When should I worry that DS isn't talking?

[Kymberley]

Well, technically he is, but in his own language. He'll be 2 in July. The words he knows can say well are:

Dada
Dog
Hot
Cold
Car
Truck
What's that
Sock
Hat
Eyes
Nose
Ears (sometimes)
House
(I know I'm forgetting some)

He knows where his feet, toes, fingers, hands, mouth, legs, belly etc are (when you ask him, he will point to them) but he won't repeat the words. Likewise with the dozens of first word books we have- ex. he will point immediately to the elephant, lion, fish, banana etc. when you ask where it is, but will not say the word. My biggest personal upset is that he still will not say Mama, but I'll get over that. My mother, while not really worried about DS, does bring up that his cousin (who is 2 months older) talks in complete sentences, to the delight of everyone. I know you aren't supposed to compare children, but it's hard not to. DS has always reached his milestones when he is ready, usually 4 months or so behind his cousin, which I hear a lot about. So, should I be worried at this point, or do what our Ped says and chill? BTW, Ped says 2 word sentences by 2. Is that right?

[TwinFoxes]

I would call Early Intervention now. It can take a while to get him evaluated, and he'll age out at 3. If you call now, and they determine he's eligible for speech services, he'll probably get them started by his birthday, so he'll have a year (if he needs it.) My DDs have been in speech therapy since just after their 2nd birthday. They had about 20 words, and their only two word sentences were "uh oh" and "bye bye". Their receptive language was really good. I'm glad I called. They've made great strides.

[Kymberley]

Okay, will look into it now. Thank you!

[JBaxter]

By 2 he should have 50 words. He doesnt have to use them all the time. honestly it sounds like he is doing really well. Some boys have an exposion at about 2 Jack did. Jack is 2.5 and is still hard to understand but he knows what he is saying. I would wait till his birthday if he was mine. To me he sounds on track ( IMO)

I did have a late talker who was in EI.

[Green_Tea]

I think he sounds completely fine. I would not be concerned at all. His cousin sounds like he's ahead of the curve, which is fine, but it doesn't mean your son is behind at all.

[megs4413]

I think you should get the ball rolling on EI. It can take a while. Was he late to say his first words? Two word sentences by 2 is correct.

[LMPC]

I think he sounds completely fine. I would not be concerned at all. His cousin sounds like he's ahead of the curve, which is fine, but it doesn't mean your son is behind at all.

I agree with this and your ped...take and deep breath and relax. He sounds like he's doing fine!!! :hug:

[Babymakes3]

I wouldn't worry yet either. He is saying more words at 2 than my ds was. At 2.5 we still don't have a ton of words and i've had him tested twice, he passed both times.

[Kymberley]

Thank you all sooo much! I feel much more calm about it now.

[BayGirl2]

He doesn't sound behind the norm to me, maybe at the slower end of the spectrum, but not behind. If your Ped thinks he's ok, then he probably is. But I aslo see no harm in calling EI for an evaluation. Worst case he gets some extra help, which isn't going to hurt him. Best case they say he's not even eligible. Either way you will feel better.

[ThreeofUs]

Don't know where you are, but I also would get the ball rolling on EI, jic.

He sounds like he's doing fine, though.

[DietCokeLover]

He doesn't sound behind the norm to me, maybe at the slower end of the spectrum, but not behind. If your Ped thinks he's ok, then he probably is. But I aslo see no harm in calling EI for an evaluation. Worst case he gets some extra help, which isn't going to hurt him. Best case they say he's not even eligible. Either way you will feel better.

:yeahthat:

[Kymberley]

He doesn't sound behind the norm to me, maybe at the slower end of the spectrum, but not behind. If your Ped thinks he's ok, then he probably is. But I aslo see no harm in calling EI for an evaluation. Worst case he gets some extra help, which isn't going to hurt him. Best case they say he's not even eligible. Either way you will feel better.

It seems to me that he's at the slower end of the spectrum on every milestone. Not behind, per say, just a little later than everyone else. And that's okay! I've also nearly worried myself sick at every milestone. I just need to chill out.

[Kitten007]

This sounds like DS2. He just turned 2 and is a little behind on the talking curve. We went through EI @ 1 1/2, and it just didn't work out for us. I felt like he has grown more with me working with him. They were teaching him all the other skills and not trying to get him to say words. It was frustrating taking my 2 boys and being pregnant. DS1 got told not to play with any of the toys as it was his brother's session. Well what kid wouldn't want to participate? Anyway enough of my rambling. I did talk to DS2 Ped on April 4th and she said he sounded like he was doing great. I am currently taking the route of working with him and trying to let him catch up on his own terms. EI did tell us that we could call them if we wanted services at 3 years old and they would reevaluate and refer us to the school district.

[TwinFoxes]

EI did tell us that we could call them if we wanted services at 3 years old and they would reevaluate and refer us to the school district.

It's harder to get services through schools. Basically they only provide services for conditions that effect learning. With EI, you just need to be behind a certain percentage. Or in some cases, if you are a certain number of months premature.

OP, I don't think calling EI means you're freaking out, if he doesn't need it, woo hoo! But if he does, you'll already be in the pipeline. :)

[JBaxter]

i believe you need a 20 or 25% deficit to qualify for EI.

[Mommy_Mea]

My biggest personal upset is that he still will not say Mama, but I'll get over that.

I know this pain, DS didn't say it until he was 21 months, and then one day he started saying it when I was out of the house, and hasn't stopped since. It will happen!!

Your DS sounds very similar to mine. We used sign language for the past year, but suddenly at 21 months he had his language explosion and there are new words every day. The hardest part is he is hard (for us) to understand, so sometimes it takes a LONG while for us to realize he has a new word. I have a feeling he is saying so much more than we can understand quite yet. I think it sounds like your DS is doing great!

[ThreeofUs]

It seems to me that he's at the slower end of the spectrum on every milestone. Not behind, per say, just a little later than everyone else. And that's okay! I've also nearly worried myself sick at every milestone. I just need to chill out.


I hear you. It's hard not to worry. Both of my sons were what I thought was slow talkers, though according to all the milestones they were fine, but had language explosions between 18 and 21 months. It was like we went from night into day, the difference was so huge and noticeable from week to week.

:hug:

[nicepersonfl]

He doesn't sound behind the norm to me, maybe at the slower end of the spectrum, but not behind. If your Ped thinks he's ok, then he probably is. But I aslo see no harm in calling EI for an evaluation. Worst case he gets some extra help, which isn't going to hurt him. Best case they say he's not even eligible. Either way you will feel better.
:yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat:

[hillview]

He sounds good to me. DS2 had 4 words at age 2 and our pedi was not concerned -- we self referred and JUST qualified. That said IF YOUR MOMMY RADAR is going off, call EI.
/hillary

[Toba]

I had many freak out posts on here about this when DS was almost two. He hit all his motor skills milestones really early ... sitting up for several minutes at a time at 3 months, walking at 10 months, etc. But he wouldn't talk. At all. He understood everything. I could give him a three command sentence (Please put your socks and shoes on, and then go to the door and get your jacket, for example) and he'd do everything. Our pediatrician was so blase about it and wasn't worried at all. He asked if we talked to him ... of course we did. Did he understand us? Yup. So he told us not to worry about it for now. Right after he turned two, he was talking in almost complete sentences. It was like an explosion of words within two weeks. :)

I'm not sure where you live, but our school district evaluates kids for EI. One of my son's friends up two houses from us has a little brother (3) who is in EI. The district school bus comes and picks him up and he gets his EI. He's in school for half a day ... I think they run the same hours as the afternoon kindergarten (we only have half day kindergarten here). His mom said he's doing much better. :)

[catsnkid]

About 6 weeks ago, I was freaking out too. DS had a stable of 10 words and then a lot of gibberish. He was good at making animal noises though, but not saying the animal. Otherwise he was on track. We had a language explosion 2 weeks ago. I have counted about 60 words that he can say and now everything is what dat? We finally had a two word sentence and he sometimes says Mommy.

[Kymberley]

About 6 weeks ago, I was freaking out too. DS had a stable of 10 words and then a lot of gibberish. He was good at making animal noises though, but not saying the animal. Otherwise he was on track. We had a language explosion 2 weeks ago. I have counted about 60 words that he can say and now everything is what dat? We finally had a two word sentence and he sometimes says Mommy.

I hear "what's that" over a hundred times a day. Actually, after about 20 times, he just says "Hu sssat?" LOL!

DH worked with him a little bit and DS learned a new word, duck, so I'm feeling much better now. I can't thank all of you enough for your advice. I've saved EI's number, just in case.

[kerridean]

I am an audiologist. At 2, he should be talking in short sentences. That means he should be putting 2 words together: "Mommy up", Doggy go" "Want go out", "shoes on". If he is not doing this, I would recommend a hearing evaluation by an audiologist followed by a speech and language evaluation.

[Kymberley]

I am an audiologist. At 2, he should be talking in short sentences. That means he should be putting 2 words together: "Mommy up", Doggy go" "Want go out", "shoes on". If he is not doing this, I would recommend a hearing evaluation by an audiologist followed by a speech and language evaluation.

I have wondered about his hearing. Thank you for chiming in! Would I need a referral from his Ped to see an audiologist, or is it something I could call and schedule myself?

[randomkid]

You have to remind yourself that he is not even 2yo yet. 3-4 months can make a HUGE difference at this age, 3-4 weeks for that matter. Under 2yo, all words may not be what we recognize as words. I have friends that are SLPs and they told me that if a young (under 2yo) is using the same sounding word for an object, action, whatever, consistently, it is considered a word. When DD was 2, milk, Mama and more all sounded the same. She used that sound consistently, but knew what she wanted, so that would be 3 words. We used sign language, so that's how I could tell the difference in her words.

When DD was 2yo or almost 2yo (I don't exactly remember), I was concerned about her speech. She didn't have that many words yet, so I called and set up an appt for an EI screening. If you decide to do this, ask what might move it along faster. If I waited for them to come to the house, it would have been forever, but we live close to the office and was told if I could take her in we could set up an appt in just a couple of weeks. So, I scheduled the appt. The morning we were supposed to go, I was getting ready and here's DD running around the house, TALKING up a storm! I was shocked. I thought they would think I was crazy if I took her in for an eval. I was looking up the number to call and the girl called me to confirm that I was coming. I told her what was going on and that I was getting ready to call to possibly cancel the appt. She listened to DD over the phone, laughed and said "She sounds fine to me!" She was very nice and helpful and gave me a lot of good info and advice over the phone.

You can call EI if you would feel better about it and get the ball rolling, but you may end up canceling you appt. I'd relax about it and give him a little more time.

ETA: You also have to remember that 2 years old is an entire year. That doesn't mean that the second he turns 2 he should necessarily have 2 word sentences. He might be 2.5yo before he has 2 word sentences and that would still be within the norm.

Adding one more thing. Look at this link http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/speechandlanguage.html#mychild- scroll down to the interactive checklist and click on 18-23 months which is the age of your DS. If you go by this, he sounds perfectly normal to me. The next age is 2-3 years, so remember that gives him an ENTIRE year to meet those milestones that are listed there.

[kerridean]

In most cases you will not need a referral to see an audiologist.

[JBaxter]

In most cases you will not need a referral to see an audiologist.

unless your insurance requires referals to see specialists

[vonfirmath]

Sounds like my son. Never in Early Intervention, but really started speaking right before Christmas (2y4m or so) A year later he's very understandable and quite articulate.

[mom2binsd]

If he's not yet 2 and he has all those words, he is talking....:cheerleader1:just wanted to clarify as your title said he wasn't talking yet....but I understand your concern.

I'm an SLP and the mom of a boy who had three, yes three words at age 2! I know how embarrassing, but it happens.... On the flipside, DD didn't walk till 17 months but was a very early talker.

Had him evaluated and guess what, he didn't qualify for EI, because based on all other areas (receptive language, social skills, motor skills he was fine or ahead). He really started talking about 3-4 months later.

You can always give EI a call to set your mind at ease.

Honestly I have worked with many little ones in preschools/EI who don't have as many words as your little one does. The range for normal is very board and around two as many children tend to have an explosion of speech and language skills.

[wencit]

Your DS sounds exactly like my second son (turns 2 in July as well), who has about 15 words right now. He understands a lot, knows his body parts, follows simple commands, etc. Personally, I'm not worried. DS1 was the same way -- a slow talker. We had DS1 evaluated by a SLP at around age 2, and he tested normal for receptive speech, and on the slow end of normal for expressive speech (did not quality for services). He really started talking more at around 2 1/2. I figure DS2 is apparently the same way.

Of course, if you're really concerned, you can always call EI to set up an appointment, but he sounds pretty normal to me.

[KrisM]

I think he sounds fine for not yet 2. DS1 didn't put 2 words together until about exactly 2. DD was about 27 months and I was worried. She then did a lot of words on her own, but ended up in speech through the schools at age 3, but because she wasn't clear in speaking.

DS2 had tons of words at 2, but he was my exception for sure.