Baby Boy 22 months old .. no one word just mum dad

L. Michelle - posted on 01/26/2009

Enjoy the peace now . When he does choose to talk you won't be able to get him to stop. He is sorting though all the words in different languages. Many children wait until they feel confident that they have it all figured out before they test it out. Be patient and continue to talk to him as you always do. I used some basic sign language with my daughter to reduce her frustration with trying to communicate before speech was possible. It can help speech development. Children can understand so much more than they can communicate at early ages. As long as he can make himself understood he will be content. It will come. All children develop at different rates. Don't worry if he does things in his own time.

Helene - posted on 01/23/2009

Quoting Sandra:

Hello,
I have 4 year old twin boys born at 38 weeks and both had speech delay. We have a bilangual speeking house (french and english) and when we started to notice the speech delay on both of them (18 months) our pediatrician adviced us to switch to one language for a while. They were also tested for hearing and both were OK. We put them in speech therapy and Alex did very well and he is talking non-stop now (sometime I wish he would stop), Aiden has not made any progress in speech and he is still not speaking at his current age 4 year old. Aiden is responding to order and has a non-verbal communication system with us. He is aware of his world as his brother Alex. The difference between my 2 sons is that Aiden is also on the Autism spectrum (non-verbal autist) he was tested at 2 1/2 year old. Early intervention is the key,for the last 2 years Aiden has been in intensive speech and behavioral program and he is making progress. I do not want to scare you but "mother know best".... Keep pushing your pediatrician ... if you child babbles at 2 years old.... ask the question, We change to one language in the home, did the hearing test and yes it made a difference on Alex but not on Aiden because he is autist and different therapies need to be used in this case. Without me pushing my pediatrician, we would not have know until later.... 4 to 5 years old and intervention for communication is almost too late. Just ask for the sake of your child.

i will ask... may be to swith to one language to try is not a bad idea... TKU

Sandra - posted on 01/23/2009

Hello,

I have 4 year old twin boys born at 38 weeks and both had speech delay. We have a bilangual speeking house (french and english) and when we started to notice the speech delay on both of them (18 months) our pediatrician adviced us to switch to one language for a while. They were also tested for hearing and both were OK. We put them in speech therapy and Alex did very well and he is talking non-stop now (sometime I wish he would stop), Aiden has not made any progress in speech and he is still not speaking at his current age 4 year old. Aiden is responding to order and has a non-verbal communication system with us. He is aware of his world as his brother Alex. The difference between my 2 sons is that Aiden is also on the Autism spectrum (non-verbal autist) he was tested at 2 1/2 year old. Early intervention is the key,for the last 2 years Aiden has been in intensive speech and behavioral program and he is making progress. I do not want to scare you but "mother know best".... Keep pushing your pediatrician ... if you child babbles at 2 years old.... ask the question, We change to one language in the home, did the hearing test and yes it made a difference on Alex but not on Aiden because he is autist and different therapies need to be used in this case. Without me pushing my pediatrician, we would not have know until later.... 4 to 5 years old and intervention for communication is almost too late. Just ask for the sake of your child.

Helene - posted on 01/23/2009

DARCY your french is very good....
I repeat myself .; thanks a lot to all of you... i really feel better since I joined this circle ..am sure that 3 languages at the same time it s not easy.; i agree that girls are talking earlier i have two daugthers.. this boy take is time. analysing i guess the language he will speak .. tku Julie...

Julie - posted on 01/22/2009

I wouldn't worry. he may be a littler slower than others now (they are all different anyway), but having different languages spoken to him at home will bne beneficial in the long run.  My second child did not speak much until about the same age so it may not be anything to so with the languages at all. Don't worry. :)

Darcie - posted on 01/22/2009

Salut!  J'ai une petite fille - 6 mois, alors, je ne sais pas beaucoup de parler pour les enfants.  Aussi, je suis americaine, alors mon francais n'est pas si bon non plus. :-) 

Mon frere a une petite fille qui as 2 ans, et elle dit peut etre 10 mots maintenant, mais pas beaucoup.  Elle apprend.

Whew - en anglais! :-)  I think the fact that you speak in different languages at home, it may be confusing for him, but I have heard that boys are a little slower to speak than girls too.  Maybe if you have certain times where you separate French from Italian and English... start with the language you want him to know the most, and practice that consistently.  Then do a separate time for other languages. 

Eventually, he will be old enough to understand the difference - You can say, "What is this in French?"  "Now in Italian?"  It may take him longer to learn all of them, but how wonderful if he grew up knowing 2 or 3 languages!

Helene - posted on 01/22/2009

he had a hearing check all ok ..no ear infection since he is born.. he will talk am sure ... but i needed your experiences to be re assured..i guess the problem is he 3 languages at the same time ..we will have the surprise for the first words (or sentences ) . french italian ?

Maria - posted on 01/22/2009

Don't be too worried yet. Have you had his hearing checked? Has your son had a lot of ear infections? I ask because if he has had lots of ear infections it alone can cause hearing to be difficult. My youngest son didn't speak a lot either when he was little, he had a lot of ear infections, then finally got tubes put in his ears. He started speaking more almost immediately. The tubes ended up failing b/c he produces extra ear wax so it was clogging the tube and eventually pushed them out. However, b/c of his delayed speech, i had him evaluated by the doctor. The doctor initiated speech therapy for him and within 6 months of therapy, his vocabulary went from lessthan 10words to countless words. So, what i'm saying is...get his ears checked, it plays a vital role in their ability to speak.

Erika - posted on 01/22/2009

I read that boys are usually slower that girls when it comes to talking. My friends daughter (same age as my son) was speaking in full sentences when she was 2. Knew colors, alphabet when she was 1 1/2. I stared teaching my son baby sign language and was able to communicate with him. As he to say the words he dropped the signs. But it was so much easier to communicate with him, he never cried for anything, he would just sign and tell me what he wanted. He used signs up until he was 3 years old. You can go online and find different resources. Hope this helps....

Oh and don't worry about the different languages. I talk to my son in English and spanish. The sign for cookie is the same in english as it is in spanish....

Erika - posted on 01/22/2009

My son didn't speak more then a 10 word vocabulary until he was about 5 years old. we did find out when he was 4 1/2 that he had Aspergers Syndrome (high functioning Autism).

Helene - posted on 01/22/2009

Kelly it s the same for my son born in advance 37 .. so may be one of the reasons.. anyway thank you to reassure me with your experience...I feel better ..

Kelly - posted on 01/22/2009

I have a 2 year old...turns 2 tomorrow actually. He understand everything, and does things when told. He will start when he is ready. But to my SOn's defense, he was a 35 week premie...so he tends to hit some of this development milestones a few weeks later than the average 40 week born baby.

He will start when he is ready.

Helene - posted on 01/22/2009

Thank you i feel better reading you.. Marisa .. my soon does noice .. is babbling ..
jane you are right am with this baby 24 h a day..not working (by choice after a new marriage and two big girls).. so this baby has everything without asking sometime.. i have to work on it i guess..tku

Jane - posted on 01/21/2009

i have a 2 ane half year old grandson who has only just started saying a few words believe me he will talk when he wants to sometimes you will find they wont talk cause you do all the talking for them so they dont have to i wouldnt worry bout it he will do it when he wants

Marisa - posted on 01/21/2009

My son is also 22 months, and is the same way. I am not worried. Dont freak out, like another poster said...it will come! Especially if he is babbling, and doing car or truck noises. :)

Helene - posted on 01/21/2009

Thank your for all your advices .. .. I will discuss with my doctor (pediatre ) .very soon .. my son seems ok .. he is able to understand everything very sensible to any noise (too much sometimes ) .i guess it s the 3 languages .at the same time.. . U know i am very.. talkative (bavarde in french.. ) so.. i guess he will learn very soon how to answer to his mum .... any way
i will let u know ..

Christie - posted on 01/21/2009

I don't know if you live in the US or not (or if your schools have the same programs), but here you can have his speech tested for free through the district that you live in. That might be the way to go. It is free and would either put your mind at ease or let you know where to go next!

Linda - posted on 01/21/2009

Hi Helene, I am an audiologist (assess hearing) and have many children your son's age in my office for the same reason...delayed speech. First you must rule out hearing loss. Just put your mind at ease, it could simply be due to the multiple languages spoken at home but you must rule everything else out first. Children frequently develop hearing problems due to ear infections or fluid in the ears without infection. This can delay speech. Once the hearing level is determined, then bring him to a speech specialist for an evaluation. It won't hurt and you'll get an idea of how delayed his speech is...if it is delayed, and what you can do to help him begin to talk.

Heidi - posted on 01/21/2009

Hi I have 3 kids and they are brought up with english , german and spanish, I know that kids like this sometimes take longer. they have to sort it out in the head and they will talk when they are ready. you as a mum know if the child has a problem otherwise it is normal i know a few kids that start talking between 2 and 3.

Helene - posted on 01/21/2009

thank u so much for your kind answers...and your experiences ..i feel better..
My son is answering to "orders " in any languages ."give me take me show me " everything.. even if am not talking to him directly phone for example) he is able to anticipate something but no words .. .. .. . he had a test "audiogram" all is ok... i guess i will ask again advices to the doctor next visit at tge end of this month.. and if i have to see a specialist to be reassured.. i will do it.. in french we say "mieux vaut prévenir que guérir"...
thank you again..

Christa - posted on 01/21/2009

Bonjour Helene,

I would imagine this also has to do with being trilingual.  My home had both english and french.  French was my first language.  My father tells me that at one point I stopped talking all together for a while, then completely switched to english.  Your little boy is probably just "soaking it all up", and has to sort it out in his mind first.  But I agree with some other posts, perhaps you want to make sure he is responding well to you, and that he tries to communicate by pointing or babbling.  Bonne chance!

Paulette - posted on 01/21/2009

Hi Helene, I understand your concerns. My son is speech delayed but I do not think that is your issue at this time. You and your husband are useing 3 languages, so maybe he is trying to figure out which one to use. Does it seem like he understands what each of you are saying to him (either french or italian or english)? Like if either of you ask him if he wants a bottle, does he acknowledge you with a look or comes to you. I would test it out by singularly asking him in each language a question and see if you get the appropriate response. Do you want him to speak all three languages eventually?

Cindy - posted on 01/21/2009

Oh, and the multiple languages in the home is great!  Kids that age are usually learning sponges, so he should have little trouble picking up more than one language at a time.  I wish I knew another language so I could speak it around my son...

Michelle - posted on 01/21/2009

Hard to say.  My son did not speak until 30 months.  I would say if he is babbling, and making sounds then he is capable of talking and may need extra practice.  Start with animal sounds and short phrases.  Try to stick to one language at first.  Sometimes it just takes a lot of repetition.  If there is no improvement within a couple months... go back to the doctor.  It could be something developmental.

Wendy - posted on 01/21/2009

first of all does he respond when people speak to him? if he does not you need see your doctor again to get him refferd to a speach and language therapist my son suffers from a delay and never started speaking untill he was 3. in some cases one day you will wake up and wish he'd stop talking.

Cindy - posted on 01/21/2009

I am a school psychologist who works with learning problems, among other things, with children 4-21 years old. 

He's almost 2 and only has a 2 word vocabulary?!?  I'd be scared!  I'd start getting very firm with your doctor and get him evaluated thoroughly.  If there is nothing, then good, but better safe than sorry.  If he were my son I'd rather be the over-reacting mother of a child who is OK than an under-reacting mother of a child with issues.

Sorry to freak you out, but better safe than sorry.  Many times you have to DEMAND attention from doctors.  The "wait and see" attitude is not good.  Early intervention is best.  Mother's intuition is usually right... so if you think something is wrong, get it checked out.

Kelly - posted on 01/21/2009

I have three boys.  First and last spoke early and non stop.  My middle child spoke but still chooses his words carefully.  He did have ear infections and allergies that affected his hearing.  He also did not go to daycare like the other two.  Each child is different.  I would make sure his hearing is adequate and try to notice if he understands your  commands.  If all is well........just give him time.  good luck

Angela - posted on 01/21/2009

I say don't worry, my son was the exact same, he didn't start talking until he was about 27 - 28 months old...it will come, don't rush it....I would start being concerned if at 3 years old he still isn't talking but don't worry.....I realized that my son was a bit of a perfectionist....If he felt he couldn't say a word properly he just wouldn't try until he could.....good luck