Talking

Alta - posted on 07/30/2011

I have b/b twins. C is extremely chatty, but E barely says a word because not only does C over talks him, but I realize E's learning style is different. To get him to repeat the word I had say the word, show him the word, bark, show the dog, say & show him the word, let him touch the dog and he finally repeated the word, where as C simply needs to the words once. Find out what type of learning style may appeal to him through trial and error. Don't worry my boys will be 2 on 8/20 and I don't think they're as well as they should be doing

Amber - posted on 07/24/2011

I have 5 yr old twins boys. Both of them still have speech issues now. It took my youngest until he was 3 to attempt to speak. I had to separate them so that they would speak for themselves. Once I separated them their speech started to improve tremendously. Now that they are starting school I have made it a point to continue speech and have them separated so that it is more competition to get them to use more words.

Rebecca - posted on 07/23/2011

Hi Kim, I have 5 year old identical twin boys. They didnt start talking till 3. I took them for a hearing test which showed no problems, a speech therapist and a specialist. The specialist said they would grow out of it and it was not uncommon for twins to have delayed speech. I did a lot of work with them showing picture cards and saying the words, talking to them all day long telling them what I was doing but using simple sentences. I also sang lots of short songs over and over again. Now they do not stop talking. They are now in Kindergarten and thier teacher says they are talking very well for thier age. Keep talking to them and dont stress out too much.

Shanda - posted on 07/22/2011

My boys are 33 months and their speech is delayed, also. They barely say 3 word sentences...or even 2 word sentences! It has been very frustrating for me. My first two (singleton) children were saying sentences before they were two years old.

What I ended up doing, after being prompted by a friend of mine who is a speech therapist, was I called our county's Regional Center. They came out and evaluated my boys and determined that they were almost a year behind in their speech and have since started weekly therapy. The teacher comes to our home and is great. The only problem is that this service is only until they are 3, which will be in a couple of months. So, the sooner you seek assistance, the better.

Luana Milburn - posted on 07/22/2011

Kim,
I would recommend that you rule out hearing issues first. However, I am a mother of 13 year old twins and my twins did not talk until they were 22 months old. I think part has to do with ther communication with each other ( aka twin language). I am sure they are intaking everything you are saying. My experience was very similar and when they did start to speak.....let's just say, it is never-ending!

Angelique - posted on 07/22/2011

Try South Africa then.....

Kim - posted on 07/22/2011

I will definitely insist at our next appt with their pediatrician that they go for speech therapy. They are technically premature... but only by a day! lol They were born 36weeks and 6 days. I guess anything after 37 weeks isn't considered premature. So they were big for twins, 5lbs 10oz and 6lbs 8oz. They are also tongue tied, but i don't think that is effecting their language development. I have a lot of questions for their pediatrician! :) We have have programs in our state for children with learning disabilites to get them prepared for school, but from what I just heard on the news they are cutting funding for those programs because of our states budget. Gotta love living in one of the highest taxed states and have nothing to show for it! lol

Elizabeth - posted on 07/22/2011

Get speech. The sooner, the better. Both of mine started speech at about 15 months because I noticed they didn't have as many words as they should. It took about one academic year and then they were fine.

Most states have early intervention programs that go until age 2 and those programs are often free or reduced cost. In my area at the time, EI was free regardless of income and then we also went through our insurance and went through speech therapy at the local university.

The trifecta for speech problems as little kids is twins, boys, and preemies, and I'm guessing yours, like mine, hit all three of those reasons for delayed speech.

I had a great experience with speech for my boys. They tested out when they were done having a vocabulary of 6 year olds (they were 2 1/2 when they tested out). One of mine has a problem with "r's" that everyone said he would outgrow, but he didn't, so he's back in speech at 7 and because it went so smooth when he was little, we went into it viewing this experience in a positive way and it has been one.

Angelique - posted on 07/22/2011

This makes you a very strong mother. I envy you for being such a hard working mum and facing all this with still being the one trying to provide attention. Your lil ones will grow and and know what their mummy did for them, and in my books, dont let anyone tell you different. You deserve only the best and the best comes to those who needs it most. Good luck and if you ever need to chat you more than welcome to mail me. Angelique.rudd@gmail.com

Good luck and I believe in can only go forward from here.

Kim - posted on 07/21/2011

Thanks Angelique, that makes me feel better :) I do the best I can at times. Little set back today though. Their father decided he was going to leave us.... so I came home from work this morning at 930am... and have been up since yesterday. Just another obstacle I must figure my way out of!

Angelique - posted on 07/21/2011

Kim dont blame yourself, todays day and age not all of us are so lucky to have a husband to work and bring in all the money. I am a lecturer and having so many students every day I know what its like coming home and just not having the will power. Our little ones are not stupid and we should not take them for granted. In a way they do understand and for me having kids were both parents are working do show our kids life value. I try spend most time with the kids whilst cooking and then bed time. I normally bake something small with them at night, play in the bath and reading a story with them in bed. Aslong as you doing your best and you know it, then remember your best is good enough. Rather be able to support them and not have all the time in the world, cherishing the moments you have, then having all the time in the world and not being able to support them.

Kim - posted on 07/20/2011

Thanks girls, makes me feel a little better. Developmentally up to this point they have been right were they need to be. The doctor is going to evaluate them at 21 months to see if we need to see any sort of specialist. I try my hardest to point things out, and ask them what they have in their hands, read books etc. I just feel guilty sometimes cause I'm so tired from working 3rd shift that I feel like it's my fault for not having the energy to give them my full undivided attention all the time.

Tracy - posted on 07/19/2011

READ READ READ!! Reading repetitive books regularly is helpful. When they know what is coming next, if the reader pauses sometimes they will say (or try to say) the word that is coming up. I have heard 15-20 min a day is a good amount, but with twins I must admit I often don't get that much reading time in myself. But it is good goal and easily attainable if you are committed.

Signing a simple song regularly (i.e. row row row your boat) in the bath can help as well. My daughter tries to sing the "row row row"part now. She also tries to sign Old MacDonald but "tries" is they key word. LOL!

But the best thing you can do is simply talk a lot your self. Explain everything to them: cooking, cleaning, eating, playing, driving, etc. Especially talk about things they are interested in dogs, balls, balloons, trains, whatever.

Good luck and have fun!

Angelique - posted on 07/18/2011

My boys are now 2 1/2 and we still dont always know what they saying. Remember one thing, and a speech therp told me this. They are two of the same age. Unlike a singleton that HAS to commune with you they dont. You can try to encourage it, I read to the boys before bed and read these "my first books". Look at the end of the day you will prob notice they know what everything is but dont say... go ahead and try it... they dont have to talk to you, they have their own language. If you really worried go to a doc but they are twins and they do have their own langauge, and for us that are not twins, we will never understand that concept. Message me and I will give you couple of tips we did, but like I said 30 months as we still dont always understand. Aslong as they are healthy, so go get it checked out but dont stress to much unless you have reason to.

One of these days they will let loose and give you long sentinces... remember when they just started walking, when you got so excited about it and wanted to show someone, they refused.... same thing. Speek to a doc but dont fuss, they can sence what we feel.