He Doesn't Talk Yet?!

hi C., i think every kid is different, boys start talking a bit later then girls. my friend's daughter started talking at 12 months and now 22 months , she speaks clear and easy - knows hundreds of words and repeates everything in different languages, however i've meet many more kids that say only few words at 18months. My daughter is 18 months now and says about 20 words (around 5-7 words in 3 languages) she only learned how to say about 10 words in the past month, it can happen all of the sudden! i was also kind of worried few months ago. also another boy that i know, who is 2 yrs old, says only mama, dada, and 2 other words, but understands everything in 2 languages. so every child is an individual, i think talking a lot and reading really helps them start speaking earlier, but some kids just wait until one day they just start talking fluently, where others say new word every few days or weeks or months. also i just went to doc apptmnt with my daughter and he said by 18months its normal when a child says only 3 words, so by that time he may learn to say few more..... don't worry too much if he understands you well , he'll start talking to you soon, if you see he does not progress in few mns, u can have him checked then.

Dear C. - I can understand where you are coming from. My son Emmanuel will be 3 years old on October 17. My mother also took care of him until this past March 2007. She had to get an operation and no longer has the strength to take care of him. He is now in daycare.

I appreciated the fact that she took care of him when I needed her help but he has shown quite an improvement since starting daycare. I took him to the Eye and Ear here in the city and he is currently in the Early Intervention program.

This is a good first step for you, just call and make an appointment. They will test him and then set up an appointment for a hearing test. When he was about 1 year old we did the first test and they did not see anything wrong. We could not figure out why he wasn't talking as much as the other kids, but once he took the second test, that's when they did an evaluation and he was approved for the Early Intervention Program.

He will "age out" at 3 so please do it asap. Boys usually take longer to talk than girls, but just get it checked now. Everyone has said the sooner the better. You are his mom and know what is best - had it not been for my family and friends, my son would not be where he is.

He currently has a speech therapist, occupational therapist and special ed teacher working with him. These women have done an amazing job. I can know understand my son, whereas before it was torture because he was talking like Bam-Bam from the Flintstones - a lot of jargon.

Although he still does jargon - it's not as much as before. He will say "gimme" when he want's something and will answer yes and no to questions. He is currently learning colors along with his ABC's and 123's.

Slow down when you speak to him - make it easy for him to understand what you are saying. We speak spanish and english in my house and did not realize how fast we spoke until the speech therapist started working with him. Her speech is slower than ours and she understands him. If you only speak one language that helps - learning 2 languages at the same time will also slow him down a bit - but they will eventually learn to speak both.

I wish you the best - please keep me posted.

From one caring mom to another.

Hi C.,
I think I can give you some ideas that truly helped my son.
I was taught some sign launage and I also used early intervention. Early intervention really helped alot. My son was speech delayed and his dr was very concerned. So we took his suggestion.
And because of early intervention my son who is now 5 speaks beatifully and it's all because of the help we got..

N.

C., please just give him time...right now i am babysitting this baby that just turned 2 years old and she hardly used to talk and now...i just want to tape her mouth lol just kidding, but yeah...he will get there! Don't worry then you will really go crazy

I would ask my doctor and see if they feel he needs to be evaluated...he might be eligible to receive speech services.

HI My son is three years old and forming some phrases,,, He I think did not speak as quick as everyone else would like ,, personally I feel if and when they are ready to talk they will... My mom always said to me I can't waited till you spoke then I couldn't get you to su.. Have him tested if you feel that is the route to take, I heard boys are slower developers on some levels,

No he couldnt' speak too much but yes he managed to get out of the house by moving a chair standing on it and taking the locks off...

gl,,, I also recently put him in daycare to be around his own age kids figuring it would further his development quicker, and give me time to be pregnant on my own.. Maybe bring him around kids more, i'd think that would help,, like mom and me classes and group kids activites

C.

I've just learned that my 15 month old should have 10 words (which he doesn't) from my other 4 year old's speech therapist. She's recommended that we have him evaluated through the Early Intervention Program. The evaluation, etc. is covered by the town/state through your local tax dollars. They will come to your home, evaluate him and provide services if necessary at no charge to you.

To initate the process, contact the Early Intervention Program Intake line ###-###-#### and leave a message. They will get back to you. Don't wait. As you can see and although not major (he has a lisp), I was unaware and late getting services for my older son and he's still in speech therapy at 4.

Best of luck! -A.

Don't fret. It's natural,most kids go through it. The one thing you don't want to do is compare him to other children. My son didn't start speaking clearly until he was 2 years old. Now he's 4 years old and he won't stop talking. I let him watch Nick JR. like Diego, Blue's Clues, wonder Pets, even the Noggin channel. all the show's are educational. So don't worry, you have a genious on your hands just give him time to develop his personality. you'll be fine.

Have you had our little boy tested ? Speak to your doctor about your concern & really push for him to have him tested for a speak delay. Just in case because the ealier you cacth if anything is wrong the better.

As for what you can do to help him just keep talking to your son & whatever words he says he help to say it right. Reading, singing & talking to him about anything & everything so he knows the word to use in the world around him.

That is what I do for my son who has PPD because the teachers we work with told us to do & it works. Not to scar you but if it worked for my son then I felt that advice is so useful & easy to try that it coud work for anyone. Good luck & I wish you all the best well bye for now E.