do with you not teaching her enough. By 2 she should definitely be using many words and should be starting to combine 2 words together. See American Speech and Hearing Association's website (www.asha.org) for more information. I suggest you contact a local Birth to Three agency which will come out and do a free evaluation. If she needs intervention, Birth to Three agencies provide services in the home which are play based and usually very fun for the child. There is a family participation fees based on family income. There are several Birth to Three agencies in CT and depending on where you live, I can give you an idea of where to call or you can go to their website (www.birth23.org). Feel free to contact me anytime ____@____.com.

I would definitely get this checked out. Children are all different, and if there is a problem it is not your fault! But if there is a problem then the earlier she gets help the better. By two, kids usually have quite a lot of words and are putting them together, so it is worth getting her seen. Good luck

Does your daughter use sign language? You could teach her a couple of basic signs...hungry/thirsty/please and thank you are a good place to start...it maybe less intimidating for her. Another thing...don't put her on the spot...ask her to use her manner and when a sound comes out accept that(or the sign)it doesn't have to be correct it just has to be an attempt. Another great way to encourage speech begins with you and your husband retraining yourselves how to speak to her....no questions that can be answered with a nod of the head...for example.."are you thirsty?"....use instead "do you want water or juice?"...she'll be forced to speak to communicate w/o feeling pressured(of course you do this before you go near the fridge...so she can't get away with pointing either). Use a straw cup to strengthen her jaw...and blow lots of bubbles! Lastly, relax...have her evaluated(I would wait til she's 2and1/2 because the older they are the more that is expected of them)....some sounds aren't perfected til age 9(r's)...the benefit of having her evaluated is... if there is something wrong, they fix it and if nothing is wrong you have piece of mind...on that note if she doesn't qualify you can have her re-evaluated every 6months...I did this with my 4th son who tested poor for articulation the first time but not low enough for help, 6 months later(he was older and more is expected)he now receives services! I've had 2 kids go through this and they have been(and will be)done with it before they enter(ed) kinder-garden...it's a great program if you need it! For now relax and don't pressure her...she will have word explosions where all of the sudden she will add 20-50 words in a week. Good luck!!!

Hi S. -
I think an evaluation is a great idea. Then you'll be sure of what you're working with. It could be a number of things keeping her from talking, some with simple solutions. It may be that she just isn't ready yet. My own sister didn't talk until she was almost 4 years old, but when she did start she was using full sentences! Now she's a doctor!
Your daughter is still very young. Even if there is a speech issue, there's alot of good help out there. Good for you that you're looking into it early!

Call your pediatrician and get a referral for speech testing and evaluation. The evaluation will be free and so will any follow up therapy. Two is late for a girl to start speaking but getting intervention now is the key.

I’m assuming that you and your husband are not speech therapists so you are not able to give her the help and support that she needs. Call today – why wait??

If you feel she needs an evaluation, then get one. You won't be at peace with yourself until you listen to your motherly instincts. Your pediatrician can/should provide more information. Early intervention is SO important, if she does indeed need it! Good luck!

call your town board of ed... they can evaluate your child.. it's good to get early intervention... in case of a problem. don't wait!! If your child needs help.. the younger the better. good luck

Personally, I would let her be. She has shown you that she can hear and copy sounds and copy words. She'll speak when she's ready. My first son talked at two. No baby-talk, just complete sentences. Before that he was very quiet. He was not frustrated, so I felt at ease. My second son started speaking at 1. Everyone has there own speed.

Also, a good friend of mine talked at 4! She is very bright and very successful (an adult now). Her family knew that she was delayed and also knew in their gut that she was going to be just fine.

If you sense she has a real problem that is different. But if she is not following the rhythm of the books, but seems just fine, why not leave her.

Hi S.,

Please don't think that having a child evaluated means that you or anyone else doesn't think you're doing your job; of course you are. Speech development can be tricky and things that you simply can't teach can be impacting it. Your daughter is probably fine and will probably come into language on her own schedule, but why take that chance? If there is a problem, the key is early intervention. I would (and did with my son) have her evaluated by Birth to Three--they're nationwide, they're great, and they're free. If they find a problem that warrants their intervention, they are free or on a sliding scale, depending on income. In my son's case, he was found to be a year ahead on receptive language (what he understood and responded to) but a few months behind on expressive (what he could say); it wasn't enough to warrant services so I took him to an independent speech therapist. He went for 2-3 months, which was enough to jump start him. He's very bright (reading and doing multiplication at 4), so don't feel that this is a reflection on your daughter's intelligence or your success as a parent. Have the evaluation--if there is a problem, you never want to feel that you didn't get her the help she needed at the best time to get it!

My girlfriend has a 2 year old the same way. She ended up getting a st and it was the best thing in the world. After 3 months of 1 a week sessuions and Em won't "shut up" lol. I think it would be a great help even if she wernt having problems. Dont worry what others think. do whats best for your child. go with your gut mom!

First get an evaluation with her ped. if all is ok, then dont sweat the small stuff. My mom thought I would never talk, I started at 3, and havent stopped since, lol. Good luck

My son did the same thing...just a few words. I had him evaluated and thankfully nothing else was wrong with him except for a speech delay. The funny thing was as soon as he was evaluated he started talking and hasn't shut up since. The end result was he needed speech therapy. He goes 3 times a week and loves it. There is already such an improvement.

Just put your fears aside. No matter what the outcome you want the best for your child, do what it takes to help you get there! And besides some children focus better with an outside source....as mothers and fathers we teach them all we can but everyone needs a little help sometimes too! Good Luck!

Hi S.! If your almost 2 year old is not saying any words consistently, I would say she needs to be evaluated by a speech therapist, or at the very least her pediatrician. If you wanted to get her evaluated by a speech therapist, it is free through the birth-to-three program. Ask your pediatrician for the number. It's not anything you or your husband are doing wrong, it's just the way your daughter is.. Early intervention is key to success!! good luck!

I had the same problem with my son. I heard everything from, he needed speech therapy, to he's autistic. But after talking to a few mom's in my area, I learned there's quite a few kids with the same issue. About a week after my son turned 2 (in May), we moved to NY. Ever since then he's been picking up words left and right. Now he speaks so well, I can't get him to stop. It was only 2 months ago that he wasn't really saying much at all.

I say, "let it ride" and see what happens. when you take her for her check up, if she's not meeting her milestones, then talk to her doctor about it.

Good luck hun. Don't worry, she'll be talking soon enough, and you'll think "why was i ever worried".

I really think you should get the evaluation - you have nothing to lose - i am a early intervention provider and this age is a crucial time period - being able to intervene before 3 years of age is very important because the child's nervous system is still so fresh. Every child's system is wired differently and some children only need an extra boost to get going - this is of course not anyone's fault (e.g., some kids love movement vs others love sitting and reading/cognitive stimulation). and often times, it is not possible for the parents to give this extra boost. A speech therapist will be able to come in a help give your daughter that boost (meet her at her level) and then help catch her up. In addition - the speech therapist will offer you - the family strategies on what you can do during the day with her. Good luck and please realize that there is never any judgement on you and your family - as I said earlier - every child and their needs are different.

Hi S., My daughter was 2 and not talking but when she did start a few months later she never stopped. That was many years ago (she is 39) but now I would say look into early intervention. It is free and they will evaluate your child and help her if she needs it. Put your mind at ease, it may be nothing or if it is you can take care of ir soon. My best, Grandma Mary