[KR258]

I didn't talk till I was 6 and even then I didn't talk much and usually ignored the teacher when she would ask me questions...not because I was a bad kid I was just real shy. I knew the answers and I understood I was just shy and didn't want to talk. They did all sorts of tests on me till I was 6 and showed them I could talk...I knew what the tests were for and remember going through it all I just thought they were being silly and making too much a fuss to hear me talk. I was just very shy.

[mcmama]

Interaction really does help. If there is nothing going on with his hearing or development, then he just needs a reason to talk.

My brother did not talk till he was two, he would just point and grunt, and I did the talking for him. Finally my mother started asking him questions, and hinting what the one word answers should be - ie Do you want water? Say water if you want water. Do you want a cookie, etc.

Finally one day my brother just marched his two year old self into the kitchen and said "mommy, I want a cookie".

When mommy regained consciousness, she gave him one.

He did have hearing problems later, but that was pretty easy to spot. However, he was very adept at covering for them and adapting, and since he was a quiet kid in an over crowed classroom, it took an alert assistant teacher who was focusing on him one on one to notice this. He saw a doctor, cleared the ears, and he was fine.

[slygirrl]

That's why i was kind of leary about posting what I did... I know a lot of people on here and in my real life said people (and themselves) starting talking late for various reasons, I guess the only reason I pointed out what we went through was because Dominic isn't shy or anything else, he would act out because he was aggravated that he couldn't talk. He'd slam his head against the floor, throw things, etc. but since he has learned to communicate through signing and through some verbal words he's gotten much better. I feel kind of bad about posting our story cause I don't you to necessarily worry about it just yet, and I hope I didn't lead anyone else to think that either.... it's just what happened to us....

[mcmama]

Your experience is very important because it is also a possibility. So I didn't mean to discount it, because it is so important to understand what our children are trying to tell us.

My parents were just frantic about my brother when he was little, because we knew other folks whose children had developmental delays and serious problems, and my folks thought that he might have those too. But no, he was just being the shy little guy who had nothing to say and got better attention when he grunted and pointed like a monkey!

[MrsMaryland]

i agree.

andrea, i appreciate your post (and all of the others). it could be anything. it could be nothing.

one of the great things about forums such as this is that we can all share our experiences and learn from each other.

[mollymae]

My 4th child Josh is a slow talker at 18 months he said nothing literally nothing. He's just turned 3 and still doesn't talk much. We've been told he has an expressive language delay. He's a very very bright boy since he was 2 he could recognise all his letters, upper and lower case, all his number up 15 and he's now starting to 'read' words yet he's only really now saying 2/3 word sentences. We were advised not to repeatedly ask him what things were and to just to do a running commentary as we play. We can give him options so 'Would you like some Juice? or Would you like some milk? But we have to give him the words to start with. As long as your son understands you I really wouldn't be too concerned he'll talk in his own time.

[twinzplus3]

Andrea I agree. . .don't feel badly about posting your story. Your experience is important. Not only that but if there's a problem. . .you want to catch it early.

[ASheppa0821]

Sometimes, they're just not ready yet. My cousin Craig didn't say a word until he was 3, then spoke in full sentences right then and there. He is perfectly normal, just wasn't ready to speak. He obviously was an extremely late speaker, but it happens!

Originally Posted by MrsMaryland

hey ladies.

little sean's doctor is a little worried about baby sean. he is 18 months and is not really talking yet.

he babbles dada, mamamama (sometimes, not often), and he says car when ever he points to something (i think he is trying to say look).

i have to take him in for some hearing tests, but i don't think he has any problems hearing. or understanding he is just not expressing himself.

he is definitely a smart boy. he understands almost everything i say. i can tell him to put his diapers in the trash and come back (and he'll do it), i can say give me the blue train. he can point to mommy's, daddy's and his own features and body parts (arms, feet etc.) when asked. its just that when we say, "say train, say baba" he won't do it.

the doctor suggested that it may be that he is a little spoiled. she said that because he's on such a strict schedule that he kind of knows when it's time to eat, nap, bathe or sleep, so he never has to say baba etc.

any suggestions?

we have story time often, and some family members have volunteered to watch him in hopes that maybe he will express himself around other people.

what haven't i thought of?