Should I be concerned? re: speech development

[Megan Turnidge]

My daughter turns two next week and I think she's behind in her speech development. It seems all the kids her age are quite a ways ahead of her. Before I moved, we had friends with twin boys and at 18 months they knew tons of words and knew how to identify all their letters (upper and lower case). At 2, Allie only uses about 4 phrases and can say only about 20 words. She doesn't know any of her ABC's or her numbers. Should I be worried yet? I try to read with her, but she doesn't like me reading books to her... she just wants to flip all the pages and I never get a chance to read what's on the page before she flips it. I try and repeat things a lot and when she whines or grunts for something, I try and use the word I want her to use (like please, or help, or up). What can I do to help her?

[Jennilyn]

At 18 months Kaylee could only say 1 word...`yeah`. By age 2 I think she only said a few more than that. Some kids develop more slowly than others, but I don`t think Allie is in any danger of needing speech therapy. Kaylee is starting on Wednesday...she needs help learning her `ch`and `sh` sounds.

You can repeat things to her so she hears the correct way to say things, but if you make her repeat it back to you a lot, it seems like a chore and she won`t do it.

[nikkiARNGwife]

I would not worry one bit..and I can say that b/c when DS was 2 I was worried to death lol..He literally said NOTHING...he was never a verbal baby at all..he really never babbled or imitated speech a lot. At about 2 1/2 he just started talking..like TALKING..as in plain words and sentences. I worried so much about it but now at 4 1/2 I can't get him to shut up lol.

All babes are different...DD at 11 months is already trying to imitate what we say and can say, "mama" "daddy" "car" "dog" and "go"..I think it also has a lot to do with her having an older brother to learn from where DS didn't have that kwim..

I bet in a few months she'll really surprise you :)

[Sharon Kay]

My daughter turns two next week and I think she's behind in her speech development. It seems all the kids her age are quite a ways ahead of her. Before I moved, we had friends with twin boys and at 18 months they knew tons of words and knew how to identify all their letters (upper and lower case). At 2, Allie only uses about 4 phrases and can say only about 20 words. She doesn't know any of her ABC's or her numbers. Should I be worried yet? I try to read with her, but she doesn't like me reading books to her... she just wants to flip all the pages and I never get a chance to read what's on the page before she flips it. I try and repeat things a lot and when she whines or grunts for something, I try and use the word I want her to use (like please, or help, or up). What can I do to help her?

Oh sweetie...don't compare your child to another...every single child is different and progresses at a different rate. Those boys were an exception! My oldest read pretty good at age 2...and was reading Isaac Isamov books at age 5. He was a definite exception...the only one out of about 100 kids in kindergarten at the same time. My others did NOT learn that early...when they were ready to read...they did. I found for them using the Scholastic "BOB books" were the best for them...but they were not ready near as early as my oldest.

Maybe you should try books with fewer words on the pages ... I know my kids got very impatient with Dr Seuss... they wanted quick turning and that wasn't the case with that.

If you stay concerned...check with your local school district...my middle one went through testing for "count your kid in" I think it was called...they did speech and language diagnosis...attention, etc. ...and it was free...

...my main concern these days is people pushing their kids too far...let them have a chance to play...they learn a LOT through playing. :)

[Megan Turnidge]

Maybe you should try books with fewer words on the pages ... I know my kids got very impatient with Dr Seuss... they wanted quick turning and that wasn't the case with that.


Oh, they are really little kid books with only one sentence on the page... lol.

I know I shouldn't compare, but when she really is behind pretty much all the kids her age, I can't help it. :unsure:

[emmasmommy]

Emma sounds exactly the same as Avery. We were just on the verge of taking her to a speech therapist and bam...she started talking like a 10 year old. 2 is awfully young to get worried about that. If she is verbalizing and can mimic you, I wouldn't be concerned. Some kids are just too busy playing and focusing on other things. My oldest was always more concerned with playing with her toys and doing puzzles that she couldn't be bothered to talk. Now. She will not shut up! LOL

[scrapperjade]

Megan - Avalynne will be 2 in January, and she's barely saying anything either. She has a vocab of maybe 20 words too. And no, she doesn't know her ABC's or numbers yet either. My neice was not much of a talker, just a babbler, like Avalynne. Then all of a sudden, she was talking, and talking LOTS.

I think that "slow" talkers are not really slow at all. They are just absorbing until they have something they really want to say, haha!

[kristine]

I would not worry one bit..and I can say that b/c when DS was 2 I was worried to death lol..He literally said NOTHING...he was never a verbal baby at all..he really never babbled or imitated speech a lot. At about 2 1/2 he just started talking..like TALKING..as in plain words and sentences. I worried so much about it but now at 4 1/2 I can't get him to shut up lol.

All babes are different...DD at 11 months is already trying to imitate what we say and can say, "mama" "daddy" "car" "dog" and "go"..I think it also has a lot to do with her having an older brother to learn from where DS didn't have that kwim..

I bet in a few months she'll really surprise you :)

This is my youngest too! She hardly talked for the longest time, and now she's babbling away with really long sentences. She's bilingual though, so I was never worried, as they say bilingual children often take a bit longer to "get it"

[Shawna]

I doubt you have anything to be concerned about since she is somewhat verbal and all kids learn on their own pace, but I would recommend checking to see if you have a Parents as Teachers (https://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/forum/www.parentsasteachers.org) group in your area. It is a free program for children birth through age 3, my SIL is a parent educator (w/a degree in early childhood education & pursuing her Masters) for our local group and all three of my kids have been in the program (my oldest from about age 2 and the younger two from birth) and have greatly benefited from it. They do free monthly home visits with the child where they assess their development, speech, motor skills etc. and do fun activities, read with them and we do lots of play groups and field trips etc. with the group too! My SIL absolutely loves her job and really believes in the positive aspects of the program :)

[Leila]

Another 'don't compare' nod here, though I do know just how hard it is to avoid! Honestly Meegs, if you're at all concerned, contact these people (https://www.azdes.gov/azeip/familyinfo.asp#referchild) since Allie's only 2, she'd go through that program vs. one with the school district. The worst (and best) thing that can happen is a confirmation of your concerns which will lead to services that can help her. The best best thing is that they'll say nothing is wrong and you go about your way.

[KirstieGai]

Kids don't start learning their ABC's until they are in their 3's. Normal kids don't starting number/letter recognition until 3 1/2-4yrs. All 3 of my kids were talkers though, never can shut them up LOL!

[meems]

I wouldn't be concerned. My friend had a dd who didn't talk much at that age. They were almost going to sign her up for early childhood speech therapy but they didn't. And then a few months later she's talking up a storm.

Does your daughter like lift the flap books? or books like Pat the Bunny? Pages with stuff to do other than just read.

[Megan Turnidge]

Does your daughter like lift the flap books? or books like Pat the Bunny? Pages with stuff to do other than just read.

Yes, she definitely prefers those.

Thanks everyone! Mommies worry too much. :D She is quite the babbler and talks a TON, she just doesn't really say anything "real" when she goes off like that. hehe

[lauren grier]

she sounds perfect to me... when ce was around that age, our family dr started getting concerned that he wasn't really talking a ton-- he had about the same level of vocab as allie.. anyway, we had to go to the childrens hospital a bit - for something else lol obviously- anyway, THOSE pedis told me our family dr was a wacko and ce was perfectly on track.

just keep working with her, making learning fun, create games, keep it exciting and interesting.. even the whining and grunting is good-- she's communicating with you, she'll get there :]

ps ce thought learning his abc's was the lamest thing ever and refused to say them forever (he knew them just.. hated it).. till like recently ^_^ and he's 5. don't worry :]

[MamaBee]

Ohh... I know exactly what you are going through... my son was in the local Birth to Three program (run by the county) and they totally freaked me out when they asked if Jake (who was 1.5 at the time) if he spoke at least 50 words. The kid didn't walk until he was 20 months... and then didn't really talk until this past summer... he is now 2.5. It wasn't until we had him evaluated for speech (since he was in PT, it didn't cost extra to have him evaluated) is when she saw that he just learns and approaches things differently from the average child... so what I learned was, as long as she is communicating with you in some way... and you understand what she wants through her form of communication, it will come. Good Luck, sweetie.

[g8rbeckie]

one of DD's best friends (also 5) started kindergarten this year. Couldn't even write his own name - which was only four letters. Couldn't count, say ABCs, anything.

My DD - who didn't start school because she was a month too young - knows all of her letters and loves to write (we have to spell every word for her though).

Point of my story: After two and a half months of kindergarten, the little friend knows his letters now, too! He just wasn't interested in learning them before he had to, I guess! And he can parallel park his electric jeep and ride his razor scooter along the curb, too...but that's another story!

I agree - all kids are different!

[WalkersMommy]

My DS will be 2 in January and he is not even close to knowing any letters or numbers! lol He also says around 20 words, and says a few phrases like "what's that" and "no more".

I don't think you have anything to worry about :)

[stayawake]

My son turns two tomorrow and is finally speaking in sentences, but honestly in the last two months his speech has jumped lightyears! I was never really worried, because he could follow instructions and had words for things he needed, but he didn't have many words. Then all of a sudden he decided he wanted to TALK (and now that's all he does!!!) so sometime it comes in stages.

Where I live there is a program called "Tyke Talk" it's free (covered by Ontario Health) and you can have your child assessed by a speech language pathologist, pediatrician and behavioral specialist in one visit, and then they join a "club" and play lots of fun games with speech language professionals that encourage them to be more confident in their speech and to widen their vocabulary. They work with parents and give them ideas of new things to do. It helped my niece and nephew tremendously (their parents are both teachers and would read EVERYTHING to them, they had huge speech delays). Is there anything like this around where you are?

[junebug]

you know, Chloe was the same at that age. she picked up a lot early on around 1, but then it seemed around 2 she just wasn't 'getting' it anymore. she didnt seem to progress. so we took her to a speech therapist (DH was in the Army then=free, lol) and she was indeed a little behind. so they gave us ideas to work with her with then within a couple months it seemed like she suddenly caught up and was doing great. i don't know if it was us working with her more or if she just did it on her own. the therapist said its common for kids around that age to do that. it was nothing we were doing wrong. maybe your little one is the same way that Chloe was. try not to worry too much; i'm sure you're doing great with her, Megan!

[Sarah8914]

Yeah, she's totally fine!! My girls have been major talkers really early... but at an 18 month appt, the doc asked if my babe could say 6 words. So, 20 at 2 sounds good to me. And it seems like it's about this time, and over the next 6 months or so, that it picks up a little more.

And my 3 year old does not recognize every letter yet. She probably doesn't even know half!

[schock77]

I'm SUPER busy tonight amd just popped in- but I teach a program for language delayed 3-5 years olds and I have LOTS of info for you.... I'll post or PM you info tomorrow....

But for everyone- a kid who's 2, 3,4, and even some at 5- who doesn't recognize letters isn't anything to "worry" about! :)

[SeattleSheri]

I absolutely would not be worried at all! My oldest son (who is now 5) didn't have much speech (he couldn't/wouldn't put two words together) when he turned two and I remember being all worked up over it and now he's excelling in reading and writing (we just got his report card today -- all +'s). Our ped told us that we shouldn't be concerned until about 2 1/2. If at that point, if the child can't put two words together, you should consider an evaluation (which doesn't mean there a problem, just an assessment).

[lovely1m]

My son said next to nothing at 2. Suddenly one day, he just started talking. Now at 3, he is definetly right on track. He can sing many songs, say his ABCs and tell me anything he wants to. We have whole conversations now. I wouldn't worry about it with your 2 year old.

[rach3975]

My 3 year old has a speech disorder (Childhood Apraxia of Speech), and I'm usually the first one to say that if you have any concerns you should get them checked out by the early intervention program in your area--either an expert will tell you there's nothing to worry about, or you'll get your kiddo the therapy they need as early as possible and get their issues resolved that much sooner. But if she's got 20 words and some phrases, I wouldn't be too concerned at 24 months.

If you can't stop worrying or her vocab isn't increasing over the next few months, then contact early intervention (your peds can put you in touch with them) for a free evaluation. I'm a member of an apraxia message board, and parents on it say that lots of peds don't take speech concerns seriously in 2 year olds, leading to their kids missing out on 1-2 years of early therapy. So if you decide you'd like her evaluated at some point, you may want to go ahead even if your ped tells you she's too young to worry yet.

Good luck, and try not to worry too much. (And if you'd like to compare and come out on top, at 25 months my DS had already been in speech therapy for more than a year and could make 4 sounds. Not words, single-letter sounds. Then he was diagnosed with apraxia and got more appropriate therapy. After 1.5 years of apraxia therapy, he's just about caught up to other 3.5 year olds.)

[suzann]

I personally wouldn't worry too much yet because she is still pretty young. Kids learn a lot and make big advances quickly at that age. I've had 2 kids with speech issues, and I had them tested at 3. They then entered pre-school and speech classes. You can schedule an appointment for early intervention. Here it is part of the school district and is called pre-school special education. It's probably something similar where you live. And my 3 year old doesn't know any numbers or letters either. But my other 2 kids knew all their letters and numbers between ages 2 and 3. It's just that they're different kids and they learn differently.

[Tracie Stroud]

We knew Noah had a speech/communication problem at 18 months. But he was waay behind. When he was evaluated at 2 years, he was 12 months behind. If you're worried, I'd run it by your pediatrician and see what they say. Also keep track of how she communicates non-verbally. Non-verbal is as important as verbal and happens first. If she's making efforts at communication, even if she's not speaking, she's probably fine. You know you can yahoo me anytime to talk! ;)

[schock77]

Ok.. again.. super busy night so I don't have much time, but what I was going to post was check with your local school district for early intervention service to request an evaluation. These are usually pretty quick and easy and (at least where I am) play-based, so the kids go in and play while the evaluators gather information. This will give you good info- whether or not to worry- and is free, so why not? If she qualifies, she could even get free speech therapy services through early intervention. Oh yeah, and expressive language is way easier to fix, so if she seems to understand what you say, her receptive skills should be ok.

As for what you can do, some quick ideas: be a "sportscaster" and narrate your day aloud when she's with you. You'll feel like a crazy person, but hearing the language as often as possible encourages speech development. Continue to try to read to her even if it's just commenting on pictures and "telling" the story. Don't anticipate her needs- make her "ask" for things and then, just as you said, model the word you want her to use. This builds her skills and you can continue to work on them (i.e. "wa wa" "Oh, you want water? Water." and then build to phrase level.) Also, give her choices: "Do you want milk or water?" and wait for a response... even if you know everytime what the choice will be.

I've got TONS of stuff I can send you too- it's just been wild lately. I may just end up calling you to tell you all about it as that may be easier anyway. Let me know and I'll try to post some "stuff" tomorrow. :) HTH!

[Keely~B]

I think she's pretty young and it's probably nothing to worry about, there's such a wide range of "normal" at that age. At the same time, don't be afraid to monitor it and don't be discouraged to have her evaluated. My youngest was technically meeting the speech milestones but not by much. At three I had my pediatrician refer her for testing. I'm so glad I did! She has an auditory processing disorder and speech therapy did wonders for her, she blossomed and made huge strides. She's doing great in school now and you'd never know she had any issues.