should i be concerned that my 3 year old is not stringing sentences together yet?

Loretta - posted on 03/30/2009

thanks to everyone for your helpfull comments yeh he can say lots of words if u ask him to,but when he tries to talk he goes so fast it comes out like he's talking chinese.he's got his 3 year review on thursday and im dreading it like i always do when they tell me he should be doing a lot more than what he is.

Amy - posted on 03/29/2009

I just got my 3 year old (turned in Jan) assessed by a speech-language pathologist and according to her he should be able to put together 2-4 word sentences. This would be as simple as "Please milk" or "You my mommy". The grammar doesn't need to be correct, but the sentence structure should be there. This is my third to go through speech therapy. 

Is your child able to be understood by others? A three y/o should be able to be understood but those who don't know him 3/4s (75%) of the time. My son is not able to be understood almost at all and will be starting lessons.

If you are concerned I would speak with your doctor. He will be able to tell you where to get help. Again, these are the things I was told by our SLP.

Hope this helps. 

Samantha - posted on 03/29/2009

is your child speaking at all? i would go get his ears checked cuz he might not be forming well cuz he might be able to hear cuz thats what happen to my nephew

Joy - posted on 03/29/2009

Hi there,

Children do develop at a different rate but it is worth getting him checked out.  My son was being monitered for his speech from age 2 and a half and is now going to school for speech 4 mornings a week, he has come on leaps and bounds. (he is nearly 3 and a half.) some things only my hubby and I can understand but he is leaning more everyday.

Michele - posted on 03/29/2009

Loretta do you have older children that might be talking for your little one?  This might be why your 3 year old is not stringing senteces together yet.  What you could do is take what he/she says and string it into a simple sentence.  For example your child says "juice".  You should say something like "you want a drink."  By doing this your child will hear a simple sentence and you are not telling your child to say more.  If I were you I would contact your local school district and ask them who provides services for children birth to five in your community.  They should be able to tell you more.

Melissa - posted on 03/29/2009

Hi Loretta,

Other than not stringing the words together, does your 3 year old have words?  I'd be concerned if your 3 year old isn't even talking (much) yet.  My son was almost deaf in both ears and I had no idea until he had a ruptured ear drum.  (He had hardly any words that he spoke).  He is on his 2nd set of tubes, is 4.5 now, but most 2.5 to 3 year olds talk better than him.  I'd ask for a hearing test if he doesn't have a big vocab, but if he does, and just not putting them (the words) all together yet, I wouldn't stress about that.

Good Luck!

Melissa

Mom to James 6 and Henry 4

Melissa - posted on 03/29/2009

Hi Loretta,

Other than not stringing the words together, does your 3 year old have words?  I'd be concerned if your 3 year old isn't even talking (much) yet.  My son was almost deaf in both ears and I had no idea until he had a ruptured ear drum.  (He had hardly any words that he spoke).  He is on his 2nd set of tubes, is 4.5 now, but most 2.5 to 3 year olds talk better than him.  I'd ask for a hearing test if he doesn't have a big vocab, but if he does, and just not putting them (the words) all together yet, I wouldn't stress about that.

Good Luck!

Melissa

Mom to James 6 and Henry 4

Helen - posted on 03/29/2009

Hi L oretta . Im  happy to b 1 st to reply .. I ve just joined circle of moms a few mins ago . I have  3 children . They all  did things in their own time .My girl was a chatterbox early on ,  , My eldest boy  aged 11 now  only had  random words up to 3 n a half . M y now 23 month old boy calls  all food cheese  but if you give him something to do he ll understand what we mean . Basically as long as he/ she  has words , can  go along with what your doing  please dont worry , . My mother  in law had 2 of her kids not  v chatty till 4 . They were the most intellectual overall . I am a childrens nurse  n see that all children are different so please dont let doctors or public health nurses  tell you that  your child has to fall into  a category  ect . As long as he/ she  has  words  relax enjoy them , .. hope this is helpful.

Faith - posted on 03/29/2009

I wouldn't be too woried.  All kids develop at their own rate.  If you are really concerned, I would check with your pediatrician.  They probably wouldn't do anything right away, but would just start to watch that area of development a little closer.  Kids are great at surprising us though...they may just wake up one day and sound like they are 5 years old!

Dawn - posted on 03/29/2009

try not to worry hun, your little one will do it in there own time good luck xx