Seeking Advice on Late Talker (Non-babbler)

I wouldn't worry, my son had the same problem. He is now three and was just evaluated for preschool. He still doesn't talk much, (2 word sentences) but passed for everything else which means no extra schooling right now. Knowing when he was one that he wasn't making much noise, we taught him sign language using "signing time" videos. He loved it and we never had the "terrible twos" he was able to communicate with us. His dr is very happy with him he agrees that my son will talk in his own time. Lately he is trying new words but there is still plenty of time.

Our now 13yr old boy here, said 'EIN' as in, Einstein until he was almost 2, I was so worried I was beside myself! This is family #2 with grans, cousins, neices, nephews, etc.. I talked with the Ped & she said everything seemed fine (hearing, tongue) just to, 'wait & see'...she was RIGHT, just before his 3rd birthday (he HAD said some blarney before that) he started talking clearly & in definate sentences. We haven't been able to keep him quiet since! He talks more than his sister & is & has been on the honor roll since Kindergarten, he continues to astound us with things he knows! He is an avid reader & has been invited to attend Math & Science Academy in Mobile. I think he was just, 'sponging' up knowlege prior to deciding to talk! Check with your Ped, they will do hearing & check out his little body to make sure everything is in the right place for speech & you will feel better.

Best!

My Godson didn't do anything but point until he was 3. My friend finally took him to the dr and he told her she needs to make him talk and not do for him when he just points. She made him talk to tell her what he wanted and he finally started talking. He is 23 now and graduted from college last year with honors. He is going to Law School in the fall. I say all of this to say your son is probably fine just a little lazy. Good luck to you both.

My 4th was a non-babbler. She hardly made any sound, rarely even cried. She never rolled over, either. She just seemed perfectly content watching whatever happened to be going on at the time. I did get her into speech therapy when she was 2.5 yrs old, though, and barely ever opened her mouth (except to eat, of course). No autism or anything wrong with her at all, except she just takes her own sweet time doing EVERYTHING. I like to think of her as deliberate.

He's way too young for any evaluation to be of any use right now, as long as there's no physical cause. I wouldn't worry if I were you. And yes, 4th children really don't seem to have the need to talk (sorry, I know you've heard that many times already).

Oh, one more thing. My non-babbler talks up a storm when she wants to, but she can still be very silent, especially when she's into some mischief. So watch out for that. :)

Hello!

Sounds like my 2nd daughter. She didn't babble AT ALL. I was concerned about autism as well but like you noticed with your child, I also noticed that her eye contact was just fine. Our ped told us to give it until her third birthday. He said that kids will normally develop their speech most rapidly between 2 & 3 years. So, I chose not to intervene at all, and let her develop at her own pace.

She hardly ever babbled at all, and didn't really say words until after she was 2 years old. She knew a few between age 2 & 3. But literally as soon as she turned 3, it was like she found her voice suddenly, and was learning multiple new words & sentences every single day.

She still doesn't talk very much. She just doesn't have a lot to say. But she's an intelligent, bright little girl.

I don't see a point to intervene. Especially for a 4th child. I know you don't "buy that", but if you really watch, you will see that your other kids ARE talking for your youngest. I had to really really work at my older daughter to get her to quit answering questions for my younger daughter.

Good luck!

Has he been mastering any othe big developmental skills that might be more of a focus for him than babbling?

I would make sure the Dr does a hearing test and you yourself can sort of conduct your own, does he turn at a loud sound, what about a softer sound. any allergy issues or runny noses that would clog his ears??

It doesn't sound autistic at all so, don't even worry about that.

No harm in you being his speech teacher. put him facing you and model the babbling sounds to him, make it a game, if he squeals, you squeal, and that might encourage him to make more noises. Play finger games like it's bitsy spider, I'm a little tea pot, london bridges, ring around a rosie. my kids loved to sit on my knee while i bumped them and sang bumping up and down in a little red wagon.

I'm not an expert but i would think that if by 2.5 yrs you aren't hearing an impovement youcan get early intervention involved then.

oh and having him drinkn from a straw can help strengthen the muscles in his mouth that he needs to make sounds.

They're milestones - set at an approximate age range.

Nothing is wrong with your kid. He just ain't hit that particular milestone yet. No biggie. Our 15 month old just started babbling a few weeks ago.

He'll get there - at his own pace. :)

We had our grandson evaluated at 20 or 22 months for not talking. He was delayed. But the next week he started talking in complete sentences....sometimes it just comes when they are ready.

BUT I would continue to push this if you truly feel something is wrong. Perhaps having an ENT or some other kind of doc check him out would be good too.

We got our son evaluated for EI and we're doing PT now 2 X a week with them. He was very late with crawling (12 months) and cruising, pulling up etc.

One thing they explained is that babies focus on one skill at a time. ie they may be more physical for a stretch, then more verbal. This will fluctuate.

Another thing they taught me (and this is my third child, how come I never knew LOL) is that using a sippy cup with a straw will help them develop speech. Never use another kind of sippy. And the ones they make with the straws, they said cut the straw down a little at a time, till it is very small, so your baby has to hold it in his mouth all the way on his tongue. This will really help the "ma" and "ba" sounds.

I would not be concerned yet, but if you want to get him evaluated, go ahead.

Good luck!

PS Sorry I have to tell you the word "consonant" is spelled like that - not concinet. I know I'm being annoying but it was bugging me!

I am a former early intervention specialist. As for intervention not doing anything at this age--not true if the therapist knows what she is doing. She could also give you tips for things to look for in the coming months and things to do with your child.
So if this concerns you, get an eval from ECI.
But more than likely, you have nothing to worry about.
Good luck and God bless.

You said he's fine in every other way so don't let yourself worry. He sounds just fine. Some babies are just this way.

If anything, say little nursery rhymes, pick one or two you say every day. And sing alot to him, pick a little rhyming sweet song. Play pattie cake with him, etc. This does a lot to improve things.

My grandson sung before he talked. When he was a babe of about 6 or 7 months he would actually try to sing.

But mostly, don't worry. Just give it time, all people are different. I'm sure everything is just right and flowing in it's own time.

[p.s. -- When my father died about 8 years ago, I recieved my baby book, which I had never seen before. My mother wrote in it, "C. has been a very quiet baby and child, hardly talked, now she just turned 7 and she won't shut up." lol - thanks mom. Don't think I had anything to say before that point and just wanted observe and I was a 2nd child, but then again my older brother was deaf, so not a lot of talking there.]

i would get an evaluation from your school district sometimes they offer services where they have a person come to your home and work with the child.. I had this problem with my child where she wasnt walking at 15 months old and we had some people come out from our school district and work with her.. and she walked soon after they tried some various things.
I would call and see what services they offer and also talk to your pediatrician.

10 months is early to start worrying. Early intervention is important, but where I am they won't even evaluate boys for speech intervention until 18 months, unless there is some other warning sign such as lack of eye contact, etc. And it sounds like he does use his voice to make sounds.

So, my advice for now is to make sure you are reading to him every day - hopefully a few times a day. And name everything you see in single words. This was a tip my speech therapist gave me for my son (at 18 months) - don't say - "do you see Daddy?" For some kids, that's too complicated at first. Simplify to just pointing and saying "Dada!" when he walks in the room. Then (much much later), once he starts saying "Dada!", then you can say "Yes, there's Daddy". Then later add on more to say "Yes, there's Daddy, Daddy is home". Etc. And keep building that way over time. But for now, keep things short and simple.

Mine was like this. Not a word, but active and on track or advanced in every other area (walked at 8.5 months, for example). The pediatrician noted it but felt that, because he wasn't delayed in any other area, there was no reason for concern. She said we'd test him at 18 months if he wasn't talking. At 16 months, he was grunting and whining, and I blurted out in frustration, "For crying out loud, whatever it is that you want, I'll give it to you. Just stop that whining!" He looked at me, pointed at the cabinet, and said "cookie" clear as a bell. Went from there to full sentences pretty quickly. He hasn't shut up since. Try to relax.