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| Parents of Toddlers |
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| Hi everyone, I'm new to this group but not new to toddlers. I have a five year old son and a 21 month old son Calum. He is why I joined the group, but not for the typical concerns like the "terrible two's" (although we're entering that phase now). We found out in January that Calum has a significant speech delay. He has the speech capacity of a nine month old baby. He has never said "mama" or "dada" he mostly just screams and whines when he wants something or points and grunts. It is hard to understand why he doesn't speak because he is developmently on cue in other areas such as social and motor skills. But even after six weeks of speech therapy he hasn't made much progress except for the use of simple sign language. He has a hearing test next week, to rule out hearing loss. I can deal with whatever he may have, I just want to know what it is so I can feel proactive and productive. I wanted to throw this out to the "Raising Them" community in hopes that maybe another mother has been through a similar situation. Maybe someone else has insights I never heard or thought of. Most people tell me he is just a late talker or "second baby" syndrome but my motherly instincts are telling me something else is wrong. Am I worrying for nothing? |
| Posted by Rhiannon on 03/12/2008 02:19 PM
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It sounds like you're doing the right things. My friend has a 16 month old that also couldn't say anything. They had his hearing tested and that was indeed the problem. She is now taking him to early intervention. If you can't seem to get anywhere with your doctor, make sure you contact the early intervention program in your area. They can help you with assessments and treatments.
I have talked to several parents who have had children with speech delays that are even older than your son. I would get him tested and try not to worry about it too much.
However on a lighter note I didn't talk until I was 3. I had 3 older siblings and didn't really need to. My doctor told my mom to stop giving everything to me and I would talk. (These were before the days of really testing for anything). I did and my first word was cookie.
I hope everything is ok.
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| posted by Mary J on 03/12/2008 03:24 PM
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I hope everything turns out well, but it's always good to be prepared for the worst. And I've never been in a situation or known of anyone, just that I read a lot. Has he been tested for Autism?? Like I said, I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE in this, but from what I've read, most autistic children have problems with speech. It doesn't mean that it is, just that it could be. Better to be checked out by a autism specialist and find out that it's NOT it, then the other way around.
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| posted by Cara on 03/12/2008 05:51 PM
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| As a former special ed teacher and now the chair of the special ed dept, I would certainly contact the Early Intervention in your area and see if there is a public preschool program that has students that have special needs (speech issues included). Although it may be good to check for autism, if he has the social development, then that is a good sign. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. |
| posted by Emily on 03/12/2008 06:28 PM
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| Thanks to everyone who responded. He is in an early intervention program, that's who initially interviewed him and determined that he had a delay and got him a speech pathologist. I do worry about Autism, but the therapist seems to think that isn't the problem. I am worried because he doesn't even seem to mimick me when I talk or make animal sounds. He is completely disinterested. We have also tried to stop anticipating his needs so that he has to ask for what he wants. He will ask for things using sign language but doesn't even make an attempt with words. |
| posted by Rhiannon on 03/12/2008 09:34 PM
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Rhiannon,
I have a question about when you first sought professional help for this situation. My husband works with a man and we have become friends with him, his wife, and their 17 month old son. Their son does not talk at all either, he only grunts and when he cries it sounds like a cry of an infant. My husband has asked the dad if they have taken him to well baby check ups and if everything is okay and the dad said yes. So I guess my question is who first brought this to your attention? |
| posted by Kyleen on 03/12/2008 10:05 PM
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| When I took my son in for his 12month appointment our doctor was the first to ask if he was talking. When I said no she told me to bring him back in when he was 16 months if he still wasn't saying anything. I held off until he was 18 months old, it was then that she set us up with early intervention for an evaluation. My one biggest piece of advice to any mother going through the doubts of "is this normal" is to listen to those doubts. Don't let anyone tell you it's just because he's a boy or he's the second child or he talk when he wants to. Trust that motherly instinct! |
| posted by Rhiannon on 03/13/2008 11:21 AM
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