language development question

diana.filipi · December 2013

My son is 1y10m tomorrow and I've had him evaluated at the urging of my pediatrician. He qualified for services through Infant and Toddler Connections. They will come on Jan 14th for a more in depth evaluation and to begin deciding what to do with it. He isn't talking. My daughter was later than a lot of peers to talking and now has a highly precocious vocabulary but he's way behind even where she was at this point.

I don't think I'm too concerned as yet since I've heard that middles often may speak a little later since everyone seems to answer for them, especially the big sibling. Also I've heard that boys may be a little later though his best friend is 6 weeks younger and has a pretty full vocabulary at this point and they began walking at the same time.

Atticus had about 10 words but has regressed and now says only about 3 and all three are said without clear consonant sounds. Like he says penis but it comes out eeeennni with inflections but no 'p' or 's'

singingirl96 · December 2013

No help here since my son is 17 months and only says momma, but I wanted to tell you that I think it is hilarious that out of the three words he says, one of them is penis! Lol!

diana.filipi · December 2013

Boys man LOL

DawnLilly · December 2013

I am a firm believer that some are audio learners while other are physical or sight learners. My son's verbal vocabulary only grows with his American sign language vocabulary. Have you taught him any signs?

diana.filipi · December 2013

We haven't really done much sign with him. We did a little with our daughter and do the same ones with him but the only one he cares to do when really pressed is the one for 'more'. With 3 kids 3 years and younger no one kid gets tons of individual time either.

They all play independently very well and he actually plays WITH his best buddy friend and his sister which is early and awesome. He is really physical though walked far later than his sister (so it seemed to take for EVER to me as I was huge with baby number 3 before he walked at 14 1/2 months). He uses the big kid swings and walks down the stairs like a regular person now. He jumps on a trampoline with both feet and loves bounce houses. He could climb both up and down the ladder on our play structure for several months before he walked.

He doesn't talk and barely does more than mmmmm sounds with lots of inflections and pointing. He gets his needs met and I kinda wonder if that's part of the problem. I'm a SAHM so we are always together and maybe I'm anticipating his needs too much. IDK

ashiscute · December 2013

I think my answer is going to sound a bit harsh but I would be worried. I'm not saying I think there is something wrong with your LO but I would certainly be pushing for help for him. My DD was completely nonverbal when we started the process of getting her involved with EI. She started speech therapy at 17 mos with no words. We started with signs and she took a couple weeks but started using them consistently which was huge for us. About 6 weeks after we started therapy she started using her first word.

There could be loads of reasons your son is developing slowly with language. It might be that he is just quiet but there could be a real reason to. Does he seem to use language to communicate with you? Does he directly imitate things you say? Is he consistent with his consonant and vowel productions? These are things that you need to consider to get an idea of where he is and maybe a why. My DD had about 5- 7 words when she turned 2 but she did not use language purposefully (like to get needs met consistently) until she was closer to 2.5.

I find things like "he's a middle child" or "boys talk later" or "I answer for him so he doesn't need to" excuses that more than likely have nothing to do with why your child isn't speaking. The third one especially was given to me all the time by family and friends and is such bullshit. In my case I don't spoil my child; she has a speech disorder. I'm not saying your son does. All kids certainly develop differently. But some of the things you said raised red flags to me and I would be pushing to make sure there wasn't a more serious issue. Much better to find out early it's nothing than later it is IMO.

diana.filipi · December 2013

He has been evaluated and is qualified for services due to verbal language delay. They don't come 'till the 14th of January for the 2nd round of evaluations which will include the actual speech therapist.

I suppose I am a little concerned or I wouldn't have posted about it. My husband and I had been thinking that he was kinda on par with our daughter who had been a late language bloomer as well. Her vocabulary is quite precocious now. I didn't realize there was anything to even be concerned about though until my pediatricians office called me a couple weeks ago to ask after Atticus. Since then I made the call and appointment to have him evaluated.

I guess what worries us a little is that he had words that he doesn't use any more. He used to say "cheee" for pictures and yell cheese at the fridge. He would sit at the top of our back yard play structure and point and say dog over and over when our dog would be on the porch barking. He doesn't say any of that anymore.

anyhow... it'll be 2 1/2 weeks yet before they come to do his next eval so I was curious mostly what others would have to say from their experiences. Thank you for sharing Nicb13

foreverapartofme · December 2013

I think it is great you are getting your LO evaluated. The TEAM will determine his needs and work with you to teach you things that can help carryover skills at home. Currently, I work in a school as a speech therapist and it is amazing to see how early intervention truly helps children with a language delay or disorder. Those children who did not attend EI have a more difficult time adjusting to therapy and trying to learn academics while learning how to articulate their wants/needs. Although as a parent it is tough to see your LO as behind, EI just may be the right thing to get him/her catch up! Best wishes.

ashiscute · December 2013

CourtandNate said:

ashiscute said:

I think my answer is going to sound a bit harsh but I would be worried. I'm not saying I think there is something wrong with your LO but I would certainly be pushing for help for him. My DD was completely nonverbal when we started the process of getting her involved with EI. She started speech therapy at 17 mos with no words. We started with signs and she took a couple weeks but started using them consistently which was huge for us. About 6 weeks after we started therapy she started using her first word.

There could be loads of reasons your son is developing slowly with language. It might be that he is just quiet but there could be a real reason to. Does he seem to use language to communicate with you? Does he directly imitate things you say? Is he consistent with his consonant and vowel productions? These are things that you need to consider to get an idea of where he is and maybe a why. My DD had about 5- 7 words when she turned 2 but she did not use language purposefully (like to get needs met consistently) until she was closer to 2.5.

I find things like "he's a middle child" or "boys talk later" or "I answer for him so he doesn't need to" excuses that more than likely have nothing to do with why your child isn't speaking. The third one especially was given to me all the time by family and friends and is such bullshit. In my case I don't spoil my child; she has a speech disorder. I'm not saying your son does. All kids certainly develop differently. But some of the things you said raised red flags to me and I would be pushing to make sure there wasn't a more serious issue. Much better to find out early it's nothing than later it is IMO.

All of this.

Though I agree with the points being made here, I would like to point out that as a mom it is painful and terrifying to admit to yourself that there is cause for concern. I think some affirmation is more along the lines of what the OP was looking for. As for you and your husband and said "Excuses" I also think it was more coping and hoping that it was one of those things. I commend you for making the appointments and wish you all the luck in the world for you and your LO

Obviously it's painful and terrifying. My DD has a diagnosed speech disorder that is going to be a life long challenge for her. I deal with this every day and I know how scary and hard it is. But my point is that most people are not interested in EI for language. I had almost zero support when I wanted to get help for my DD. Even on here most of the comments tend to lean towards "I wouldn't worry" followed by one of what I called excuses. And as a parent who has gotten the bad news I'm not sure I understand waiting it out. I think as a parent you need to put your fears to the side and do what's best for your child.

I gave the OP affirmation in that I believe she is doing the best thing for her child.

Irishsapphire · December 2013

I am getting my daughter screened tomorrow, so we will see what they say.

emberlee3 · December 2013

ashiscute said:

I find things like "he's a middle child" or "boys talk later" or "I answer for him so he doesn't need to" excuses that more than likely have nothing to do with why your child isn't speaking. The third one especially was given to me all the time by family and friends and is such bullshit. In my case I don't spoil my child; she has a speech disorder. I'm not saying your son does. All kids certainly develop differently. But some of the things you said raised red flags to me and I would be pushing to make sure there wasn't a more serious issue. Much better to find out early it's nothing than later it is IMO.

ITA.

Irishsapphire · December 2013

Irishsapphire said:

I am getting my daughter screened tomorrow, so we will see what they say.

My daughter was screened today. She was okay for gross motor skills, but she is being referred for speech. So they will have a specialist come in to evaluate her and see if she needs any help. They also told us to get a hearing test at the pediatrician to check that she can hear low frequency because this can affect speech.

diana.filipi · January 2014

I'm not offended by the comments here though I think not everyone read that I already DID get him evaluated and he qualifies for services. They just don't come again 'till the 14th which feels like a long time. I had actually kinda thought that by then he'd be talking more for sure but he isn't and I am certain that he will still qualify and therapy of some sort will begin right away. Something is up. My husband and I both work with him a lot and are really focusing on trying to get him to use words. We have no experience with this. I'm not scared. I am curious more than anything. I don't know what's going on for him but I'm sure I'll learn more soon.

ashiscute · January 2014

Irishsapphire said:

Irishsapphire said:

I am getting my daughter screened tomorrow, so we will see what they say.

My daughter was screened today. She was okay for gross motor skills, but she is being referred for speech. So they will have a specialist come in to evaluate her and see if she needs any help. They also told us to get a hearing test at the pediatrician to check that she can hear low frequency because this can affect speech.

Good luck with the evaluation. For me that was the hardest part because I simultaneously did and didn't want her to qualify. But therapy has been a life saver for me and we have loved it from the beginning. And the hearing test is easy and stress free.

janinekrause · January 2014

Take a deep breath. It is scary when your child is behind on anything, and amazing you are getting services. He will definitely qualify unless something is wrong with the evaluator. My sister is a speech therapist and actually had a son with a severe language delay-at 2 years old, he maybe said 2 words- he was talking less than my daughter at the time who was a full year younger.

Fast forward- he is 6, and talks all the time. He isn't the clearest in the room, but no one would say anything was wrong at this point. I think it took a good year of speech therapy before he started to catch up.

Good luck- and if for some reason you don't qualify, keep pushing.

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