Although he says a few words, my 23 month old will not talk and he hardly pays attention. Please HELP!?

Question

I have tried everything. Educational baby videos, baby sign language, and I have found myself repeating what I say to him at least 50 times per day and nothing works. I play with him and read him books and its hurtful to me to see his 15 month old cousin saying all kinds of things and my son doesn't. I find myself crying over him because I feel like I have messed up somewhere during the past 23 months and it's my fault. Does anyone have any suggestions and AUTISM is out of the question because he doesn't have not ONE sign of the disability. Thanks for all your help, I could really use it.

Answer 1

it could be something simple like a combination of apraxia/aphasia and a sensory disorder. it could be that he can hear you, but he cannot process what he hears...it is like you are babbling all the time, or speaking greek to him.

your best bet would be to take him to be evaluated by your local early intervention program. the whole reason that the program exists is for mom's like you and me that KNOW in our gut that something is wrong, but we just do not know what. My son only said 10 words and a few approximations at 27 months old. The poor thing was soo frustrated and it showed. He failed the verbal screen with EI and they sent him to a speech therapist. she has worked with him for 6 months and he has made great progress. he does still have  a long way to go, but he is amazing.

Do not beat yourself up unless you have plopped him in a playpen and ignored him for the last 23 months. My son has been with me or hubby almost exclusively since he was born. I can count on one hand the number of times he has gone to a sitter. He travels around making Avon deliveries with me. One of his favorite places to go is the nursing home. All the "grandparents" talk to him and interact with him. We play kids songs and sing in the car between deliveries. We watch PBS on TV  (instead of more interesting talk shows).

feel free to e-mail me if you need a shoulder to cry on. I know how you feel, I have been there. I also have an article on childhood apraxia that I can e-mail you. I read it and saw so much of my son in it....even the therapist said it was like it was written about HIM.

Answer 2

There are developmental checklists here...

http://www.the-preschool-pages.com/links

Print one, complete it, and tak it with you to see your pedi.

Answer 3

Listen to me just because your son only says a few words doesn't mean  he's autistic. Children learn at different rates. Boys are slower than girls. If there is more than one language being spoken around him could also be slower at speaking because he's learning two languages at a time. Take it easy you are not alone. Have your son tested.

Here some websites about autism.

http://www.autismweb.com/signs.htm

http://www.mdjunction.com/autism

Answer 4

Those do suggest Autism.  The lack of speaking, not paying attention.  Does he look you in the eyes? or become irritated by bright lights or loud noises?  Does he like to he held?  He could have a milder form of Autism, such as aspergers.  The best way to find out what is wrong is to talk to your doctor.

This behavior is not normal, and he should be checked immediately to have the best future results

Answer 5

Well, you've just described the way I was when I was a baby. My mother always tells me that she was trying to communicate with me all the time, I mean, ALWAYS, but I never really showed any kind of understanding or attention, I was as if shut to any kind of outer stimuli... she got so nervous and thought i might be autistic or disabled in any other possible way, all she did was specualting and fearing and creating negative thoughts in her head instead of creating a bond with me or trying to gain some pleasure from all the first steps (luckily enough we have an extremely strong bond now though)... And then only when I was about 26 months old I started talking, and from that point on I just couldn't stop talking... I talked whenever I had the option, which means, all the time... I can really understand your distress and apprehension but just if he doesn't have any kind of sign for autism then he must be a slow developer that's all... please don't blame yourself and try to be rational because i can be objective unlike you, you're too much into the thing, and i simply tell you that's it's not your fault and not anyone's fault, it's a process, and you have to be patient and try not to think about it too much, speculate, or get into unhealthy obsessive thoughts or constant anxiety... be patient, i know it's easy for me to say but really, i believe that it's a matter of patience, don't compare him to his cousin or someting because it just makes you even more frustrated and dissatisfied from all the situsation - try to focus on your child rather than on others'... I think that one thing you're doing wrong is expressing all this distress and tension around him, I think that babies are very sensitive to the atmosphere, so don't try to drow his attention TOO much...

wish you A LOT of luck