MY SON IS 18 MONTHS OLD. HE IS DEVELOPING LIKE A NORMAL TODDLER EXCEPT HE IS NOT TALKING YET. HE SAYS NO AND UH-OH AND CAN SAY OTHER FEW CHOICE WORDS. HOWEVER HE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE OTHER KIDS HIS AGE. HIS DOCTOR SAYS THAT IN TWO MONTHS IF THERE IS NO PROGRESS HE WILL SEND HIM FOR EVALUATIONS. MY FAMILY TELLS ME THAT HE WILL TALK WITH TIME AND SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE DOCTOR HAS TO SAY. I AM VERY BOTHERED BY THIS AND HAVE BEEN CRYING AS I ONLY WANT HIM TO HAVE A NORMAL CHILDHOOD. PLEASE HELP
2007-10-21 03:15:21 · 9 answers · asked by chicappai 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Don't worry about it too much yet. Yes, he's not talking as quickly as other kids are right now, but there is still plenty of time for him to start. Before you get all worked up, ask yourself a couple questions.
1. Has he had multiple ear infections? If so, it may take him longer to talk well due to fluid build up in the middle ear. If he can't hear you (or himself) he won't be able to reproduce words well.
2. Does he understand you when you talk? If he understands well, just has a hard time talking, then time will be the answer. If he doesn't understand the words you say, he may need more help.
Please be aware that while he may not be talking as well as many other kids his age, he's still in the 'normal' range. In fact, I know plenty of great, smart kids who only say one or two words at eighteen months. They have nothing wrong with them and do begin talking (often in the next two months) and get very good at it by the time they are two and a half.
It may not seem like a good thing right now, but you are lucky that your son has a conscientious doctor. Too bad he didn't think to reassure you more.
2007-10-21 03:32:28 · answer #1 · answered by Meghan H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 kids that were language/speech delayed but my oldest worried me the most because his speech/language continued well into his school years. They both started Early Childhood Intervention at age 2 but my oldest continued to receive Speech Therapy and Resource Room went he started elementary school. He's come a very, very long way since then. He's doing extremely well now as a 16 year old. He has an A/B average and takes all college preparatory classes. Just today we were talking about what he would like to major in college. He's torn between Engineering and Park Management. They're 2 very different fields but both seem to appeal to him. He's lead a very normal life. I could assure of that. My biggest worry now is if I'll have enough money for college.
He still receives "Speech Therapy" 25 minutes a week but the Speech issues (which are minor right now) don't seem to interfere with his academics. He's a smart kid.
Honestly, I didn't worry much about the Speech issue until my boys were closer to 2 years old then I probably could've posted a message similiar to yours if the internet existed back then.;)
When my oldest was in first grade, he did learn to read, write spell and do arithmetic. His progress was little slower than average back in those days but he was making steady progress. His best friend who had normal speaking skills couldn't read and had to repeat first grade. He may have spoken better than my son but my child was ahead of him academically.
I remember being worried that other kids may pick on my son because of speech problems when he started elementary school but about 10% of the students were immigrants who were still learning English. Most kids at his school were accustomed to kids who "talked funny" so he was actually was well accepted by other kids. I worried over nothing. The kids treated him fine. He went to one of the few elementary schools in the city that had a "English as a Second Language" program. Hence the reason why about 10% of the kids were immigrants.
It's very, very possible that your child will do better in the future than some of his "more advanced" peers that you described in your message. Quit crying, let the parents of the more advanced kids start crying when your son surpasses them in the future. OK, I was being sarcastic there but all you can do is keep working with him. My son was really in the 4th grade before his skills in language made a HUGE gain then he went from a struggling student to a good student that year and really hasn't struggled since.
I know your son is only 18 months old right now and here I'm talking about school years. But I was in your shoes and it would have been nice to hear about success stories but I didn't have the internet so I really didn't hear anything like this. It would have gave me more hope if I did. All parents are proud of their children's accomplishments but it's an extra special feeling when you know that your kids overcame so many obstacles and STILL succeeded.
2007-10-21 09:31:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My grandson did that too. Not saying anything much at all when he was 18 months -we got worried too. But now hes 2 1/2 and talking up a storm the speech therapist that we spoke to about him said many young boys dont talk much until 2 1/2 or 3. You need to encourage him to talk - dont just give him a drink - ask if he wants it, if he wants milk or juice. When playing tell him for instance - car ! then ask can you say car?
You should have him checked tho' for your own peace of mind and so you can stop crying. Your local school district can set that up for you.
2007-10-21 04:10:31 · answer #3 · answered by elaeblue 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can totally relate to you and my heart goes out to you. I myself was in tears just a month ago because I had myself so worried and upset thinking that my son (now 15 months) wasn't developing his speech the way he should. I'm extra concerned on his speech for the mere fact that he was born with microtia of the left ear. Microtia is a little ear, numb, with no outter ear canal and the possible hearing that he does have from that ear is 40% at best. So with knowing that I've been worrying myself sick over it. Against my husband, parents, friends I went ahead and scheduled an Early Intervention Evaluation to put my mind at ease. It's never too soon to help if it's needed. I'm so releived that I did the evaluation because he scored perfect on all areas, including speech and I got clarification on what they consider words. At that time the evaluator witnessed him saying dada, mama, up, all done. Then she asked if he was saying any other consistent "words". Words means sounds that they do on a daily basis that mean something to them..we just have to figure out what they are. Right now at 15 months he can say and when I say...say..they aren't clear but they are becoming more clear: dada, mama, ot (hot), more, back, all done, get it, bathtime, up, uh oh, ah ah ahhh (my version of no:-)) star, apple, banana, bubble along with a variety of animal sounds.
My advice to you is if you want to know answers for sure and learn further ways to help your son contact an Early Intervention agency. It's free and it will put your mind at ease. But really all children develop at a different rate and I truly think we are expecting too much and worrying too much about them. We think that they should be born geniuouses. I know for my son he took a big interest in first learning animal sounds as his first words and now has taken an interest in just about anything..mimicing us. I sing to him, read to him, dance with him and label anything he points to as well as talk to him about what I'm doing. I'm a SAHM so his glued to my side all day long!
2007-10-21 03:42:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Its normal for some children to talk sooner than others.I have raised 3 children and none of them started talking at the same age i also have 10 grandchildren,all children develope differently,if your child i not talking better by 2 years old then tests would be fine but dont worry your toddler will be just fine.Children who have siblings tend to talk sooner than those who dont.
2007-10-21 03:29:46 · answer #5 · answered by wanna know 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
18 mos is pretty early to determine a speech delay. Listen to both your doctor and your family.
Stop worrying about it so much, and an evaluation can't hurt either.
He has some speech - I know a few kids who had less than yours at that age, and have speech now, it just took longer to develop.
2007-10-21 03:33:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
My children said very little at the same time and then honestly. suddenly they spit out 2-3 word sentences and lots of single words. He may just be a thinker, which means he learn more than hes letting on!
2007-10-24 01:50:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be a late talker. Just keep talking to him normally and expose the kid to a lot of sounds. Make him listen to the radio, or watch kiddie eduactional videos, or even just plain kiddie videos (Pocoyo, Shaun the Sheep, Bob the Builder, etc... no barney please!!).
I have a niece whom we all thought was retarted and can't speak. Then at the age of 7, she just pointed at something and said to her dad, "Daddy, what's that?"
Our jaws FELL. And then she just started talking and talking and talking, straight and perfect. Now we can't get her to stay quiet. haha!
2007-10-21 03:25:32 · answer #8 · answered by ksolaris 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
try reading to him, so he hears words that are on his learning level. and don't worry , your son will talk, maybe he just doesn't want to. it's OK, not all kids talk at the same time.
just keep trying and work with him one on one. maybe try some toys that say words .
2007-10-21 03:20:34 · answer #9 · answered by mother of 7! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋