Is Not Talking at 2 Normal?

my FIL didnt talk till he was 4 years old and when he finally did he said a whole sentence! I dont know if it is normal or what, as i only have a six month old girl.good luck in gettin her to talk

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, I recommend having her hearing tested by an Audiologist and then having her speech/language skills evaluated by a Speech-Language Patholgist.

Please feel free to email me at ____@____.com.

Thanks,
J.

Based on what I know now, I would get her to the pediatrician and ask to screen for autism just to be safe, in case it is more that a phase, you'd want to know early

Yes, you should be concerned. Some children don't talk much at two. However, they should be using a few words. According to one of the websites that lists developmental milestones:

A 24 months old should be able to:
Can tell at least six body parts in a doll
About half of what he says is clear and understandable
Can make short sentences

Should be learning to:
Expresses his likes and dislikes and talks about himself
Can arrange and categorize things
Can walk down stairs

Might be able to do this in the next few months:
Learns and understands simple abstract words and concepts like sooner and later
Understands gender differences

What concerns me is that you said she used to talk before she was 1. My second and third daughters could also talk before their first birthday. And then one (at about 13 months) lost her words. She also had other developmental issues, like the lack of eye contact and repriciocity and would happily sit in her crib for 20 hours. She has autism. A child can have autism without having some of these symptoms, this is just how it presented itself in her. Some autistic children speak just fine. But with her, she lost her words alltogether. She had a vocabulary of about 10 words and then suddenly NOTHING.

My third child sometime after her first birthday (I'm thinking about 16 months but I'm not sure, could be sooner) lost the annunciation of her words. I could suddenly not understand a thing she said. She also had lots of sensory problems. She cried and put her hands over her ears if she heard a car horn. She didn't used to do that. We went to the zoo and she had meltdowns or shutdowns (where she stood fiddling with her fingers and ignored everything around her) after EVERY exhibit! I believe she is also autistic.

The good news is that if you catch it early there are lots of things you can do to help change its course. Diet is one of those things you can do at any age that seems to help many children on the spectrum. Those two are now 3 and 4 and and we are on a gluten/wheat free diet. The older one definitely seems non-autistic most of the time and the younger one is getting better. My oldest child, who has asperger Syndrome which is a form of autism that DOES NOT show itself with a speech delay the same as classic autism, has been much better on the diet as well.

Please, feel free to message me and we can discuss other possible clues to wither your daughter is autistic. But in any case, she needs to be seen by a professional if she USED talk and no longer does.

mama to three (possibly four) spectrum kiddos

I would explain this situation to my pediatrician. Especially, since your little one was talking before. Please don't allow your doctor to put you off and do a lets wait and see kind of thing. This could be nothing to get alarmed about, but if your concerned then that's reason enough to seek professional help/advice.

C.-Your daughter is so lucky to have you as a mom-you obviously pay close attention to her development. I wanted to write to you to let you know how important it is not to wait but to take some action now. Your instincts are right-she should be communicating verbally at her age and it sounds like she may have regressed with her language skills.It is also not typical development for her to wave her hands and scream with excitment with no words. An important step would be to take her to see a developmental pediatrician who specializes in development and behavioral issues in young children. It would also be important to refer her to ECI (Early Childhood Intervention)program in your community. It should be listed in your phone book or if you email me your county where you reside I can link you directly to the program which can help you. They can do developmental screening/evaluation at no charge.ECI also has many direct services to assist with development such as developmental services, speech therapy, service coordination,etc.These services are for children 0-3 years of age and are provided in the natural environment(home or daycare).This is such an important time in your daughter's developmentand I can tell you want to do your best to find out how to help her.

Best Wishes-

A. Hernandez
ECI Director
El Paso,Texas
###-###-####
____@____.com

Good morning! My name is L. and I am a Speech/Language Pathologist in private practice in Midland. You are a good Mom I can tell and you are right to be a little concerned. The best thing to do is to take her to a professional (speech pathologist) either at your school district, through early childhood or someone in private practice. That professional will tell you if she is behind, how much so, and what to do to get her talking more. ASHA (American Speech Hearing Association) should have some good developmental charts on their website. Going to the pedicitrician probably won't help that much because I've found many of them take the "wait and see" approach and really, early intervention is the best. Good luck and don't give up. Follow through with YOUR instincts! L.

Hello C.,

My daughter was talking early (cannot recall what age) but then all of a sudden, she stopped. PERIOD. Not a word. I was very concerned and my friend asked me to contact ECI (Early Childhood Intervention). That was the best thing I could do. The came to MY home for an evualation. After that, a therapist came to my house 2 or 3 times a week and just "played" with her. It was totally wonderful. She began talking again. You can only be in ECI until your child turns 3.

There is no cost involved at all. This is state funded based on your evaluation.

This would totally benefit your daughter. Contact them and at least let them explain their program and then you can decide.

My daughter is now 4 and is reading. I contribute a lot of her "learning" to ECI.

Any questions, please email me at ____@____.com

Good luck & let me know your outcome.

R.

Have you taken her to the doctor about that to get her tested .I had a grandson that did that I told my son when he ask for something make him say it are he doesn't get it that worked now that all he does "TALK " he was about 2 1/2 yrs.he's 4 now none stop

you should talk to your pediatritian but I want you to know that that situation is not always one that is a bad thing. You and your pedi must look at the other things about your daughter that may relate to why she isn't talking. Does she seem to have a perfectionist personality? Is she socially on target for her age? Is she shy? Many of the most famous mathematitians and scientists in history were late talkers.

My daughter said all of the b words such as baby and ball when she was 18 months and then stopped. She would sign for everything and would sign in sentences. She was just determined not to talk until she could pronounce things correctly. She didn't start talking again untill about 2 years 9 months. She is now almost 5, talking and reading, and will be tested for the gifted program next fall.

Then most important thing to do is look at the whole picture with your daughter, not just is she talking.

YOu should talk to your pedi and get a speech evaluation. Often it is just late talking, but if it is something more serious you want to know as early as possible., and if it is just late talking - it's nice to get them a little jump start to communicating with you

I had a similar experience with my Daughter. The good news is that there is wonderful help out there for you. Call Early Chilhood Intervention (ECI) today. 1-800-250-2246. This is a state program that will evaluate your child in your home for free. If you need services they provide them in your home for free or at low cost. They are awesome supportive and professional people.

Hi, my advice would be to call your pedi to discuss your daughters changes in communication. I think from what I've read they should be communicating basic wants and needs. I have a 2 1/2 year old and remember our pedi asking us about her verbal abilities and how they are progressing and developing (ie. short sentences). Again, just my opinion--hope this helps.

It happens, but it's not normal. By 18 months, a child should have a vocabulary of 7-30 words. Not all do--mine didn't; he only had 4--and the fact that she doesn't does not necessarily mean anything is wrong. But I would be concerned in your place that she's completely non verbal, and that she's regressed. Both the regression and the arm waving you mention are possible symptoms of autism, as others have mentioned, and I whole heartedly agree that you need to get her checked for any possible delays right away because early intervention is so very important.

They may tell you nothing is wrong, which is what happened with my son at 18 months. His (now former) pediatrician prefered the "wait and see" approach, but I insisted he see a speech therapist for evaluation. The speech therapist was able to check not only how much he spoke, but how much he understood and all the ways he communicated to conclude that he was just a little behind and didn't need intervention. Sure enough, a few weeks later his vocabulary more than tripled--he was just doing things in his own time.

My son's still a bit behind verbally, so I've enrolled him in day care (which we call school) 4 days a week for 6 hours a day. I don't have to have him there, since I'm also a SAHM, but my cousin with a masters degree in early childhood education recommended it as a way to improve his speech. She said she sees kids come in her classes who have less verbal skills than my son did, and within weeks they're talking in full sentences. It turned out to be the perfect move for my son--his vocabulary has exploded, his diction has improved to the point where I rarely have to act as his interpreter, and he sounds just like other kids his age (he's now almost 3). So if the docs tell you there's nothing wrong, looking to get your daughter in with her peers more often might be something to consider. Hope this helps!

Will she make eye contact? this may be normal but PLEASE do ask that they test her for autism, the sooner the better.

My oldest son did that so we had him tested and it turned out he was Autistic. This may not be the case for your daughter, but taking precautions never hurt. We went through an organiztion in San Antonio called Brighton which offers free evaulations/screening. If the child does have a delay of any kind, they offer services that are either free or on a sliding scale till they are 3 and can enter the school district. They also have tons of information on resources for you and your family to utilize. Here is their website: http://www.brightonsa.org/

I know it's scary to even imagine something different about your child, but if there is... the earlier you can get help with therapy, the better it will be for your daughter. Watch for any other signs: hand flapping when excited, rocking, head banging, etc.

I wish you and your family all the best and hope that all turns out well!

hey!
i'm a speech pathologist. has she had an head injuries, ear infections? normally i tell parents to wait if they are saying some words, even unintellligle ones at 2. at her age, she should be putting 2-3 words together. i'm concerned that she is not vocalizing. i would have her evaluated for your piece of mind. it's always best for your child to start intervention early, to prevent problems later in school. you can call your local speech language clinic or call your public school. they will give you free testing and services. good luck!

C.

Look up "Cyrstal Children" on the internet or at a metaphysical bookstore. These are very special children being born these days (similiar to the Indigo Children that my daughter who is now 21 was born into - also very different, but supposedly different then these children as well) One of their particular charteristics is that they are not always developing the way we are taught they should. Walking, talking, etc at certain times that we have come to expect. Many parents and doctors may think there is something wrong, but these children are incredibly bright and are communicating with you but at their own speed and in their own way. If this is the case with your daughter - she will be fine - just learn more about these children and connect with other mothers who are dealing with these differences, and they will give you the support and encouragement you will need - as you deal with not seeing the "norm" in behavior and development and your fears and worries about that and "others" fears and worries about why your child is not appearing to do things in the "expected" way. These children are amazing and if you look into it, I'm sure it's the same for your daughter.
Good luck. p.s. I know there is a very small little booklet out on Crystal Children by Doreen Virture cause I have it somewhere in my house. Whole Life Books on S. Lamar probably has it and maybe more, but you can probably find info on the internet as well.
J. A.

My 23 month old son doesn't talk much either...at least most people wouldn't understand him. Lots of screaming due to his frustration as a result. He does sign, but has a tiny vocabulary. My pedi said that if his vocab didn't increase by the time he was 2, then I might have to go to a speech therapist. My other son was speaking a ton at this age. So, I just wanted to make sure that I did all I could to help him with his language development. A friend of mine is a speech therapist, and she suggested that I contact ECI's Infant & Parent Program ###-###-####). They'll send a speach therapist to your home to evaluate your child and to work with the parent (the first two visits are free). So, that's what I'm doing. Our kids could be totally fine with their speech and might just speak later than others, but I still wanted to learn about what I could do to help with the progress.

It almost sounds like you are doing the talking for her. This is also very common in children with older siblings. They sometimes do the talking for the younger children.
Try reading books and have her repeat words to you. Play games where you point and ask what is this and let her try to speak. That may also help. If you do not get a response, you should always consult your doctor.

I am going through the same thing with my two year old. (Dec. 5) He did say a few things when he was younger and now nothing. He is my 3rd baby (sis is 9 and buba is 6) and everyone tells me they talk for him, but they don't. He gets his point across in his own way. I just think when they really have something to say they are going to say it!! One day we are are both going to be asking for sugestions on how to keep our two year olds quiet!! Good luck!

I hope it's nothing, but definitely talk to your pediatrician (although I know from experience, not all pediatricians are created equally). Have you heard of something called Rett Syndrome? It is something that affects little girls and they often lose skills that they've already aquired (especially verbal skills). They also typically have repetative hand movements...you may need to have her tested.

C.,

The best thing to do at this point would be to take her to a physician. I have a really good friend who's son was saying small words and communicative for the most part until he was 3 and then reverted to saying nothing at all. He has Autism. That is something you want to get a handle on now if that is the case. Another issue could be her hearing. If she is having a hard time hearing you, she will not be able to mimic the sounds of the words thus not being able to talk.
What ever the case may be, I would definitely have her checked and then even get a second opinion just to make sure you are doing the right thing.
The best thing to do in any situation like this is to go to the dr. and be completely open about the concerns you have.

I have a 2 1/2yr old daughter and have also been having some speech delay concerns with her. I recently did a request from the group and several people recommended Easter Seals - ###-###-####. They will do a free evaluation for children under 3 and then will do therapy if needed. I called them the other day and they were very friendly. We are in the process of scheduling an evaluation for my daughter. They also said once the child is 3, they will work with you to get them set up with therapy through the schools. I've heard several good things about them so I'm hopeful that they can help my daughter and yours. Good Luck, I wish you all the best.
M. - www.workathomeunited.com/freedom

Have you had her hearing checked? I have had couple friends who did not know that their child couldn't hear because of several ear infections they had. When the children got tubes in their ears they were amazed that on the way home from the hospital they spoke their first sentence. If you haven't had her ears checked, that might be the first place to start.

Hi C.
When I read your concerns, it did spark a connection with me and I totally feel for you. My son at a similar age was developing normally and by age 10months having 5-6 words and knowing a few of the animal sounds, waving hi and by etc. At age 1, it was totally gone. He still had all of his gross motor skills and fine motor skills and seemed to understand everything I said but he lost all ability to express himself verbally except when he was happy, he would smile real big (and still does) and flap his arms in excitement. It took a while for me to convince my husband, friends and pediatrician that something was wrong with him so I took measures into my own hands. The first place I called was Project Grow ECI (Early Childhood Intervention). THey had 2 people at my home within 3 days. A social worker and a speech therapist who did identify quite a few areas where he was delayed. He qualified for ECI services because of being delayed and they provided, Speech, Gymnastics, family support and a multitude of other services for our son in our home every week. They have a sliding scale of fees and I think the most you would pay would be $150 per month depending on your income. My son has been receiving tons of therapy since he was 15months old and he now has emerging language and many other skills but the therapy will always continue. My son has also received a diagnosis of Autism from Texas Childrens. THerapy is a daily ongoing thing for him and our family but he is such a joy to us. Do not be afraid of a label or finding out that your daughter has a developmental delay...the key is to find out now and start getting her the help she needs. ECI cannot give you a diagnosis, they can only identify if she is delayed. Their services are only available until she is 3yrs old. I could go on and on so if you would like momre information, please do not hesitate to contact me at ____@____.com I am a Mom who gets lots of time with her kids because I make my own hours as I own my own business, age 41 with 3 kids. My 4yr old son is my middle child. I wish you the best of luck for you and your daughter.

I try not to be an alarmist, but I wish we had caught my son's (high-functioning) autism earlier. Have you talked to your ped about it? Noticed any other peculiar behaviors, like rapid hand movements, walking on her toes a lot, etc? The fact that your girl still has lots of nonverbal communication and expresses emotions makes me think it's probably nothing. Sometimes kids know the words and just don't want to use them. Have you tried reward games, like having flash cards of three animals and saying "find the dog." And if she finds it she gets a tiny treat. Then hold up the card and say "What is it?" and don't give the treat until she says the word?

My suggestion is to take your child to your pediatrician for an assessment. Make sure that the Dr. understands that she had some language but now, none. If there is a problem, the quicker you get it identified the better.

C., I am a single mom of 3 ages 17,15 & 11. My youngest daughter did the same thing...however, I do not know all the history of your child, but with mine she was having alot of ear infections so I took her to see a Ear,Nose & Throat Doctor and he put tubes in her ears - it was the same afternoon after surgery and she looked up at me and said "Mommy"....I cried!! She couldn't hear, therefore she couldn't say words because she couldn't hear how they were suppose to sound!.....I have no idea if your child has any ear problems, but if she does, it might be worthwhile to have it checked out!
Good luck & I'm sure it's nothing serious!!

My young cousin did not talk until well after two. My uncle took her to alot of specialist and they said there was nothing "wrong" with her. They had a nanny and family that anticipated her needs, so she never had to ask for anything. The doctor basically said when she has something important to say, that no one tries to say for her she will talk.
Oh, by the way she is 13 now and has a genius IQ level and skipped two grades in school!
k

C. I would definitely have your child evaluated through Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). They offer free therapy until age 3 when it is turned over to the school system. My son started speech therapy at 21 mo. and was dismissed at 4yo. It definitely helped him. He was not saying anything either, then last summer he just really developed and was dismissed. It never hurts to do an evaluation. If she does not qualify then great. But if she does it is best to start early before it becomes a social issue and she gets frustrated! Hope this helps. BTW we used Brighton for speech therapy (through ECI) and my other son was evaluated through Easter Seals, also ECI.

Hi, My name is Deborah P. I'm 45 with 3 grown girls. Have you brought her to an ear/nose/throat doctor? Your daughter sounds like me at her age. My mom found out that i had gone deaf. But did not realize it until kindergarden. It was something as simple as tonsils. Medicine has come a long way!Doing my moms time they had wanted to put me away in a home for Mental Retardation. That God for stonge willed moms like mine who did not give up until she got answers. Gods Blessings to you. Deb

Our third child did not talk until she was well over two years old and because her sibs were
early chatters we were most concerned-but when she did start talking she spoke in full sentences and was and is an outstanding student and excellent public speaker . After years
of reflection we came to the conclusion that she may have been inhibited by our use of many
words for everything and she didn't need to speak. Do not worry! When she starts talking she
will be hard to shut off.
S. in Buda, TX

Normal question: have you had her hearing tested? At 18 months my daughter was barely speaking and using long vowel sounds (maaa-maaa, daaadaaa). We found out that she had scar tissue build up in her ears because of recurring ear infections (she had one then and hadn't complained!). She got tubes inserted and that day began reacting to small sounds like they were new! Shortly thereafter her vocab improved and she hasn't stopped talking! (She's now almost 17.)

L.

Hi! I am a mom of three boys; 13,9, and 21/2. I teach elementary school and my husband is a diagnostician (tests kids for learning disabilities). I am very concerned if your daughter isn't talking. There are many things to look at though...hearing tests are probably the first thing the Dr. will check. But, are there other problems, like, does she socialize with other kids? Are there behavior problems? At about 2 or 2 1/2, kids are supposed to be saying 2-3 word sentences. I would definitely check with your doctor; perhaps a physical just to be sure.

It sounds as if your child needs an evaluation for Speech delay. There are many ECI programs in Texas. In Austin, you can call Any Baby Can. They will set up a time for you to have her evaluated by a Speech therapist, or by a very excellent caring team of early childhood professionals. It is good that she has symbolic language, but she should be speaking in little phrases at this time. Have you had her hearing checked? Has she had several ear infections? It is a good idea to get more information so you can help your child. J. K. :)

My daughter wasn't talking then either. She just turned 3 this weekend and she is now talking in sentences and saying things like this just thhis morning. "what are you talking about, mom?" "Mom, this is serious!" She talks all the time and most of the time I have to tell her to stop and breathe for a moment. It all happened so fast. It was like a light switch went off one day for her and she just got it. I knew she had a large vocabulary because I could ask her things like where is the fan and she would point right to it, so I knew she understood, but she wouldn't hardly even try and say it. She would point out 100's of things in books etc. She just wouldn't verbalize. I taught her signs to communicate things like hungry and milk. That was a life saver for me. So, don't panic just yet. She may not be ready to add those skills just yet. If she isn't showing signs of understanding, then I would say have her checked by her Dr. for hearing problems & or speech delay problems. hope this helps ease your mind.

Hi C.,

I'm not an expert, but I have 4 children and this doesn't sound normal to me or my husband. I think you have a right to be concerned and should see your pediatrician. I wouldn't wait, a lot of these things can be assessed and treated if found early. Good luck, I hope it's just a phase!

A.

I would be a little concerned if my 2 year old was not saying basic words like mama, dada, things like that. I would definitely ask my doctor. I just brought my 2 yr old in for her well check (missed the 18 mn check) and the doctor asked me a million questions in order to rule out the signs of autism. Not saying that your child has this by any means because my 3 1/2 did not talk very much at 2 either. He didn't even say mama till 17 months. I would just watch your child and definitely talk with your doctor.

I don't think it is normal. I'd have her hearing tested and talk the her pediatrician. One of my grandsons didn't talk much at 2 and they had him evaluated and he is know in speech therapy which goes to his daycare and he is much easier to understand. It can't hurt to find out and the earlier the intervention to easier it is to correct if there is a problem.

What does her pediatrician have to say? That's usually one of the things they are looking at during well baby check-ups is the amount of a childs vocabulary.
How socialized is your daughter? Sometimes they need to be around other kids their own age or a little older to get them to where they will talk. My nephew didn't really start talking until after he started going to daycare at about 2 1/2 to 3 years old. So try socializing her more and if after a month you don't notice anything then you should share your concerns with her Dr.

I am not a doctor, but it sounds like something you should be concerned about. If it were my child I would have her checked out. At two years old, she should be chattering like a magpie. Take her to your pediatrician and have her checked out. Good Luck and God Bless.

My nephew had a similar problem. He wouldn't talk until he was 4 (he's now 8) and we cant get him to stop talking. The problem in their house was my sisters other children would speak for him. If he wanted juice he would just reach for it and the others would say "Oh he wants juice" and so on. It happened for a long time. He was also a very content child. You could set him anywhere and he would be happy in that one spot. All of these things he grew out of and now is a very bright and happy child. If any of these things sound familiar then I wouldn't worry to much. When she gets older she is bound to talk on her own. Oh on a side note I also have a friend that has a 2 1/2 year old son, he barely talks at all(mostly grunts and screams) she took him to the doctor a few months ago and the doctor said he was find and would start talking in his own time. I wouldn't worry to much unless you notice other signs of either further regression or lack of development. Also if she's not in school (daycare) socializing more without you around might help out. Hope this helps.

S.

My son is going to be 18 months on the first. He only says mama and dada, thats it. I had him evaluated through ECI and he is ahead on other things but for his speech he is 4 1/2 months behind. I would do an evaluation, because at 2 they should be talking and from what i understand at my sons evaluation "alot", because he was at least supposed to be saying 7-8 words. Good Luck and Hope this helps you.

Yes and No. Yes because she might have discovered that she doesn't need to talk to get what she wants or needs. Try getting her to say an object she wants before you actually give it to her, and be consistant. No because there could be some hearing problems causing her not to be able to her the words. If she can't hear them then she won't be able to repeat them. I would get her pediatrician to check her ears and possibly get a hearing test from an audiologist.
Hope this helps. My son had problems early on and he now has to wear hearing aids.
B. B

Children begin with first "words" around 12 months. By 2 years, they should begin to put 2 word "sentences" together. If she was talking but is now not, you may want to ask your doctor for a referral to a speech-language pathologist to evaluate her. Early identification and intervention is KEY!
DM-speech path mom

My Husband did that when he was little. He just didn't want to speak, (he still remembers). And when he was ready he started to speak, in full sentences! But if it was my daughter I would have her checked, for my peace of mind. Oh and Albert Einstein didn't speak until he was 5! My husband was one of the smartest in his graduating class.

C., I understand your concerns completely. My son will be 3 in late April and is just starting to talk, but you can barely understand him. I have had him in speech therapy for almost a year. First off, has your daughter had her ears checked? If not, call your pediatrician and get a referral to an ENT... she could have a lot of fluid build up and just need tubes.. That happened to a friends daughter, as soon as they put the tubes in she starting talking. When my son turned 2 we started with therapy, it took awhile to find the right therapist, we ended up with ECI (Early Childhood Development) a state program, and they are wonderful. Once he turns 3 they can't work with him anymore and we are now in the process of exploring other options. Feel free to contact me if you have more concerns and questions, I feel as if I am an expert on this, it has been my life for the last year... my email: ____@____.com
Good luck, J.

ECI, Early Childhood Intervention Program is provided in every county in the state of Texas. They provide evaluations at no cost to you. The services are also provided in your home. Not only do they provide you with guidance on how to help your child develop her language, they provide support and information on any other topic you may be interested in. You can look at their website at www.dars.state.tx.us or call 1-800-628-5115 to find your local ECI provider. It great that you are being proactive. Please let me know if I can be of any help. I worked with the ECI Program in my area for six years.

Yes, you should be concerned. This is not normal. Start with your pede or with ECI. She should have a hearing evaluation and a speech evaluation, and the sooner the better. Once you have those basics out of the way, you will know if you need other evaluations for anything else. But start with her hearing. Good luck!

I agree this is something that needs to be taken seriously. But don't worry too much. Some kids do move slower than others. Have your pediatrition perform a hearing test on her. My daughter was a chatter box but my son at that age talked but not much. He is and was at that time more of a physical child. If she is above what she should be physically like jumping on one foot able to ballance well etc. it might be that she is just focusing on her physical development first. But definately see your pediatrition immediately to voice your concerns.

That is not usually normal. A friend of mine had this problem and they ended up taking their son to speech therapy. He is doing very well.

Hi C.,
If this seems like a behavioral issue, then it could be that she has found a better way to communicate, which is getting her a lot of attention (positive and negative). If this is the case, you could ignore her non-verbal efforts, by saying things like "I'm sorry honey, I don't understand you when you do that." or "Can you say that in a way mommy can understand?" (I call this my, Mommy plays Clueless). Then you need to turn back to something else. Don't punish her for not saying any words, because that is still a form of attention. In a child’s eyes, any attention is better than nothing. So, don't reinforce her non verbal attempts by justifying them with giving her any of your attention. When she comes close to saying the words, praise her a lot! Like "Oh Honey, you want to draw a picture? That's a wonderful idea. Thank you for saying that so I could understand you. That was very helpful!"
You will have to stick with this. (When my kids were little and they started the whining stage, I would use this technique and it worked really well)

It's hard to tell from your post all that is going on, but it seems that you're concerned that this isn't normal childhood developement. Given that she was talking and has now stopped, I would be concerned too. With that in mind, I would suggest you see your pediatrician.

Good luck and I hope this helps.
L.

C.,
My bio: former Elem Teacher, taught 4 year olds for 17 years, taught Bible class for birth- two for 25 years, an Early Intervention Specialist for 10 years

questions to answer:
1) does she do all other activities age appropriately?
2) has she had multiple ear infections?
If no to both questions, I would encourage you to contact the Early Intervention program in your area. They will ask you questions to ascertain if she should be evaluated to see if she is behind in meeting developmental milestones. An Early Interventionist works with the child and family to aid in reaching milestones.

I would also discuss this matter with her doctor as she might need to be seen by an ENT and also a speech pathologist. In my experience, I had some doctors who said that the child will grow out of it. But, please do not wait to see if that happens. The sooner you get help, the better for her.

You may contact me at: ____@____.com if you feel that it would help for us to correspond.

Best wishes for getting help for your daughter.
Beryl Barr

Hi,I'm S..I would be very concerned about this,cause If she was saying little thing when she was a little younger and now nothing but sounds. Yes I feel that there is something going on with her. I would take her to her to the Dr. and ask them to check her hearing and than go from their. I would not give up until I know what the problem is. The reason I'm so concern is because I have two young adults and a 3yr. grandson and when they were younger and I felt something wasn't right with them I got on the phone and called my mother and asked question, but in the end she would tell me to take them to see the Dr. I hope my respouse has been helpful. Please let me know how thing turn out. Prayful S.

Hi, C..
I'm a mom of 4 and grandmom of 10 and a teacher for 20 years. If I were you, I would talk to my pediatrician about my concerns. There may not be anything at all to be concerned about, but since she has sort of regressed, it would be a good idea to run that by your doctor.

Hi C.,

She might just be slow to speak. I know my niece was. However, it could be a sign of something simple like fluid on the ears and ear infections. My son was making lots of sounds and communicating a lot until some time between 8-9 months. He got an ear infection and it seemed to clear up. It wasn't until we did a routine ear test that we discovered that he had fluid on his ears almost continually. Four months later, he got tubes put in. It's only been a few weeks but he is already communicating a lot more. He had gotten so quiet over the past four months but it was gradual and I might not have noticed if it wasn't for the test. He is still not speaking but I think he will start soon.

get her ears checked.

Get her tested by your local Early Child Intervention program, you can find them on the internet.
It is a warning sign of potential problems when a child is talking and then stops. Age 2, is not too early for intervention.
Good Luck.
L.

I am a preschool teacher with six 2 year olds in my class. Each is at their own level of speaking. I would suggest getting your daughters ears checked and if that comes back normal get her around other kids her age or kids slighly older. Children tend to learn from others and hopefully that will help.

Don't want to scare you, but she should be saying a few words by now. My grand daughter did the same thing. She will be 5 in September and was diagnosed at 2 as autistic. They have been working with her ever since. She is now saying a few words, at least it is encouraging.

Of course consult a doctor to make sure ther are no other delays. However - mom to mom (I also have a daycare) every child is different. I have three kids - my oldest talked so little around the age of two that my dad you to tell me he needed to get his hearing checked! Now he is 10, a straight a student, student counsil rep and in GT classes! My second (my daughter) talked non stop and is still talking! And my youngest (and my last)just turned 2 on Feb. 7 and is also a chatterbox. He makes complete sentences with about 3 words at a time. Examples: "open door room"(open the door of my room - has a child lock on it), "dino on" (turn on dinosaur movie - EVERYDAY), "good dog, good girl", "me cheese stick", "mo juce" (more juice - easy one). Anyways kids with sibling usually learn alot faster than those without because they want to catch up with thier brothers and sisters. In my daycare I have two 2 year olds (older than my son by a month or two) and they talk very, very little. I asked a speech therepist on behalf of a parent and the therapist says they like ot see them trying about 25-40 words at that age...As a mom I will suggest some things to help - don't give her somehting if she is just making mumbling sounds - be adamant she attmemt to say what she wants. Don't name everything until she nods make her "show and say" (of course feed her..but try to get her to attempt the word before giving it to her) - kids usually say apple well, meat, cheese....The other suggestions are - flash cards (really cheap, really easy) they have pictures of daily use items (ball, car, plane...). I am sure she knows what these all are when she hears the words..but she needs to learn to say them. When we do flash cards my son gets a skittle for every word he says well, or tries hard with. When I am teaching him a word I tell him to watch my mouth and I overexagerate the word se he can see the way my mouth moves - like open would be OOOOppen - and he knows that if he makes an OOOO sound when he moves his mouth like mine. We also use the computer ALOT. At 5 my daugter has her own computer and can log on/off, type and search her favorites for games to learn and play with. So of course my 2 year old wants to do the same. I have sites that I can give you if you need them - just email me. They also have a gadget at Walmart that has three character buttons and will send the kids to any site you link to it so they can basicly do it on thier own.. I have not used one but I read the reviews are good. About $11. Good luck!

NOT NORMAL!!! Call keep pace. They will work with your child until she is three then turn her over to the school district. They are free of service. Your child should of been talking a year ago. Seek help now. The earlier the better.

i am a certified teacher and what does your doctor say i would definiteley bring this to his attention this is a very important matter usually by the age of 2 they child should be using words i have seen some children that could not talk by the age of 2 and the doctor diagnosed them as atistic please mention this to your doctor this is a very important matter to you and your child it could be nothing but as i always say its better to be safe because if this is autisim you would want to get the proper help for your vchild as soon as possible let me know what the doctor says whatever it may be you will love your child and understand her so much vbetter if you knew what the problem might be and than again it could be nothing and maybe she just needs a little speech therapy either way please check with your doctor soon.

C., there is a national program called Early Childhood (Intervention) which provides services to chldren from birth to 3 years old. First of all, I would recommend you talking to your daughter's pediatrician about locating/contacting this program. Also, because of the national shortage of speech therapists, I would also HIGHLY recommend you contact multiple pediatric therapy agencies in your area. Again, you can ask your pediatrician for these referrals. DON'T WAIT! I am a pediatric physical therapist who worked with ECI for over 5 years, and the progress the children made when they received the APPROPRIATE therapy is amazing.

I would be very worried because there was an obvious regression. You may need to push a little harder to see if she can't talk or just won't. If she just won't, then you'll just have to wait, but if she can't, you need t find out why. It's important to address prblems as early as possible so she can get help if needed.

From what you're telling me about her "losing" words, yes this is a concern. Kids who don't talk at 2 usually have a reason (don't want to get any mom's mad here) such as a prolonged use of passy, mommy doesn't require speech from child (she'll shake her cup and you'll go fill it without first asking, "Would you like more milk?", etc), older siblings talking for them, or speech delay. But being able to say some words, then not saying them anymore - big sign something is up!

My advice to you is to call your local ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) office. You can google "ECI" + "your city or nearest big city" and you'll get a list of 800 numbers. What'll happen is you can share your concerns with them. They'll make an appointment to come out and observe your child, then make a plan of action from there. Children under 3 are serviced in their homes once or twice each week by a speech language therapist by ECI for free, or at a minimal cost (after 6 months). Once your child reaches the age of three, your local school district will provide services - usually through a half-day preschool program taught by teachers specializing in speech delays.

I would recommend that you get the ball rolling quickly, as these things can take time!
Best of luck to you!

I went through this same thing with my 2 year old son. When he was 11 months, he said mama, dada, banana and both of our dogs names. Not long after turning 1, he stopped saying all of those words. For the next year or so, he communicated like your daughter (pointing, taking us to what he wanted). He started talking a little more around 26-27 months. He is now 31 months, and doesn't stop talking!!

I think he will probably start talking when he is ready. However, I don't think it is a bad idea to have him evaluated by ECI. That way if there is a problem you can start working on it sooner rather than later.

My son talked at an early age with full words like Thank you, then one day he quit talking. He totaly went to saying this and that or pointing. This took place around 18 months. By the time he was 2 he still was only comunicating this way. I had his ears checked and all was fine. The doctor said, sometimes kids with a high IQ will quit talking and explore how else they can communicate. This has shown to be very true with my son.
But I would always check my child out medicaly to insure that all is well. Kids can hide tell tell signs right infront of us because they quickly adapt and utilize other senses.
I hope this helps,
K. C

My son is 3 and he is the same way. I even enrolled him in school to see if being around other kids would help. He still wont talk. Although when he gets mad he sure will tell us to shut up.

C. - My oldest did not hardly say a word until turning 2 and 1/2, and he is now 4 and talks more than the rest of the kids in his class. so, don't worry too much right away....there are simple tests you can do to see if her hearing is ok. I worked with deaf kids. You can go behind her (not too close) and whisper her name. Like everyone else is suggesting, I would get her ears checked and talk to your pediatrician. If he isn't worried, but you are, you can call KeepPace Early childhood intervention. they come to your home for free and evalutate with a speech therapist. Good luck, I know it can be very stressful and frustrating!

Not talking at 2 is not that unusual, but it's extremely important to make every effort to communicate in other ways. Sign language would be a great start. And if she doesn't start by 3 or so, I would take her to a speech therapist.

I had two boys who didn't talk at age 2, but by age 5 or 6 they were just fine.

If, however, she used to talk and has now stopped, I would consider that to be cause for concern and would see a pediatrician right away.

I have a 1 yr old and a 2 yr old with verbal delays. Our therapist says that they should have over 20 words shortly after their first year - that is more than my 2yr old has. LOL What has helped us is signing times videos. You can find them at www.signingtimes.com. It teaches them words, verbally and by signing. Both of mine know quite a few signs. It helps eleminate the terrible 2s by increasing their communication level. Good luck. hth

Please take a look at Jenny McCarthy's book, Louder Than Words.
I don't want to freak you out, but I say it is always better to be paranoid and cautious than too late.

If I may ask you to please respond to me if you do read this book, because my sister is having the same problems with her son and it would be nice to get your insight.

My daughter had a very similar experience. I'm glad to hear you're having her checked out. My daughter is 15yrs old now, she has Semantic/Pragmatic Disorder (an autistic spectrum disorder) she's had early intervention (speech therapy and occupational therapy) since she was 4 yrs old and it's made a world of difference.

I would get it checked out! It is not typical for a child not to be talking at two. Start with your pediatrician. Let us know what happens. {{{{hugs}}}}

It is normal and I know this because I work with a program here in Galveston at UTMB. Our program is called Early Childhood Intervention. We work with children birth to three years old with speech problems and any other development problems that are noticed by parent. It is normal that your daughter seem to be talking less and you not understand. Now you could benefit from our program by calling us and making a referral. We have certified therapists that would come out to your home and work with you and your daughter. Our program is designed to help as many kids as we can with speech, physical/motor, social/emotional, hearing, and vision. If you would like I could send you information or you can even call us at ###-###-####. We would be glad to help you with your daughter.

Since she was talking and regressed this calls for a trip to the development pediatrician.

Try talking to your pediatrition. My sister has a little girl that wasn't talking by two, and she ended up with a speach theripist that is funded by the state. She was given the number by her doctor, and by age three she is a talking little girl....getting her to stop is another story. I know that it is not a great thought that your child would need this kind of help, but it would be better to get the help now. Sometimes they just don't talk because they don't need to. My sister had to ignore the screams, grunts and other signs so that talking became a priority again.

C.,

My daughter has had some similar issues and we've had great success with ECI - Early Chilshood Intervention. In hindsight, earlier intervention is much better as it will ultimately involve all of the family as well as the people and external environments around your child.

Best of luck to you,

L.

Ok, since everyone has already mentioned the big scary possibilities, I'll throw out something that may have been overlooked... Is she still sucking on her pacifier (or thumb/fingers)? If yes, does she suck on them constantly? Pacifiers/thumb sucking can interfere with speech development by encouraging "lazy tongue" (just sits on the bottom of the mouth).

C.,

This is something I would definitely NOT WAIT on...I've read so many instances where parents waited and found out later that early intervention would have been helpful for their child. While there is such a range of normal, this would concern me as a parent. I'm not a doctor and don't want to alarm you, but, from what I've read, speaking and then stopping can be an indicator of the autism spectrum. Even if it turns out to be nothing, I would feel so much better having had it checked out. Also, remember to check in with your gut, your "mother's intuition" when speaking with your pediatrician. If you aren't getting info you feel is right, or being listened to, get another doctor.

God Bless,
D.

have you talked to your doctor? Is she slow in any other area? some children are just slower but I do believe I would consult with my doctor. It is always better to ask so you won't be worried.I hope all turns out well.

I hate to say it but have you had her checked to see if she has autism? I have a friend and her son was diagnosed with "delayed speech." My niece did not start speaking very well until just recently. She will be 4 in April. I would say up until about 6 months ago it was only gibberish baby talk. Have you had her ears checked? Maybe she can't hear well? My moms boyfriend had a grandson that was the same way. He would not talk at all. Come to find out he was almost deaf. He got hearing aids and poof, he was talking better. So, you see there could be lots of reasons. If she is having a hard time communicating with you start teaching her sign language.I taught my son just so he could tell me what he wanted before he could talk and it is awesome. I bought a book "The Idiots Guide to Sign Language" and I loved it. It will really help. Best of luck to you and your little one-S.

I went thru that with all three of my children. But in the case of the third child, it was a hearing problem. It then turned out to be that he was austic. I am not trying to alarm you, I'm just saying to continue to observe your child and have her checked out throughly. My son had frequent ear infections and ran high fevers. My other children turned out fine. They were late in talking as a group. Since I was the first to have children in my family, there was no comparison with my sisters' kids. I need to also add my children were by three different men. They are all grown up now. S. B

Yes. Somewhat normal. She would rather have your attention. If you know for sure that she can physically speak then I would keep encouraging her. Make a game out of it somehow. If you know that she can say a certain word: like please or Mommy. Then without any pressure, concerned looks, anger, frustration, etc., just don't give her what she wants until she says it. (very calmly, without reaction; but stick to it or it will never work.) But I wouldn't do it for everything. Start out with just 2-3 things that you know she really wants everyday. If she knows it bothers you, she won't give in. 2 out my 3 children didn't start really talking until well after turning 2. I wouldn't start worrying too much until 3.

S.

Have you had her hearing checked?

I think you should ask her pediatrician about it. Sometimes when kids are not surrounded by other kids, they tend to take a little longer than average. On an average, she should be making small phrases at age 2.

hi C. - if i were you, i would take her asap to a peditrican to get screened for autisim. i am not an expert but from what i read, she may have a mild form and the earlier the intervention, the better. I have a 21 mon old who is talking in sentances and think that most kids this age should have at least 10 words. if she lost words, that would be concerning too. it might not be autisim, but hearing loss. at any rate, one of my friends took their daughter to a specialist due to her peditrician concerns on not talking and they said she was ok - just a late talker... but they do observe the child playing etc to be diagnosed. the earlier intervention, the better. take care!

My son is 2 1/2 now and he also doesnt talk. But you know I called ECI, Early Childhood Intervention. They came to my house and met with me and my son, and how he gets speech therpy. It is great. They have taught me how to communicate with him through sign language and actually this started before he turned 2. I was very concerned about him not talking.. And now they say that he might be autistic. I would definetly talk to ur dr about it..just so u know their opinion. But you know ECI told me that some kids r just not ready to talk, doesnt mean they cant do it. And especially only children, which my son is. Is ur daughter the only one??