Moms need your help 2 1/2 year old speech problems - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Off Topic

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Moms need your help 2 1/2 year old speech problems

siniestra

Ok Here i been getting worried with my 2 year old son. He will be 3 in agoust yet hardly say sentences just words. He is super smart little boy ...he start walking at 9 months, super active, and pretty much understands what i english and spanish ah very social too. Yet where he fails is potty training and speaking ...I am worried with me is with who speaks the most yet...when he talks to his dad ...he tent to get shy and strangers too. I have a sis who now she is 18 yet when he was a tot had a mayor speech problem and up to now there are some things she get confused by. I read him books and he knows the abc and numbers but no sentences. He know to which is the a,b,c if i show the k he will say k .(sigh) I'm just a mom you know lol we get worried for everything.

My questions is
Did your son/daughter had a speech problem?
When did they start speaking?
Are you a bilingual mom and speak both language in front of him? if yes did you have a difficulty for him to speak quicker than other single language tots?
TIPS? thanx!

Off Topic

17 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

qfbrenda

Veteran

We have a history of late talkers in the family: I refused to speak until I was 3 and started with complete sentences.

I'm now a mom of 5 boys and only one said much at 2.5 yrs. Most of them didn't speak hardly at all until they were between 3-3.5yrs old. They all had various mispronunciations but they slowly got better. I know many are into early intervention but I just waited because my guys were progressing, just at their own pace. I paid attention to see if they got "stuck" and made no progress for months. If that had happened, I would have sought help.

If he is social, makes good eye contact, understands what you say to him, follows instructions reasonable well, and is slowly improving, I wouldn't worry that much about it unless progress stops.

rachylou

Veteran

My bf was a late talker. Didn't say anything until well past the age of 3. His parents took him to speech therapy. I think he has Aspergers. He's a natural musician and a programmer, finicky, and sticks to the routine... but it's neither here nor there. He has gotten on a plane to Thailand. I think his father also had Aspergers from stories I've heard.

My oldest godson is now 16. He's never really spoken comprehensibly. Also runs in the family. His father is very hard to understand as well. Not to hot at math, but he's a football player and has a girlfriend. So, I say he'll get by one way or the other.

One last person I know, also didn't speak until maybe 4. Also Aspergers. Also a bilingual household. His parents did, as advised by a speech therapist, stop speaking to him in the two different languages. Picked one and only spoke to him in one. He started speaking after that.

Tina

Veteran

I don't think the bilingual household will have a negative effect on him. I know many, many people who were raised and are raising children in such homes, children pick up both and it is to their benefit. Personally, I would not worry about it. Is he by nature someone who is determined to do things right? Sometimes even children will wait until they feel they will be successful at something before they attempt to do it. I was raised one of 12 children and there was a range of ages where we started to talk and the same with potty training. It sounds to me like you are doing the right things, just keep moving forward for now.

Glory

Veteran

It is natural for a mom to worry about these things. I have 3 children although much older than your fellow. My youngest who is now 12 had speech difficulties and potty training issues as well.
With the speech - there are many first words type programmes around that do assessments. Your doctor should be able to steer you to one of these places. I honestly feel it is worth checking into since you have noticed and are concerned. However, I am in Canada and getting appointments here can take a long time. Because of that I generally try to do my research and make my appointments because I know I will be waiting a long time for the appointment, sometimes up to 8 months.

Raisin

Veteran

Our kids are bilingual, French and English, and yes it is very common for them to be behind a bit on one or both languages. Remember that language skills are not only based on speaking, does your son seem to understand all that you say in English and Spanish? Often the understanding is far more advanced than the speaking, especially when learning multiple languages. In the beginning they will also only say certain words in one of the languages, but both will catch up later. My older son is almost 6 now and fully fluent in both French and English. His English came along faster, but as soon as he entered daycare/school (in French), his French picked up at lightning speed!

As for the potty training, well they says boys can take longer. I didn't push my guy too much and waited for him to be a bit older, it seemed easier. 2 months before he turned 3, and I was home for the 4 day Easter weekend (this weekend!) I took the time to "train" him and if worked well. It was so much easier than trying to force him at 2, and he took to it within the first 2 days and it was smooth from there. And yes, I tried a bit in the months before that and even 1 or 2 months makes a big difference. So if he seems hesitant, just wait a couple months then try again. Don't worry, they all get potty trained eventually!

amiable

Veteran

My friends who are raising tri-lingual children were told by their doctor to expect kids to pick up words at about the normal rate, but across the languages - so instead of having 15 words in English, they might have 3 in English, 5 in German and 7 in Spanish.

My oldest son was a late talker due to frequent ear infections. Have you ruled out ear problems?

Otherwise, like others have said - I'm guessing that waiting will pay off - he doesn't sound very late yet to me.

(((Hugs))) Parenting is tough, isn't it?

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I think he will be just fine, wait and see! My brother hardly said a word until he was three, and then it came out in sentences. It is not uncommon that children are that late, and completely normal. My niece is bilingual, and was somewhat slower to speak because of that, particularly in pronounciation, but now she speaks both languages fluently (she's 8). I think you're doing the most important thing already, which is talking to him and reading books. I can't stress enough how important that is for his further development. As a teacher I've seen many times what a difference this makes for the child in regards of vocabulary and comprehension. You are a great mother, I'm sure! No worries

Louise

Veteran

In terms of potty training what sort of nappies do you use? If they are super dry ones try some cheapo ones, children need to register the sensation of being wet to help with potty training.

Make sure you speak to him in one language at a time don't flit between the two in the same conversation. We had one little boy come through my childcare setting who we really struggled to understand. We thought he had speech problems till we realised mum changed language throughout the course of conversations with him and he was doing the same.

Continue to chat lots with him, reading books, pointing things out around the home and while you're out.

and most of all try not to stress he could pick up on your anxiety x

Marigold

My daughter (turning 4 in April) receives speech therapy. She was a late talker, up to the age of almost 3.5 put 2 words together, knew lots of single words but didn't use them in longer sentences (while my friends' kids spoke nice sentences at the age of 2 something..). I had her evaluated by Early Intervention but they denied her service (not enough percentage in delays across the boards), then started evaluating her for the Special Education Preschool (they help kids 3-5) in our town and she qualified for services - they helped immensely, she's made a terrific progress in about 6 months - people who haven't seen her couple months are shocked :). That being said, she understands English and my native language, Polish, even though speaking is harder and I really should be more diligent in speaking to her only in Polish. There is a wide range of what's 'normal' but if your ;mommy gut' tells you something is off, try to get your son evaluated.

If you want more info, PM me! I'm located in NJ but the procedure should be the same no matter what state!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

According to family stories, I started talking pretty early, then basically stopped talking around 3 (when we immigrated). I didn't start talking again until I was 6 or 7.

I think kids just kinda do their own thing.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I don't have much experience here - but wanted to suggest something that you might not have considered.

My Mom noticed I was having trouble with speech (when I was a toddler), and it turned out that I was hearing impaired. I needed hearing aids, and once I got them - everything was just fine. I still wear hearing aids to this day and I think of my hearing aids as no different than glasses. Not a big deal at all.

The thing is - when a Mom is all worried about delayed speech and thinking there's something wrong - it could be something simple like hearing loss. Just throwing that out there, in case you hadn't thought of this.

---> editing to add: 'shy' might mean not being able to hear what's going on. I can't tell you how many times I've reverted to 'shy' (as a kid or adult) simply because I couldn't hear what people were saying. Just something to keep in mind.

anne

Veteran

My youngest had a speech delay - it was picked up by the child health nurse at her 18 month checkup. She had few 2 word sentences at 2. Like your son, her comprehension was very good. I went to a speech therapist (which for me on a health care card in Australia, was free) and would recommend it if possible. It may be very likely that it is because of the bilingual environment and that it'll come good soon - the research probably supports that - but if it was my son I'd want to know and want to know that I did what I could.

While we were waiting to get an appt we were offered a group course that was really helpful. They taught us how) to model speech that was appropriate for their development. So if they were talking in one word sentences you'd use two word sentences. They were really big on seeing what the child was focusing on and talking about that.

I can't remember if you have other children, but what had happened in my household (it happened to my sister's youngest at the time too) is that I was talking to the older girls in 3 year old and advanced 5 year old language. Little DD1 understood it, but it was too complex to act as modelling for her to actually speak. Does this make sense?

Echo

Veteran

Bilingual children are commonly a little slower to speak because they are learning and processing both languages at once. This is NOT a delay, and being bilingual is an asset to any child.

However, I would have him evaluated for things like hearing and other issues, first to rule out the strictly medical issues. Most states have a program called Birth to 3 or something similar, as well. They will do an evaluation of your child for free and let you know if there are legitimate delays and what their recommendations are. My DS had a speech delay; he more or less spoke no consonants at all. He could count at age 2, "Uh, oo, ee, or, i, ih, eh-eh..." It was adorable and endearing, but not normal. We got him into therapy and an early pre-K program to help.

I know that a lot of people adopt a wait and see approach, and that is fine if the child IS normal. But pronunciation difficulties don't do a child any favours when he starts school; kids can be cruel. Additionally, if a child is normal, early intervention will not do any harm. If he is delayed, early intervention can often got to the bottom of it and bring him up to speed before he starts school. There is so much to learn at school without speech delays, and additionally, the school will have him evaluated if he is still delayed at that time. IMO, better to solve the issue beforehand.

Echo

Veteran

Oh, and as far as toilet training, I didn't even bother with my boys until they were almost 3. They just weren't ready, but when we finally DID start, they picked it up immediately and were day-trained in just a day or two. I probably waited too long if they were that ready!

Staying dry at night can take longer, as that isn't within their control. My DS1 was night trained as soon as he was day-trained, but DS2 took a little longer. Many people are surprised at how late is considered normal for boys to occasionally wet the bed.

greycat6

Veteran

My now 10 year old son also had speech delay issues at age 2, which turned into speech impairment issues as he grew up. We live in the Seattle area and were able to have him tested by our local public school for developmental delays. Though testing showed there were speech delays and concerns, he did not qualify for their program because his issues were not severe enough.

We then learned of a free program called the Rite Care Childhood Language Program:

http://scottishrite.org/about/...../ritecare/

This is a philanthropic program run by the Scottish Rite which is a US based organization. My son qualified for their program and received speech therapy until his issues were resolved.

If your 'mommy gut' is telling you there is an issue you need to pursue this. Good luck!

siniestra

thank you for your tips and experiences make my world less stressful ! sorry for not answering but i was in the hospital for almost half a week! (finally my gallbladder out) I got very interested in things such as

teach your child two or more languages isn't bad ...actually i do believe is one of the best things you can pass it to him! that will make him skilled and get more opportunities as others.
he have lots of ear infections since he was a baby (he got one right now)
yes he does understand me and do as i say something like bring me this, turn off the tv, lets go out ...almost everything i say ...he will be like OK mami (mommy)
thanx for the tips and tell me the programms are out there.
and def he is soon having his assesment of how he is doing and i will point out to the Doc.
Potty lol that's will i do let him alone for a bit... and maybe try in 2 , 3 months (at least he go to pee before taking a shower .in the toilet...hahah funny thing)
once again thanxs for ur time! and helping me figure out!

Isabel

Veteran

Oh boy , you got a lot going on. And I can answer yes to everything. Not only am I bilingual, but my son ( at the time ) spent alot of time with my parents who ONLY spoke Portuguese to him. I traveled for work as did my husband and sometimes my son would stay with my parents for 10 days ( I know, that is why I quit my job and stay at home now. ) Anyway, my son had little interest in speaking by the age or 2.5 and he didn't make much eye contact. he rocked alot too and would flap his arms. So I spoke to the pediatrician and my son was accessed. He was diagnosed with Asperberger's and we started intense speech therapy and occupational therapy. He is 11 know and is whip smart, he still does speech therapy but now his problem is annunciating the words and not mumbling. But he is doing great. He has almost no sypmtoms. Boys are also more delayed than girls in development anyway.

So I say, start with your pediatrician. If your son has other symptoms, then he may need some therapy. But if he otherwise seems fine, it could just be that he is not interested in talking right now. It could also be that the two of you are home alone all day and that he is not having interactions with other children. A playgroup would do him wonders.

Einstein didn't talk until he was 4 1/2 years old. Someone once asked him why it took so long, he responded that he had nothing interesting to say until then !

XXXXXXXXX