My 22 Month Old

Have you and your doctor considered tubes? Both of my children needed them after having so many ear infections. As it turns out, their hearing was so muffled from fluid behind the drum that they just couldn't hear. It was really amazing after the surgery (It's a quick 15 minute surgery plus recovery time). Literally, my second son was forming new words that evening. It was just this amazing moment. You could see him listening and watching us talk and then repeat it! We also had friends that were having trouble with their 18 month old daughter walking. After having tubes put in she gained her balance quickly and was walking within a week. Please urge your doctor to refer you to an ENT to at least have everything checked out. Good luck!!

talk to his dr. right away and get him evaluated..If you have concerns then use your instinct!!! Do not wait until his check-up. Write down the things he does say and what he stopped saying! The dr. should know this!!!

There is one thing in your message that really concerns me - the number of ear infections and the fact that they've allowed so many to occur without a referral to an ENT.

The current policy for both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology (ENT specialists) is to treat the first ear infection with amoxicillin, second with Augmentin, third with Omnicef, and then ENT referral (each antibiotic is slightly more powerful).

Our 26 month-old has had tubes twice, and the ENT was concerned this time around regarding her speech as girls develop speech more quickly than boys on average.

So, I'd definitely find out why you haven't been referred to ENT yet, and ask the pediatrician about his speech. I honestly don't think he has an issue from your message. Our son didn't speak well until after his 2nd birthday and beginning full-time day care. Our daughter started earlier, but now that the tubes have eliminated a lot of the fluid that was a breeding ground for infection, it's gotten much better.

Good luck.

I would take him in. He could have some major fluid build up in his ears and not have symptoms. My son had this many times. His ears weren't actually infected, just had fluid. Tubes saved us. He was talking before that but all the same words. He suddenly started using lots of words all of a sudden. You can come up with a plan of care so in July you can check up with the doctor to see how it's going.

While all children develop speech at different times, I too would be concerned. I agree with several of the other people who have responded that you should have his hearing evaluated by an ENT. Each time a child has an ear infection, it takes about a month before their hearing goes back to normal. Before that it sounds very muffled, like they are under water. I would also get him evaluated by your state's early intervention program. Each state's criteria are different, but in Indiana, he would qualify for some services to address a language delay at this age. I'm not sure the name of the program in Ohio, but I'm sure if you even just called your ped's office, they could give you the name and number so you could get the process started.

Does he hear? I'd say call them now.

I had/have the same problem with my 2 yr old. My oldest talked LONG before 2yrs too. My pediatrician sent him for hearing test and speech test. They told me it's possible he may not be able to hear low tones which would create difficulty in speech. We did the tests, he hears PERFECTLY (and I have documents to prove it too!!). They obviously could not check his speech because he does not talk. (Older brother does his talking for him!! Which is a problem too!) BUT..he understood and responded to the therapist talking to him, giving him direction and such. They suggested we work with him on sort of "sign language". Like rubbing his tummy when he's hungry..and things of that nature. It gives him a way to communicate and takes the frustration out. All the while, we are working with him more closely trying to get him to say different things. I also make him at LEAST attempt to say what he wants. Even if it is the first sound of the word.....and IT IS WORKING!!

Good luck to you!

Does you pediatrician know? If I were you I would go see a pediatric ENT as soon as possible to confirm there is not hearing damage. If that proves nothing, then there may be some other brain related cause for the delay. Some kids are slow to speak (mine didn't really talk until 2), but he didn't have the kind of backward progression you are talking about (forming words and then back to grunting). I would be concerned, and see your doctor right away.

Many states have government-funded development programs for babies and toddlers. Ask your pediatrician about contacting yours - I'm pretty sure OH has one.
Here's a link for an early autism screening test:
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/autism/l/bl_autism.htm

One, some children talk later than others, but I would be concerned about a regression. I would take your child to a Naturpathic doctor for his health concerns, it sounds like conventional medicine is not helping much. If his hearing is effected, that could explain the issues you are having.

With that said is he progressing in other areas? One of my children really did not talk at all until she was about 3.5 ( at least not that anyone but family could begin to understand) and then she just started talking in full sentences and everyone could understand her. However her motor skills were very advanced, especially her fine motor skills and she kept progressing with those.

I would however be concerned about a relapse.

Hi A.,

I also had 3 children and the youngest didn't really talk until close to age 3, not b/c he couldn't....he just didn't have to. All he did was point and grunt and sister or mommy got it for him. We sent our kids with their grandma and some teenage relatives for the weekend. The teen girls loved playing with him and wanted him to talk to them so they wouldn't give him anything unless he said the word....which he did. He came home talking in complete sentences. Having said that, your little one is a year younger than mine, but, still encourage him to speak what he wants instead of pointing. If is something that is not vital to his survival hold off giving it to him a few times to see if he will try to speak for it. If he doesn't or can't...then I would take him in and have his hearing checked.
In other words, I don't want to make something out of nothing but I also don't want to make nothing out of something.
Trust your gut. You know your child better than anyone.
K.

Def contact Help Me Grow. You can do a self referral from the website. Of course always good to keep your Ped. in the loop, but you don't need to wait for that appt. HMG will also evaluate the hearing (or the agency they use, in Portage County that's Happy Day School). Worse case they'll say nope he's not delayed and it took up a bit of time. For my son's first visit from them they came to my house. He was 2 and said a out 10 words. Went to Happy Day School two half days a week for one school year in their speech/language delay class (some are integrated with other delays, but all give daily help specific to the child's needs) for one school year and summer session. He was evaluated by the shool district after he turned
3 (that's the age your local school district becomes responsible for these things) and was speaking so well they said he was he best they ever evaluated. Again, this program through HMG is all FREE!!

If you have an appointment in July, I think it is okay to wait until then. My son was more than 2 before he really spoke and then it was only one word at a time for quite a while. My daughter is 2 now and she never stops talking. They just developed different skills at different times. I remember bringing it up to our pedi and she said to just give him time because he could follow directions and understand what we were saying to him, he just didn't figure out how to talk back until a little later. On the flip side, he could ride a two wheel bike at 2.5 years old and my daughter right now could not even pedal a bike to save her life.

All kids start talking at different ages, as I'm sure you've heard many times now. As long as he's hitting his other milestones on time I would not be concerned. Some kids just don't want to talk yet. My dad didn't say a single word. Not one word until he was 4. His first word was "I think the turtle went down to the creek." So, keep working with him. When he points & grunts say the item to him over & over & over. He'll get there. If it's something you're mom gut is telling you to be concerned over though, there's no harm in calling the doctor office. Good luck!

You did not say how old your other children were. I ask this because if they are much older they could be either talking for him or knows his cues so well they get it for him so he does not have to talk.
It could be medical to of course, but check out the siblings to see if they or you are inabling him to be quiet.
(My older brother and I did this to my younger brother. My mother would not give him anything until he at least attempted to say something. turns out he spoke in word when needed)
Best of luck
If you think it is medical don't wait
also might sign up with an eval from covered bridge or other early intervention program.

Definitely get it checked out. Ohio's program is called Help Me Grow and they are wonderful. It takes a while to get started, but is so worth it. The sooner you get the ball rolling the sooner you can get help. They do a lot of evaluations, my son is receiving physical therapy through the program - when we started, they did speech testing, occupational therapy eval, fine and gross motor skills, cognitive, etc. It was so nice that they checked everything so that we could see how he was doing in all areas.

http://www.ohiohelpmegrow.org/

Hope that helps. I'm sure others probably told you the same thing, I didn't scroll through all of the responses. You might have to see your doctor and have the pediatritian do a referral, that's how we started, but we were originally referred in another state before we moved to Ohio.

Just follow your intuition. If you think something's wrong, act on it and bring him to the doctor. You know your child better than anyone else. But I will say that I have three kids. My daughter learned to talk before she was 1, my middle son talked around 18 months, and my youngest son (he'll be 2 in a few days) just really started talking a couple months ago. Most of the noises he makes are just sounds, but he used to just say the most basic things like "Ma" and "Da"...now he says "car", "book", "drink", "beep-beep" and more. Sometimes kids just take their time learning to talk; however, there could be a possibility there's something else...maybe hearing or social problems. Just follow your gut.

my daughter does not speak as well and she is 22 months!
it could be a variety of causes including (not limited to): hearing problems, voice problems, oral motor planning problems, etc.
she has been evaluated by a speech and language pathologist and is undergoing treatment at this time.
additionally, she qualifies for resourses through a government program to help her with language abilities.
check with your insurance regarding speech therapy benefits, additonally, there was legislature passed to ensure that children receive benefits if there may be special needs. my daughter qualifies for these and they are FREE!! your child may as well! these benefits include free programs with a special teacher and speech pathologist to help with her language and assist in other means of communication! investigate with your school system and ours is through the county developmental disability services.

my daughter is doing great now after 3 months of speech therapy and attempting many more vocalizations! It really has helped alot. We are starting the dds services soon.

good luck! remember that each child develops differently and the range of normal development is so wide! :)