Should I worry that my son isn't speaking much yet?

Question

He turned two yesterday, and he's always been quiet. He understands nearly everything we say to him, but he uses only fifteen or so words regularly. (He probably knows about ten more that he says once in a blue moon.) Should I be concerned about his development? My husband has a son from his first marriage, and he tells me that his son didn't start speaking until late, too..... I just don't know if this is something I should worry about. His doctor said not to worry unless he's not putting two words (noun and verb together)--for example, kitty out!--by two and a half. At his rate, I don't know if he's be there....

Answer 1

You're own doctor told you it was ok and you're asking US???

LMAO. I figured you would take your doctor's advice over some strangers from the internet, especially since it has to do with your own child!

:)

Answer 2

If the doctor is not concerned at this point, I wouldn't be either. My daughter knew some words and small phrases ("I don't like it") by that age, but a couple months before she turned 2, all of a sudden she was saying everything! All of a sudden she could repeat any word you asked her (well, I could understand her anyway - lol) and she started saying a lot more on her own. And it gets better each day! It's truly amazing to me the things she says now sometimes, and how she communicates with me and others. She's 28 months now, and there's so much she can say. I wouldn't worry about your son yet, trust me, the doctor will let you know if there's anything to worry about. I've seen my sitter's doctor be concerned with her daughter and her vocabulary - I've heard her talk and she is great for her age, it's just that she wouldn't talk at the doctor's! So they really will let you know if there is a problem, most of the time they are overly concerned about it. Also, I know a little boy who just started walking, later than most kids, but he's finally there now! And with my daughter, our worry was her getting in teeth, because she didn't start getting them in until 14 months! I wondered and wondered, and then all of a sudden it started happening! So try to relax, rest assured that one day you will not be able to keep him quiet! lol I'm sure he will do fine, and then you will wonder why you ever wondered about it!

Answer 3

My niece was also slow to speak, we thought there may be a problem but after stepping back and actually watching what goes on we realised that she didnt need to talk much as when she wanted anything all she had to do was point or make a noise and every one would automatically get it for her therefore she had no need to actually try and ask for it. We have stopped doing this for her and even if we know what she wants we are encouraging her to ask for it. Since doing this she is coming on leaps and bounds she is coming up to 2 1/2 now and is able to put together sentences, although it still sounds fairly babyish it is a big difference from about 6 months ago when she could only manage a few random words.
This may not be the same situation that your in but might be an idea to watch out for.
What your doctor tells you sounds normal, we were also told not to worry about it, all children learn at different ages and you'd be suprised at how much development there can be in 6 months.

Answer 4

Something that has not been mentioned yet is a condition that is called "tongue tied", that's when then tissue under the tongue is connected too close to the tip of the tongue that prevents the tongue from moving properly. The doctor can miss this. My son was two when a student doctor noticed this and showed the doctor. The doctor gave me the medical term for this but I don't remember. Anyway, at two speech was emerging, the doctor referred us to an ENT (ear, nose & throat) specialist. It took 5 months to get in to see the specialist and to get his tongue "clipped". During this 5-month period, my son quit talking. Since we were in the FIRST STEPS program in Missouri due to some other developmental delays I was able to get him evaluated by a speech therapist, and get his speech therapy started. He is now three and a half and is just beginning to make two word sentences and use more words daily. Sometimes is just takes patience and sometimes there is a physical reason why the child can't talk. Have this checked. My son had an extreme case of being tongue-tied. His tongue was attached all the way to the tip of his tongue. He could not move his tongue from side to side or lift it, so chances of him being able to talk so others could understand him were slim to none. During the last year, he has had to learn how to move his tongue.
There is hope. By all means, don't be afraid to ask the doctor for a referral to get an evaluation, that's what he is there for.

Answer 5

As long as your son is speaking and he is able to communicate to you about things he needs, then I do not think you really have anything to worry about. Children are no different than adults in this way. Some are talkative, some are quiet. Just because he is not talking alot does not necessarily mean that he CAN'T talk. I have two children who are 15 months apart. My daughter is the oldest and was talking way sooner than what is considered to be the average. When my son was born however, she regressed and hardly spoke at all for almost a year. Obviously I was very concerned when she stopped talking and took her to five different doctors looking for someone who could offer me peace of mind.
Not one of the doctors could find any physical reasons for her speech cessation,and as much as I hated it, the only thing I could do was wait. When my son started talking, my daughter all of a sudden started speaking as though she had never stopped. All children are different, and some things they simply do at their own speed. If your son is happy and healthy, just be patient with him. Maybe he just doesn't have alot to say right now.

Answer 6

My first son didn't have much of a vocabulary either at 2 years old. He sounds like he was right around where your son is at. I think and I've been told that boys are sometimes slower than girls with speech. As long as he's developing in other areas he'll be fine. Just give him time. My son is now 5 years old and he won't stop talking and he's and has a very huge vocabulary for his age.

Answer 7

My son turns two in a month an doesn't say much ether. I live in Texas, there is a State program that is free called ECI (early child hood intervention) or First Steps Forward. They come to your home and evaluate your child, if your child is 6 months behind which mine is a speech therapist will come to your house and work with your child. It is working for me. The therapist tells me that it is normal for boys to speak late. Good Luck!

Answer 8

Hey boodie, don't be rude. Maybe she just wanted to hear from other people that may have experienced the same thing!

I'm not saying she shouldn't listen to her Doc coz he/she prob knows what they are talking about but my Doctors useless. I tell him my symptoms and then he asks me what I think is wrong with me! Hello, thats why i'm at the Doctors, because I don't know what's wrong with me and I came to find out!

Anyway, excuse that. I think he just needs time. I have a 3 year old cousin, in fact she is 4 in March and she's still quiet now. She can speak a little, but she isn't very clear at all. Sometime they just get lazy because when they try to say something sometimes, adults butt in and try to finish off what they are saying, so they just end up relying on that. When he tries to speak try to help him out with what he is saying but just finish it off and then get what he wants without him finishing it off himself, otherwise he will know all he has to do is say one word for you to know what he wants and then he will get it without saying the rest.

Sorry that was a bit long, hope it all makes sense x

Answer 9

my son was practically a mute till the age of 4.....he is 10 now and a straight A student. He is so intelligent that I get letters from our Talented and Gifted alternative schools inviting him to attend. Don't be worried. All kids are diffrent and will go at their own pace. Just keep encouraging him that his attempts in learning are terrific.Just don't ever show your frustration to him because it can stress him out and if the child is feeling stress....he can not learn properly.Encouragement and praise can go far if you supply him with it on a daily basis.

Answer 10

I dont think anything is wrong with him. All children develop at different times. My daughter will be two in february and she says only a few words clearly. she chatters up a storm in her own little language. But she understands us, and we can understand her. i have no worries that in time she will stop her jibberish and start talking clearly. until then i enjoy her cute conversations.

Answer 11

Some kids are just quiet, he'll probably be an introvert. Is he really active physically? My 2 yo's dr said that was why he didn't really talk until late, he was just concentrating on walking and jumping and climbing and being a little monkey.