How do I know if my child has a speech problem?

Question

My little boy (Jack) is aged 2 years 2 months, and my childminder, who is great, has suggested that he has a speech problem, as since he has been with her (5 months) his vocabulary hasn't progressed as much as other children she has looked after,

His 'red book' says he should say 30-50 words and string two words together. I have made an appointment with the health visitor in November, and will keep a 'word diary' until then.... but can't help worrying.

Answer 1

5 months is not much time to show a lot of improvements in speech. Your caregiver is not a doctor and should not be passing diagnosis like that!
All children progress at their own speed. You didn't mention how many words your child does put together, but many two-year-olds speak in single word phrases. This can change at any time, and is usually rather gradual. If YOU feel your child isn't progressing as he should then make an appointment with his pediatrician or a speech therapist, and tell the babysitter to stop comparing children.

Answer 2

You didn't mention if he has an older sibling but if he does that's a large factor. In my own family (extended and nuclear) there's been a pattern of 1st being early speaker and the later children speaking later in childhood. The multiple doctors consensus was that they had older sibs to speak for them so they chose not to speak for themselves. It's also been a pattern that the later children just jump right into full sentences. I hope this is helpful however if you're very worried consult your ped. :)

Answer 3

First of all, do not stress. Your child will pick up on your stress and that will cause him to have a more difficult time speaking.

Check out this site and then wait for the evaluation. If your child has a problem, there is help available. Think positive.

www.kinderstart.com/childdevelopment/speechverbaldevelopment

Answer 4

I know that in Oklahoma your local Health Dept. can do screenings on your child. I work at a Child Developement Center and we have them come in to do screenings with the parental consents. I love this process. Also if we have a child who we feel is developmentally behind, we will speak to the parents and offer referrals. We also have OPAT which stands for Oklahoma Parents as Teachers, and they will come to your house and work with your child. There are resources out there, good luck and everything will be ok.

Answer 5

my child is is 2 and 8 months he says about 20 words I dont worry because he has 3 older brothers who give him what ever he wants so why should he talk he gets his messages out loud and clear with the pointing of the finger and the word that

Answer 6

If you live in the US, your school district will test your child at there expense and provide whatever therapy is required, even at the age of two.

They are requred to do this by law. If they hesitate, contact your state congressman's office.

Answer 7

Stop every child is different,
buy him V-TECH TOYS
you will get them at Toys R us, Walmart,
and have him listen to children tape shildren songs alone while you driving
and when you visit your pediatircian talk to him/her about it
for now relax aand enjoy your boy

Answer 8

If you are truly concerned you may want to get his hearing tested as well. That can significantly decrease the amount of speech displayed.

Answer 9

two is still young ,a kid here could not speak more than animal sounds untill he was three ,everybody thought that he was an idiot.
Now the damn kid wont stop talking (5years old),and it is very intelligent
so it is early days to worry too much

Answer 10

6 Months:

Vocalization with intonation
Responds to his name
Responds to human voices without visual cues by turning his head and eyes
Responds appropriately to friendly and angry tones

12 Months:
Uses one or more words with meaning (this may be a fragment of a word)
Understands simple instructions, especially if vocal or physical cues are given
Practices inflection
Is aware of the social value of speech

18 Months:
Has vocabulary of approximately 5-20 words
Vocabulary made up chiefly of nouns
Some echolalia (repeating a word or phrase over and over)
Much jargon with emotional content
Is able to follow simple commands

24 Months:
Can name a number of objects common to his surroundings
Is able to use at least two prepositions, usually chosen from the following: in, on, under
Combines words into a short sentence-largely noun-verb combinations (mean) length of sentences is given as 1.2 words
Approximately 2/3 of what child says should be intelligible
Vocabulary of approximately 150-300 words
Rhythm and fluency often poor
Volume and pitch of voice not yet well-controlled
Can use two pronouns correctly: I, me, you, although me and I are often confused
My and mine are beginning to emerge
Responds to such commands as "show me your eyes (nose, mouth, hair)"

36 Months:
Use pronouns I, you, me correctly
Is using some plurals and past tenses
Knows at least three prepositions, usually in, on, under
Knows chief parts of body and should be able to indicate these if not name
Handles three word sentences easily
Has in the neighborhood of 900-1000 words
About 90% of what child says should be intelligible
Verbs begin to predominate
Understands most simple questions dealing with his environment and activities
Relates his experiences so that they can be followed with reason
Able to reason out such questions as "what must you do when you are sleepy, hungry, cool, or thirsty?"
Should be able to give his sex, name, age
Should not be expected to answer all questions even though he understands what is expected

48 Months:
Knows names of familiar animals
Can use at least four prepositions or can demonstrate his understanding of their meaning when given commands
Names common objects in picture books or magazines
Knows one or more colors
Can repeat 4 digits when they are given slowly
Can usually repeat words of four syllables
Demonstrates understanding of over and under
Has most vowels and diphthongs and the consonants p, b, m, w, n well established
Often indulges in make-believe
Extensive verbalization as he carries out activities
Understands such concepts as longer, larger, when a contrast is presented
Readily follows simple commands even thought the stimulus objects are not in sight
Much repetition of words, phrases, syllables, and even sounds

60 Months:
Can use many descriptive words spontaneously-both adjectives and adverbs
Knows common opposites: big-little, hard-soft, heave-light, etc
Has number concepts of 4 or more
Can count to ten
Speech should be completely intelligible, in spite of articulation problems
Should have all vowels and the consonants, m,p,b,h,w,k,g,t,d,n,ng,y (yellow)
Should be able to repeat sentences as long as nine words
Should be able to define common objects in terms of use (hat, shoe, chair)
Should be able to follow three commands given without interruptions
Should know his age
Should have simple time concepts: morning, afternoon, night, day, later, after, while
Tomorrow, yesterday, today
Should be using fairly long sentences and should use some compound and some complex sentences
Speech on the whole should be grammatically correct

6 Years:
In addition to the above consonants these should be mastered: f, v, sh, zh, th,1
He should have concepts of 7
Speech should be completely intelligible and socially useful
Should be able to tell one a rather connected story about a picture, seeing relationships
Between objects and happenings

7 Years:
Should have mastered the consonants s-z, r, voiceless th, ch, wh, and the soft g as in George
Should handle opposite analogies easily: girl-boy, man-woman, flies-swims, blunt-sharp short-long, sweet-sour, etc
Understands such terms as: alike, different, beginning, end, etc
Should be able to tell time to quarter hour
Should be able to do simple reading and to write or print many words

8 Years:
Can relate rather involved accounts of events, many of which occurred at some time in the past
Complex and compound sentences should be used easily
Should be few lapses in grammatical constrictions-tense, pronouns, plurals
All speech sounds, including consonant blends should be established
Should be reading with considerable ease and now writing simple compositions
Social amenities should be present in his speech in appropriate situations
Control of rate, pitch, and volume are generally well and appropriately established
Can carry on conversation at rather adult level
Follows fairly complex directions with little repetition
Has well developed time and number concepts