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South Florida Babies
CesEve99
member
moms of 2+ year olds...(long)
CesEve99
member
when did your child start developing with speech?
i'm (really) concerned about mady. although she communicates and knows MANY words, knows her alphabet, numbers, colors etc....she can't put two words together. the only two word combos she says are: "thank you", "mallmart, yay" (aka walmart, yay), "and now", and "i got" (aka i got it).
when i ask her to repeat a word to me she should know by now (like black for example) she just says "eh"....many words i ask her to repeat after me are followed by "eh". whether in english or spanish. i try to break down the word and have her slowly repeat after me but that doesnt work either.
i'm concerned that i am the only one to understand her, even dh tells me sometimes "what is she trying to tell me, come here and she what she wants", usually she points at something she already knows and says "eh".
i took her to her ent today (today was the 1 yr post-op of her ear tube surgery). the ent gave her a hearing test. she passed the sound field test (the type that they play sounds through speakers and she follows), but the emissions test (the type that newborns receive) she "could have done better in her left ear". i cried immediately when they told me that. he said not to worry that the emissions test is not accurate especially since her tube is still in her ear drum. i went to my pedi today to express my concern and she told me that usually kids start talking by 2-2.5 yrs old but to ease my worry she sent me to a speech therapist.
the program is called EARLY STEPS and is located in UM. its gov't sponsored and i already left a msg to be seen, i'm just waiting on a call back.
while mady is VERY SMART, knows exactly what i ask of her, can follow directions, and knows MANY MANY words this not communicating thing is starting to bother me.
some questions:
1. when did your kid start talking (putting two-three-four words together)?
2. should i be concerned (mady is only 2yrs2mths old)?
3. do any of you have any experience with the early steps program at um?
sorry for rambling on, any advice is well appreciated.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: moms of 2+ year olds...(long)
At Alexis' 2 yr appt I asked about this b/c I was concerned with her speech. The dr told me not to worry that they all develop differently. I don't remember exactly the numbers in terms of how many words and when they should be able to put 2 words together but she was fine. Immediately after that, she had a huge burst in communication. I noticed that she was using more words and putting words together more often. Its been steadily increasing since then and I notice every day more and more things from her. She is now saying longer sentences. I understand her more than anyone else because I'm with her more and I think that's normal. I would say that if I understand 90% of what she says, a stranger would understand maybe 25%? Marc or my mom probably get 50 - 75%.
I dont' think you should be concerned, it sounds like she knows a lot. I never think there's anything wrong with being evaluated though. I don't have any experience with the program, sorry.
THe only tip I have (and you may be doing it already), is to always repeat things to her in sentences. If she says, "agua" then tell her "you want mommy to give you agua?" things like that. Or if she says, "flower" say, "that's right, that's a red flower in the garden." And when she pronounces a word, always repeat it correctly, don't copy her pronunciation. Alexis says "mamo" for tomato, among other kiddie pronunciations, and I don't ever tell her, "no it's a tomato" I just say, "that's right, tomato"
ty! i get the same thing from mady sometimes like "qu" is queso or "imeem" is ice cream. that's my point though 1 words. when you say sentences...how many words would you say she is putting together?
i do have to keep in mind all kids develop differently its just hard when i see parents and 2 yr olds have a full blown communication right in front of me, and here i am with my child saying "eh".
First of all, I know it is easier said than done, but try not to compare your child to others. Also, you are being very proactive in having her checked for different diagnosis... so well done.
1. when did your kid start talking (putting two-three-four words together)? Nephew only started stating 2-3 words together a couple of months ago (he's 2.5 yrs old). And it happened litterally overnight! We were all frusterated b/c we didn't understand him, and all of a sudden he started talking (his bday is mid-Nov)
2. should i be concerned (mady is only 2yrs2mths old)? Like I said, it is prob normal to be concerned b/c you don't want your child to have any delay. If ENT told you not to worry about the hearing test, then don't. You expressed your thoughts to PEDI and he gave you a recommendations... I'd def go w/ that.
3. do any of you have any experience with the early steps program at um? Both nephew and niece participated in this program. Niece did b/c of stuttering prob, and went w/ a speech therapist. After about 1.5 yrs of therapy, she's cured. Nephew went for both speech and occupational therapy, but mostly for eating (he still doesn't eat very well in the sense that only likes baby food). SIL has been pleased w/ the program (FREE) and the therapist they have used.
GL!
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane" -- Jimmy Buffett
thanks for the input jackie!
Leanna said great suggestions so I would definitely implement those if you are not already doing them!
I took Logan to the Early Steps program in Ft.lauderdale about 2 months ago and he was fine. He wasn't even delayed, just in the low range of normal. they said it was because of the 4 languages we speak to him (3 plus sign language - they said sign language counts as another language) and they said that he will eventually have an explosion of language. I think you DD is fine. She sounds pretty smart and she probably doesn't want to speak so she is controlling that (maybe this is how she is exercising her assertiveness). She understands and knows what a garden is but she still says "eh" so that is why I think she just simply doesn't want to say the word (but i'm no expert, LOL). Logan wasn't putting 2 spoken words together but he would say yogurt and then signed "cereal" when he wanted yougurt with cereal. He just started putting 2 spoken words together and he mixes up all 3 languages (i.e. he would say one word in Hebrew or English and another one in Spanish).
Definitely take her to the Early Steps program because they will evaluate her in every aspect, not just speech. It was very reassuring to me to know that Logan did not have a problem so it really put my mind at ease after he got evaluated.
She will probably be ok. Keep us posted!
First, you speak English and Spanish to Maddy in equal doses. I have noticed that kids who are exposed to more than one language at a time seem more "absorbers" than "talkers" for the first 3 years of their lives. My nieces were this way. They did not explode and start speaking both until about 3 years old but you could tell they understood what they were told in either language without a problem.
Second, Early Steps is an excellent program. I have seen many friends take their kids through this program and it has always shown results. While I do not think Maddy has a problem - I am a big believe in early intervention to either head off an issue before it becomes even bigger or to reassure the parent that everything is fine. Either result is positive.
All kids are different... Try to not to compare so much. Maddy is moving at her own pace. Leanna gave you great tips. I would also like to add to not give in to the "eh" and pointing. Make her try to at least repeat the command of what she wants. Also, try focusing on just one language for a while and see if you see her speaking more. Whether she speaks in English or in Spanish.
GOOD LUCK!
oxox,
Mel
when i studied reading and development for early childhood, our professor told us this exactly. she said that when we were workign with children, we should never correct them right out "if they say 'wa' for water, don't say "no, that's water" just say, 'that's right, water.' etc..." Aside from reinforcing the word and helping them listen to the difference, it gives them confidence to continue speaking if they don't think that everything they're saying is "wrong."
We did Early Steps out of FLL and it was WONDERFUL! My son in almost 3 now (end of August) but at 18 months he had one word and didn't babble at all....ever. We did the evaluation and he was average or above average in everything except expressive speech (he failed miserably!), They recommended speech therapy (which is free until they are 3) and he went once a week for a year until I pulled him out (not becuase of them, he had not only caught up but way surpassed his age appropriate level).
I wouldnt be concerned but since Early Steps adn early intervention is freeuntil 3 it can't hurt!
WHat I really liked about Early Steps (at least in my case) is they bring you into the sessions and give you strategies to use at home with them to help. The first thing we did was learn a few signs so he began to understand that if he used communication he would get what he wanted.
The best thing to do (in my opinion) is if she says saomething like "ice cream" repeat back "more ice cream?" or if she says "truck" repeat back "red truck" or similar....taking her one words and making them 2 word phrases...if you take her one word and make them sentences it might be too much right now, start small...or if she says "outside" say "go outside" etc....
If you have any other questions feel free to PM me!
I TOTALLY agree with Mel! Quinn has some very good friends that come from bilingual families and one even from a trilingual household. They all understand so much, but they are just starting to talk more at 2 1/2. Sometimes they use the Spanish word, other times it is the English word, etc. I've definitely heard that this is very common but that as they get older, their speech will catch up.
Good luck!
I think she should have more word combos in her vocabulary by now. But I wouldn't be too worried if I were you, since she just recently turned 2. A lot of my friends 2 year olds get into the "eh" habit. Since their moms know what they are trying to say, the child has no incentive to speak correctly. It's good thing you are being proative and taking her to therapy. I work at UM and was thinking about transfering to Early Steps. My aunt works there and has nothing but good things to say about them. GL! I'm sure Mady will be fine
ty for your replies. i realize kids in bilingual households are more absorbers than speakers. i'm not as scared because I KNOW she understands everything i tell her. she recently started using the phrase "i dont know" and has been replying with yes no or maybe to questions we ask. she is on track with milestones except i worry about the delay in combination of words. i called early steps again and was told it takes 2 days for a call back and 45 days for an appt. i hope by then i see more of an improvement.
this has been the most frustrating stage for me. thanks for your replies.