my 2 and a half year old does not talk

Danielle - posted on 03/20/2012

My 8 yr old was like that. He's my 3rd, and his 2 older sisters (now 9 & 11) were more than willing to talk for him, which didn't help matters either. But when I finally got him evaluated for speech therapy at 32 mos, he rarely spoke at all & never more than 1 word at a time. I would hear him say a word once, then not hear it again. I heard him say his name (kind of) once around 34 mos. After that, If we asked him his name, he would just look at us like we were crazy!



After waiting lists & transitioning from the birth-3 Early Intervention organization to the 3-5 EI org & then starting off with a special instructor, he didn't start speech therapy until he about 40 mos old. And it did take a while before he started speaking more & then just around close family & friends. He didn't really start interacting with his peers until the end of Kindergarten. And now I can't get him to stop talking.



I would suggest finding out about Early Intervention services for your area. Every state and county is different, so I can't tell you how to have her evaluated. I would suggest asking your dr & calling your local school district to see if they can give you any information on Early Intervention. Early Intervention services are paid for through Federal programs & are free. I live in Philadelphia, where EI service come to your child until they start Kindergarten. However, I have friends & family in surrounding counties where EI services only come to the child until they are 3, then you have to go to the local Intermediate Unit (oversees all Spec Ed for all School Districts in the county) or another location for services.

Liz - posted on 03/14/2012

My son is almost 2 and a half and doesnt speak as well.. All he says is mum mum mum and babbles.

We're currently waiting on an audiology appt and speech and OT therapy but we've been waiting since November last year.



Good luck, I hope she starts talking soon

Terrah - posted on 04/28/2009

as a quick short answer by 2 1/2 they should be speaking small sentences, all children are different but i know by 2 1/2 they should at least say 75 to 100 words. and be putting them together, i would go get her hearing checked they will be able to tell you if she has fluid on her ears and stuff. i would call your pediatrician and ask what steps to take. i know speech delay is very common and that can be fixed with a little speech therapy :D as long as she is able to distinguish things i don't think its much to worry about. for example if you are like go get your shoes or socks or blanket ect... and she knows what they are and brings them to you i think she is just fine!!!!

Lisa - posted on 04/28/2009

I would call the Doctor. She might need speech therapy. My husbands friends little boy is 3 and he had a hard time too. He does fine now that he has a speech therapist.

Emily - posted on 04/28/2009

My two and a half year old is in speech therapy. Kids develop at different rates but she was getting frustrated. She would try to pronounce the words (decided sign language was not cutting it anymore). Her speech therapist ascertained that she could only pronounce four consonant sounds. We are working with her on slowly adding them to her vocabulary and teaching her not to leave them off the ends of words. My doctor was not concerned about it, but since I was he gave her the referral.

Cathy - posted on 04/28/2009

hi dont worry about it my oldest son was the same he has just turned 3 but he couldnt really talk much when he was 2 1/2 he is still learning some words now but he is coming along well, he does get frustrated when he cant say something so we get him to take us to what he wants and points it out, then we tell him what it is and get him to say it. they all learn at different times so i wouldnt worry, good luck

Samantha - posted on 04/27/2009

My brother didnt talk either so by the time he was 2, his pediatrician sent him to speech therapy. he went to therapy 4 times a week till he was in like 4th or 5th grade. And as a result, his social skills are kind of lacking. You should really talk to her doctor about that. she should be trying to speak by now. i would wait because you dont know what harm waiting longer could do.

Lauren - posted on 04/27/2009

i'm in the same boat. my son hasn't started talking yet either and he is now 2 years and 4 months old. he knows what certain words mean and what noises certain animals make, but just doesn't say or do them himself! i can tell him to go get a cetain object or tell him something to do and he will, so i know he can understand what i'm saying. his doctor suggested we take him to a developmental screening in a few weeks. so we'll see how it goes then! good luck & just know your not the only one going through this!

Kimi - posted on 04/26/2009

I wouldn't worry to mutch but there could be a medical issue causeing it. Sometimes kids' tounges aren't as mobile as they should be making it imposible to make several sounds. If that's the case with yours than a simple surgery would do the trick. If she can't stick her tounge out very far or she can't touch the roof of her mouth with her tounge than she just needs a little surgery. It should be obvious if she has this problem once you know what to look out for. Just give her a popsicle and what she dose with with her tounge. I found out about this condition by seeing a thing on TV about it. The little boy still had to see a speach therepist afterward to get caught up and he was about three years old. I think that speach therapists look at this as a possibility before they start doing the speech therapy though. I started talking really late but I grew up to be a great listener. Sounds like she has alot that she wants to say though if she is getting upset over it so find a good speech therepist asap. She could also have a hearing imparement as well so maybe tubes or hearing aids are your answer. She's the only one that really knows what the problem is but she obviously can't tell you.

Leslee - posted on 04/26/2009

at 2 and a half, she really should be chatting up a storm. my daughter was a late talker also, not much until 3 years... when i put her in pre-k, i was asked to take her to a speech pathologist. she has a speech delay, which can be caused (little known fact) by being a young mother! i didn't know this. it is very treatable, so don't worry. but i waited to have my daughter tested because everyone told me it's normal. angel will be 9 this year, and still attends speech class and is behind in learning to read because of the delay. personally, i'd ask her doctor, voice your concerns! see a speech pathologist :) just in case...

Jen - posted on 04/26/2009

I've seen first hand how well speech therapy works. She should be talking in small sentences by now. She should also know over 50 words and be able to understand over 100 words that you say to her. If she's getting frustrated it's because she doesn't know how to get across what she wants. I'd really encourage you to find an early intervention program in your area. A lot of the programs are free and they can refer you to someone that is covered under your insurance. I know that some kids do talk late, but if you're truly concerned look into therapy. My friend's son didn't say anything at 2 and he'll be 3 in July and you can understand him a lot more. He's still not able to carry on a very useful conversation, but he's on his way there. Good luck.

Serena - posted on 04/26/2009

I haven't had this problem with my kids, but my mother had it with me. I wasn't talking where anyone could understand me and was 2 1/2. She took me to the doctor and it turned out that I had a ton of fluid in my ears. They had to put ear tubes in, and once that surgery was over I started talking in complete 4 word sentences. I wasn't talking earlier because I couldn't hear correctly. And on another note- me niece didn't start talking until she was almost 3 aside from a few words, she 4 now and talks non-stop! Some kids just take longer to start talking. Hope this helps!

Caitlyn - posted on 04/26/2009

I agree to try sign language with her... just simple things like 'juice' 'food' 'diaper' ... we did this with my nephew and he caught on fast. Dont try anything that is too hard just the simple things... and make sure what you teach her to sign is easily noticable by you.

Caroline - posted on 04/26/2009

my friend said this to me once, so i asked her a question "when he wants something do you automatically get it" to which she replied yes. i then asked "and does he have to tell you what he wants or do you usually just know when he points or says one word" she answered yes. to which i replied, hmmm he doesnt talk because he doesnt have to, if he needs or wants something you get it, and thats it.lol. and i was right, since he has started creche we cant shut him up... he had to learn fast at creche to get what he wanted because of the other children. i knew this because i had the same worry with the youngest member of our family.... well why speak when you have an older brother ans sister that will do what you want when you want without having to ask??? On a serious note, although i honestly believe you child will be fine and is perhaps like the children i have mentioned being a wee bit lazy, you know your own baby and if it really doesnt seem right and is worrying then see you health visitor or gp, even if only for reassurance. x x x

Kristina - posted on 04/26/2009

i would not worry what so ever. My daughter was 3yrs and 3mths before she started to attempt talking. When we would try with her prior we got know where, our dr said not to worry about as she would come around when ready but if she wasnt by 3.5 then we would talk about speech therapy. ANYWAYS.... she doesnt shut up now but is extremely smart probably from listening for so long!... haha



my soon to be 2yrs (june 1) is JUST starting to try words.....

Alisha - posted on 04/26/2009

Try baby sign language! It works for non-verbal kids. Also, when you read to her (if you're not doing this already) before you turn the pages talk about the pictures. I find those simple animal/color/number/food books work best for kids who are a little delayed in speech. Say the word and ask her to repeat it or ask her what it is. Also, just talk to her and have her try and repeat things. When she points at things she wants tell her what it is and see if she can say it back. Repetative behaviors seem to help with speech. Well from what I've learned and experienced working in child care. If none of that works, try a speech and language pathologist. They can tell you what's going on. She may be having a hard time hearing the sounds. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Nessa - posted on 04/26/2009

I know it can be frustrating and really get a mom worried, but some children are waiters! Our first child was all about talking the first chance she got, then we had our second child and the worry kicked in! He was 2 years old and not a word to be understood.... man I was panicked! I even took him in to have his doctor check for any possible birth problems or learning issues. Just a few month later he went off like a little fire cracker...... he was just building up the whole English Vocabulary rather then trying to learn one word at a time! Little stinker! Now he's our smartest child out of our four..... in fact he tests higher then his older sister that's 4 years older! So I'd say just watch and see...... she'll have her moment to speak! She's probably just listening to everyone else, waiting for her time to say it ALL!LOL