My son is 2 and still doesn't speak!?

Question

My son is 2 years old and still doesn't want to talk. Many of the two year olds that I know are already talking. Is there anything I can do to help him advance?

Answer 1

My son is almost 26 m.o. and says only about 12 words....he stayed a while just saying 3 or 4 and all the sudden it clicked"...We attribute the delay to the fact my husband speaks english and he watches shows in english, but I talk to him in spanish most of the time.....What really helps, because I have a 5 year old almost perfectly bilingual is that you don't assume that he's too young to understand all what you tell him, or even If you are talking to yourself share what you say his him out loud so he can try to make the same sounds with his mouth, he needs to see your mouth when you talk to him, and you can always repeat each word 4 or 5 times and then if you are consistent he'll just say it.Small kids have the best memory of all, specially before 3 or 4 years old, so the more you expose him to new stuff the better.....good luck

Carol

Answer 2

My son didn't talk until he was about that age too. I had him put in Head start and he started to advance. Now he's 9 years old, gets almost all A's, does better than most kids in the state on the STAR tests, and is in the advanced class at school. And he also never ever stops talking!!! I would like to suggest that you find a speech therapist and ask them to evaluate your child. Also have him checked out by an ear doctor. Sometimes they can't hear too well and that will show in his speech. Also reading to him will help build his vocabulary. Does he make any sounds at all? Does he communicate with you in any way? I would also suggest that you take him to his doctor just to be sure everything is ok. There may be an underlying problem that you are not aware of. Good luck to you!

Answer 3

I am a speech therapist and at his age he should be using at least 50 words or so. They could be unintelligible to someone like me, an unfamiliar person. If he is not talking at all and not making any attempts to communicate I would request an evaluation from a speech therapist. Check with your state to see if there are any early intervention programs in place that can assist you with finding a speech therapist at no cost to you. The therapist will evaluate him, see how he interacts with you, other family members and have a lot of questions about his day to day life. Hopefully she will recommend therapy, at least once a week, depending on if he's a young two, does he tantrum in response to not getting something, where his social and play skills are, how much he understands, can he follow simple directions, etc and work with you especially on things you can do to help him.

I would recommend that you set more firm expectactions from him. If you know he wants some milk and he's reaching or grunting, you model the word,'milk?' want milk? and wait for him to attempt imitating you or at least make a sound other than grunting. Reward him for that. Don't let others talk for him. Also, when you talk to him, make your sentences much smaller. He can't repeat a 5 word sentence so don't even try. Talk to him in 2-3 word sentences - you want more? i like this, let's go here, etc. I would also avoid lots of questions - what is this, what color is this, etc. It's not a functional way to communicate - we don't talk to each other with lots of questions in real life.

Good luck!!

Answer 4

If he can say a few words and otherwise communicate with you he is probably fine. My kids are all slow talkers and it's really frustrating but it doesn't mean anything. you might want to get his hearing checked just as a precaution. Find your local head start and have them do a hearing/speech evaluation. If he does need help, they will provide it for free and your son will get free preschool along with many many other resources.



DO NOT FORCE YOUR SON TO TALK like the above poster said. If there is ever a sure way to get your kids to NOT do something, just try to force them to do it. What kind of incentive is that? You can say, 'use your words' and praise him when he does but to deny him things because he can't speak? That's just plain wrong.

Answer 5

Do you have an older child. I have seen some instances where an older child does all the talking for the younger one and the family believes they are unable to talk. If he is not responding to his name or not understanding what is said to him then get a physician to see him pronto. In the meantime get some playdates and other friends his age around. The social interaction may be the key. Also, have him checked on his hearing. Hellen Keller was deaf so she didnt speak.

Answer 6

Yes I do think they should be saying somethin at age two. i have two kids and also worked in a childcare for 7 years. We had several kids that would get visits by E C I (early childhood intervention) Anyway they helped with the kids that were not talking and some that would not walk. Check into that.

Answer 7

I worked in a preschool with plenty of 2-year olds who didn't speak, or had speech impedements. I myself didn't speak until late because my mom taught me sign language, and I used that to communicate in my early years. Try reading books with your son every day, and encouraging him to repeat words. You can take him to a specialist, but the more involoved you are personally I think the better the results will be - kids adore their parents!

Answer 8

most 2 year old don't really "talk", especially boys. However, they should say some simple words. The key is, if he can understand you (like, put the ball in the box), then you don't have much to worry.

Answer 9

Do you spend a lot of time talking with/to him? Actually with, not at him? Get down on his level and make eye contact. Also, force him to use his words. If he has made it to 2 without really speaking at all, no doubt he makes grunts and points or has developed other bad habits to communicate instead of talking. If you refuse to give him what he wants until he asks using words, that will help a lot. Also, read aloud to him. Read him stories and try to get him to draw pictures of what you are reading to him. It's fun and it forces him to listen and try to understand what you are reading him.

Answer 10

Do you allow him to point and then give him what he wants? If so then stop and make him say the word.

If that is not the case then maybe you do need to have him tested for autism. That would be one of the earlier signs.

Answer 11

I would say see a speech therapist my cousin was the same way but once he saw a speech therapist he could talk like a regular 2 year old [:



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Answer 12

My son is 21 months and he doesn't say a whole lot, but he does say a little. Basically what I do to make him talk is when he points to what he wants(like his cup) I tell him to tell me what he wants and I tell him to say please and thank you. He tries. Every kid is different. I wouldn't worry.

Answer 13

my son doesn't talk much either. he is 22 months and has only one *intelligible* word but babbles all the time. i think he is just fine and that your son is too

Answer 14

Is he smiling?

Does he respond to his name?

If the answers are no, get him tested for autism. I don't want to scare you, but the earlier he is treated, the better off he is.