Later Bloomer or more serious problem?

User - posted on 03/13/2009

My friend also had a son with the fluid in his ears.  The regular doc never caught it.  He had tubes put in and from then on it was like his world opened up.

Morag - posted on 03/13/2009

Always speak to your doctor about these things first. Best to start now. My eldest couldn't speak at all at 2, didn't react to loud noises, didn't babble, made these strange screeching noises. All the doctors I saw just said, that it was my fault, I was a young mum, wasn't talking to her enough, etc etc, and finally I had her assessed privately through my dad's private insurance, and they found out that she had 90% hearing loss. She was deaf, even though she passed that rattle hearing test a year before. She had an op and she could hear but its been a long upward struggle for her to catch up with her peers in terms of speech and she has seen a wide array of specialists in her time. If you're lucky and have a good doc, then they will refer you, even if its just a case of making sure everything is alright. If you don't have a good doc be prepared for a fight.

You know your son better than anyone in the world, I knew my daughter and I knew that there was something not right. So if you feel that he is not progressing as well as he should, then definitely push with your doctor to have some tests done.

On a positive note, my eldest is now 9.5 years old and speaks both fluent Spanish and English so even though she was nearly 3 years behind her peers in speech she has caught up and then some, so don't worry too much about your son's future as long as you get him any help he might need :)

Sally - posted on 03/13/2009

I had the same problem with my son.  He is now 11.  When he was about 3 he did not talk.  Or at least what he did way were more like sound words like mama or dada, he could say our dogs name "bear", and "mores"  thats what he called milk.  We took him for hearing tests and they thought he could be deaf, but his ears were infected everytime they tested him.  He never complained of ear pain. We had alwasy felt that he knew more then he was "saying".  We took him to an ENT who thought tubes in his ears would help.  It did.  it was a miracle.  That same day it was like someone turned on the switch.  He had to have new tubes put in his ears about a year and a half later but they also took out his tonsils and adnoid at the same time.  He now has what we were told is hyper sensitive hearing.  So loud music or even the lawn mower hurts his ears.  Well like I said now he is 11 turning 12 next month and now its hard to get a word in...... 

Kate - posted on 03/13/2009

Quoting Amie:

He could be a late bloomer but I'd get him checked out to be sure since he's 3.

My son was the same way and after being tested we found out he had a lot of fluid in his ears and even at the moment had an ear infection. Which we had no idea about! Our girls had gotten ear infections before but they always showed signs of it. He never did. We also found a bead he had stuck in his ear, the ENT specialist figures he stuck it in there to try to relieve the pressure he was feeling from his ears. After he got tubes put in his speech improved rapdily.

Or it could have to do with his mouth too. My brother, when he was about the same age, had to go through speech therapy because of his tongue. It was too long for his mouth and the skin piece that attaches it to the bottom of your mouth was too short. So he had to learn how to speak properly. He knew perfectly well how to talk he just couldn't get his tongue to work properly.

Or as I said at the beginning it could be nothing and you just have a stubborn little one who doesn't want to talk yet. lol. Best of luck though, it can be frustrating. =)

I totally agree with Amiee, my son has the same issues. We also saw ENT specialists ( see your doctor for a referral) and he is due to have his tonsils &  adnodes removed and tubes put in. Research now show that this procedure is highly benifical to children with delayed speech and behavioural problems.

You should also see a Speech & Behavioural specialist for a general assesment.

Good Luck!

Tanya - posted on 03/13/2009

I would suggest teaching him sign language as well as purchasing the program "Your Baby Can Read". Both will help his brain to develop better connections. You can find the program at the site: yourbabycan.com. It is $199.99 with free shipping, for the package that is offered on tv. It is pretty much everything that you will ever need until he is five years old. I would also ask your pediatrician like Cassandre suggested to make sure that there is nothing more serious going on.

My youngest (step)son is 7.5 yrs old and his speech was very difficult to understand until within the past few months or so. My husband and I have been working with him. We found that in his case, it was easier to talk like a baby than it was to enunciate his words properly. When he would say the words wrong, we would correct him and say the word the proper way multiple times. He has improved greatly with the added focus on speech and grammar. He has also benefited greatly from the Your Baby Can Read program. There are other things that we did that may or may not be linked to his improved speech, but I can assure you ARE linked to his added attention span. We removed ALL food colorings from his diet, ALL artificial sweeteners, and have been trying very hard to remove perservatives and artificial flavorings from his diet as well. It is very difficult being that that stuff is in everything.

I hope that at least some of this information helps you out! Good luck!

Susan - posted on 03/12/2009

Just a small bit of information: I thought he had a cleft pallet that went undiagnosed. I ended up taking him to a specialist who said he had the opposite of cleft pallet, his soft pallet had actually fused a little more than "normal", and that it could cause him a speech impediment that he will eventually grow out of. (I honestly can't remember the technical term for it at the moment; it has been over almost 2 years since I was told.)

Cathy - posted on 03/11/2009

I would ask your child's doctor. My friend's son wasn't talking at his age level and she had him tested. He ended up having Apraxia of Speech...which required alot of early intervention. He's 6yrs old now and we can now make out what he is saying. When he was 3, he would say words but only the people who were always around him could understand him. He received speech therapy 3x's a week. They recommended him using straws instead of just a glass and also to use a whistle to strenthen his mouth muscles. All children develop at their own pace, but you should have him checked.

Emma - posted on 03/11/2009

I suggest following your gut instinct. I spent 3 years fighting with the Pediatricians telling them something was wrong with my son and FINALLY found a doctor - Pediatric Neurologist, who listened. Thankfully, I had him in speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc when he was 18months because he was behind other children. Ends up he has Fragile X Syndrom and although he functions well, there are a lot of things I had to learn and accept. I am sure everything is fine, but at age 3, he should be talking more and you know as a mom if you think there is an underlying situation causing him to be slower than other children. I will pray for you and hope for the best...keep us posted.

Tiffany - posted on 03/11/2009

I could think of alot of if situations to say if this is happening try this.... but to be honest, follow your gut. You are worried and think this is a problem, so I would start by getting his peditritian involved, get him a hearing screening and go from there. Don't take any answers you agree with or don't feel right. I fought for 3 years past ADHD diagnosis, to being told I was over reacting, to a final diagnosis of CAPD, with cronic severe ear infections on top of everything.

Also get him involved in a play group or daycare, it will give you a good idea of where he is and it will also encourage the speech and the mimic of speech. Encourage his speech at home, make him use proper words to ask for things and try to get him to repeat common words. Making a game of it helps, and talking to him during his favorite TV shows helps too. Get him to repeat the story to you, tell you whats happening, who is on the screen, what colour is their shirt... things like that.

My thoughts are with you, go with your gut on this.

Amie - posted on 03/11/2009

He could be a late bloomer but I'd get him checked out to be sure since he's 3.

My son was the same way and after being tested we found out he had a lot of fluid in his ears and even at the moment had an ear infection. Which we had no idea about! Our girls had gotten ear infections before but they always showed signs of it. He never did. We also found a bead he had stuck in his ear, the ENT specialist figures he stuck it in there to try to relieve the pressure he was feeling from his ears. After he got tubes put in his speech improved rapdily.

Or it could have to do with his mouth too. My brother, when he was about the same age, had to go through speech therapy because of his tongue. It was too long for his mouth and the skin piece that attaches it to the bottom of your mouth was too short. So he had to learn how to speak properly. He knew perfectly well how to talk he just couldn't get his tongue to work properly.

Or as I said at the beginning it could be nothing and you just have a stubborn little one who doesn't want to talk yet. lol. Best of luck though, it can be frustrating. =)

Amanda - posted on 03/11/2009

Never stress every child grows and develops in his or her own way. If you are concerned go to your local public school and have a preschool screening done. In my state these are going on this month. Then they will be able to help you if there is a problem, but most likely he will start talking and never stop!

Cassandre - posted on 03/11/2009

I would ask your pediatrician. My nephew was the same way and he ended up having fluid in his ears and needing tubes in his ears and then it cleared right up. It may not be that at all for your child but I would definitely ask just to make sure.