When did your baby talk?

Question

My two year old son doesn't really talk. All of his doctors agree that he is behind, but no one can seem to find the cause. We have been to see a neurologist, speech therapists, an ear nose and throat doctor, and three different pediatricians. They all seem confused by his behavior, which vocally is that of an autistic child, but he has no other signs or symptoms. I am just curious as to when all of your babies starting talking, and how long it took for them to be able to successfully communicate. (more then just the words 'mine' 'baby' 'bye-bye' and 'bubba')

My son will repeat sounds if you really keep after him, and sometimes will point to things out of the clear blue and mumble the names, but usually he whines and points to get what he wants. Any suggestions or help would also be appreciated. I am very frustrated, not only with his delays, but also with the doctors who just kinda shrug their shoulders and scratch their heads. I am terrified that my 11 month old is going to outpace his big brother in a couple of months, and I don't want my older son to feel stupid or like he isn't as smart. He is already in daycare, (mostly for the interaction, we thought it might him develop speech) and i am afraid that as he gets older my really very bright child will be deemed stupid.

Answer 1

By 2, all four of my children were putting at least two words together to form little sentences.  Their vocabulary was somewhere between 70-100 words.  My daughter just turned two in early August and she is already speaking in 4-6 word sentences.  All children develop at different rates and they all usually catch up to each other by 3 or 4.  I'm a speech path, and although I don't have more info on your son, I don't see why the speech path you saw would be confused.  Your son appears to have a language delay.  Did they give you some tips to use at home to help his language development?  Is there an early intervention program he can go to in your area?  We have programs in my area for children age 2 and above.  At 3, they can get free services from the school district.  

Answer 2

my son is 5 and started pre-school at 3 (that's the age pre-school starts where i'm from.) at 3 there was a girl in his class who didn't talk, and cried and threw tantrums whenever she wanted to communicate with her teacher and friends. since i teach in the same school, i could observe this happening very often. the teacher referred this girl, but her mother refused to take her to speech therapy or anything. authorities were involved, but in the mean time, months dragged by.

2 years later, and just a month ago i met this girl in the park and my son and her got playing together. i was marvelled at the way she was talking and communicating...and although my son (who talked very early), seems to be talking in a more "adult way" than her, she's communicating ok.

i also had a cousin who only started talking at the age of 4. he's now 18, and very "normal" whatever that means.

so i would keep a close eye on her, talk talk and talk to her, don't fuss over her or get angry with her..give her space and time and she'll be talking when the right time comes.

good luck

Answer 3

Sounds like you're already doing all the things I'd suggest. Keep doing them.

The only thing you might try (and it will depend on whether his reaction is even more frustration) is to try not understanding the whining and pointing?  Be busy. Say "you'll have to tell me".

But you're mistaken if you think most children don't cry in frustration because they can't communicate. It's absolutely normal - that's why it's called "terrible twos".

Answer 4

You need to take a breath. It may be abnormal to you that your child has not spoken full sentences, but truth be told, some children do not talk till two and a half. Has your son had ear infections? Ear infections can delay speech. What you need to make sure to be doing is to focus on teaching your child words. Read him word books and get him to learn how to say car. book, etc. It will all come together.  

Answer 5

Both my boys started talking in whole sentences at 2 1/2 years of age.

Way before that they spoke a lot of words, but not in complete sentences, yet.

As long as your child doesn't show any other signs of autism, because I hear that some kids just talk later. There's a DVD that helps him communicate better for now. It's from Baby Einsteins and is called MY First Signs.

Answer 6

Bring that baby to a child psychologist, preferably one who diagnoses and treats autistic kids and/or has worked with kids who are elective mutes. A psychologist will be able to assess for many other problems that might cause this, too.

Doctors can't diagnose autism; they think they know it all, but they are not educated in the area. Speech therapists who have not worked with a lot of young autistic kids would not recognize it, either.

As for Einstein, I had a picture of him on my Autistic/Asperger's wall when I worked with these kids.

Answer 7

My suggestion would be to have him say the name of the item he wants before you give it to him.  Lets say he wants milk.  If he wines for it, and you really do know what he wants, ask "Do you want milk?"  He then needs to say "Yes".  Then ask him to say "Milk", and if he does, give it to him.  Obviously this may not work right away, but you said he can mumble names of things, so he may just need more practice than your other child.  When you are playing with him, make sure you point things out and name them.  Also, be very descriptive, like a red hat, black car, smooth wall, rough carpet, etc.  If he is as smart as you say, once he does start talking, he will know what everything is.  And as others have mentioned.  Some kids just start talking really late.

Answer 8

Um, let's repeat it again - Einstein didn't talk until he was 4 years old.  Your son is half that age, if he is intelligent as you say he is I am sure he understands everything that you are saying and will talk - when he is ready.  Oh yeah, in my peer group were kids who did not talk until 6 years - they're college grads and parents themselves now, not talking isn't lethal.

Shoot, if he can mumble the name - then he can talk.  Make him mumble the name of what he wants for now, not whine - practice talking will help him the most - and then get him what he wants/needs.  He'll get there!

Answer 9

I don't know what the cause for the delay could be, but it sounds like he is very bright. Maybe he is just taking his time and will start talking all of a sudden one day?

In the meantime, maybe you could try teaching him baby sign language? It might help to relieve some of his frustration if he can communicate that way until he is ready to talk. The fact that he gets frustrated and cries when he can't say the words he wants to use is actually very normal, and is a good thing. It means that he is trying to communicate, and that is half the battle!

Answer 10

You had tons of great advice, I just want to tell you that it's possible to help your child.

At 2, my friend's son did not talk at all. He would get very frustrated and would hit other kids in frustration of not being understood. They found a caring doctor and he went to special classes for a while, and now at 5 he has no language problem (and stopped the hitting too). The kid is not autistic. The doctor's name is Gilles Julien, he is very popular here in Montreal.