2 year old not talking

[Grandma3]

Originally Posted by judi

I do get concerned when I hear that a 2 year old is not talking. I think any child not using any words by 1 year and/or not using 2 word phrases by 2 years should be evaluated. Consider revisiting this with your doctor. You may wish to either get another opinion or contact the Regional Center (a service for developmental evaluations and services for those with or at risk for developmental delays) in your local community. If you need help finding this service in your area, please let us know and we can help.

Continue to read, speak and praise any efforts at using language, whether it is spoken or otherwise, to foster good development. Let him know that you like how he understands you.

Please let us know how we can help. The first 5 years are very important and every month that goes by without speaking can continue to set him back.

Thanks for your consideration,

I am a concerned grandmother. I read the posts and some of them could have been written by me or my daughter. I agree with the statement about the first 5 years being important and every month that goes by setting a child back. My soon to be 2 year old grandson has been evaluated and qualifies for speech/language therapy. The therapy started in August and so far there has been no improvement. He has less than 10 words that he says, and those 10 aren't always easy to understand. Sometimes it seems like he has a word, but then later he can't say it. He's had his hearing checked and it was normal and he has great receptive language. He is getting more and more frustrated because he can't communicate. They've been watching some baby sign language videos and he's interested in it, but really wants to talk like his older siblings. I have been in education for 30+ years and feel helpless. Any suggestions?

My son is 2.3 months old and still not started telling mummy and daddy.He is very much attached to us and smiles and kiss us but no speech is there for him.His hearing is OK it seems.But he closes his ears when he hears the sound of mixi and cooker and always spins items and sees a lot of TV as I am a working mother and he is alone with the servant full time.I have started speech therapy once a week and I dont know how far it will help.I a m scared of autism.He is not allergic to light n all and seems he likes other kids too.I am really depressed because of this.Any suggestions would help.Thank You

[judi]

Speech therapy can provide support. For a 2 year old who still is not talking, I would suggest an evaluation for speech and language services. Find out where services are in your community.

Sign language and other forms of communication can be helpful in reducing the frustration of not being able to communicate. Keep praising any efforts at language and communication. If progress is not being made, keep in contact with the therapist and find out what types of activities you can do at home to reinforce his progress.

Thanks for highlighting the possibilities of a tongue-tie.

My child seems to have a heart shaped tongue at the tip and he too barely talks. The only words he can say is Pah! and Mum Mum!

Otherwise he understands everything else just fine.

Would you be able to suggest or indicate whereabout the surgery was done? Which clinic / hospital?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Just a thought.

My two and a half year old daughter was barely talking at all. She had a tongue-tie (where the tongue is attached to the lower part of her mouth).

They said that the tongue-tie wasn't causing the speech delay because she could stick her tongue out past her teeth but I insisted on having it clipped (a frenelectomy) anyway.

It turns out, it was a thick piece of skin, thicker than they had thought.

The surgery was last tuesday, my daughter has been talking non-stop since then. Her pronounciation has gotten better too. I can't believe the difference.

Check and see if your child has a heart shaped tongue at the tip, that is the sign.

[judi]

Dear Concerned Dad,

How old is your child?

Does your child have any feeding difficulties?

In regards to the tongue, this is usually performed by an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor (ENT for short or otolaryngologist for long). My nephew had his repaired the day he was discharged from the newborn nursery in the ENT's office.

I hope that you will find some help on our site to guide you in where to start helping your child with speaking.

Hope to hear back from you,

Judi

Dear Judi,

Thanks for your response.

My son does not have any feeding difficulties and he will be 2 years old in another 3 weeks.

I guess we should bring him to the Paed first to get his opinion / check if it's really a tongue tie. If it's really the problem, I hope it's not too late to clip it.

Hi! My son is just over two and has a huge speech delay as well. We also have him in speech therapy and found out he has what is called Childhood Apraxia of Speech, which is where he is unable to have the brain connect to the muscles in his mouth to move them correctly to make the sound.

He has only been in speech therapy for about a month and a half and it is like you mention, repetitive words and play, but she also has to manipulate his mouth physically to get him to produce new sounds. It has been remarkable. Although he still only has a handful of words now (vs. his two words before) I actually see more confidence in him with speech and he can make tons of new sounds.

What I have incorporated (other than what she asks I practice at home) is teaching him the alphabet but only through sound since that is what she focuses on. He is able to recognize 16-18 letters by sight/sound. That is also helping his with this issue. But the therapist mentioned that you have to find one or two things (with my son it is balls and puzzles) and focus on those to teach him words. So get small balls, big balls, soft/ squishy, hard, different colors etc ... or for puzzles (animals, shapes, colors, etc) and work on teaching words that way.

I cannot imagine what I would be doing without her in our lives. I was skeptical at first with the first three sessions (we do one hour a day two times a week) but after I was able to leave him with her alone, I really saw a difference in him! He loves her and is better at learning without me in the room as a distraction.

Good luck!