How to "explain" to my youngest son why his brother does not talk...

Altara - posted on 07/22/2010

whatever way you use to communicate with your oldest you just have to let your 2 year old know that he communicates differently than he does and try to teach him, they are never to young to learn in fact it may be a little easier while he is young. Our 10 month old is deaf and we have to explain to our younger children, which they dont really understand why they just know that they have to talk to her with their hands. The older ones help out if they don't know how to say something to her but they are learning very quickly

Sarah - posted on 07/22/2010

My two are the same age and the oldest has Down's and doesn't talk alot. We use makaton sign and the youngest child has just picked it all up and uses that with his sister too. I have to say my youngest just seems to accept how his sister is. I think it is o.k. to just tell your younger child that his brother might not answer him...it is probably more upsetting for you. I know how upsetting it is to see the younger one is overtaking in so many ways. Encourage your older son to use whatever communication system works for him with his sibling.

Melissa - posted on 07/14/2010

I'd say, "Some people talk with their mouths, while others talk with their hands. They can talk with their hands by making signs, pointing to pictures, or typing on machines. How do you like to talk?" Wait for his answer, then show him how Brother talks by pointing and you sometimes talk on the computer by typing. Maybe show him some signs as well.

Rachael - posted on 07/12/2010

Awww you poor thing, I feel for your youngest too as he needs to advance in his communication. I would use a scrap book, picture boards etc and work with teaching the little one other ways to communicate with his big brother. Sit with the 2 of them and start conversations like how about a picnic, and ask the both what to take the eldest can point and the younger can speak. The younder will see what u are doing and in time he will do the same when communication with his older brother, it just takes a little practice but they will pick up on it b4 long. Place choices for snacks and drinks on the fridge and teach your 4 yo to point to what he wants. Same for movies, activities, outings etc. When going out take a small book with pics of toilet, quiet time, diff emotions, drink, snack, tired etc that he can go though if he is having difficulty with something or just to refer to regualrly on the trip out. Hope this helps somewhat, the pics have helped us enourmously even though my aspies both speak. Highly reccommended. Good luck.

Shelly - posted on 07/11/2010

Thanks Amy :) We have been using PECS with him for a little over a year now and he is doing great with it! Maybe our youngest just isn't exposed to the pictures enough. We may try to involve him a little more so he can see what his brother is actually using the pictures for!

Iridescent - posted on 07/10/2010

We had the same age gap and issues with my oldest two. It was just simply part of our lives. We never gave up on our oldest talking, and tried a few different systems before settling on a version of PECS for our oldest. It was so incorporated into our day that nobody thought it was different or odd. Our youngest just simply understood that our oldest communicated differently. And later that year, our oldest started to talk, after he understood that symbols (the photos and pictures) express his desires, he figured out that our words do the same thing.