When Do Children Usually Start Talking?

Boys are usually behind girls, but if by the age of 3 he isn't talking yet, take him to the school board. They have testing and all and then they'll put him into what they think he will need, i had 2 kids in speech so it isn't unusual. But also think of it this way, once he starts, he won't stop and you'll want him too..LOLOL just teasing girl

Hi T.,

I have two boys ages 6 and 2 1/2. Both of my sons were the same way. When my oldest Tyler was 2 we had his hearing checked and had him evaulated for any speech delays. We were told that he had an expressive speech delay so we started him in speech therapy through the infant and toddler connections in va beach. He was in that program till he turned 3 and then moved into the school system and was talking speech classes at our local elementary school 3 times a week for 20 min sessions. He has made such progress with that that when he started kindergarten last fall he was taking down to only 1 20 min session a week and this is just to work on some of his articulation skills. We are already talking about taking him completely out of speech once he starts the first grade. My youngest son Noah started to show the same signs of not talking like he should be and so I had him evaulated at 18 months and he was accepted into the same program that Tyler was in. Noah graduated from having speech completely when he was 27 months old and is talking so much more than Tyler ever was at his age. So each child is different in when they talk and I am glad that I had both of my sons evaluated and put them in speech because it has helped them a lot. I figured it could not hurt them only help them. So if you are interested in doing this go to this website http://www.earlyintervention-va.com/ and located the city you live in and contact them. They come to your house and do the evaulation and depending on income is how much you will pay and they do all the speech classes in your home or daycare. I loved the program and am glad I called them. If you have any question please feel free to contact me at ____@____.com.

K.

T., I was told that I should just wait and before I knew it, my daughter would start talking....that she was just a late bloomer. I just wasn't so sure....call it a mother's instinct. So I had her evaluated at 22 months and they think she's phonologically apraxic, which means that she definitely needs speech therapy. She's been doing this for the last month and it has worked wonders already.

Hopefully, he is just a late bloomer and will start talking soon, but it never hurts to just get him checked. Get a referral from your Pediatrician to get his hearing checked and his speech evaluated. I got it all done at Portsmouth and had no problems. Hope this helps and I'm not trying to freak you out, but I think it just doesn't hurt anything to find out one way or another....that way you know for sure. Good luck!

I have two boys, ages 7 and 4. My oldest didn't start talking until after he turned 2. Our pediatrician was worried and wanted me to take him to a specialist for hearing. He knew what I was saying and could understand simple things like bring me your sippy cup or where is the door. Things like that. Shortly after he turned two he finally started talking and now never stops. So yes, each child is different and goes at their own pace. He's probably just taking it all in and will start when he's ready. Also, if he is the youngest and his siblings speak for him then i think he might not be talking b/c of that.

I just know that all kids are different. My oldest who is almost 3 is a very talkative girl and my 14 month old tlaks but not the same way or as much as my 2 year old did at that age. My cousin did not start talking really until he was three, he just mostly pointed unitl then. I don't know what to tell you, but I would probably give it a little more time. Also, I have a freind whose daughter did not talk until she was about 3 1/2 but that was also becasue she had an emergency hospital stay that affected her when she was little, so I htink it just depends.

Hi T.,

I am a mother of 3, daughter - almost 4, son - almost 3, daughter - 7 mos. I wouldn't worry about your son's conversation skills. When my oldest daughter went in for her 18 mo check up, her doctor said that I needed to keep an eye on her, because she wasn't talking "up to par". He said that when she was 2, if not getting better, we should bring her in to a therapist & do additional testing. However, a couple months after she turned 2, she was talking like she should. So, if your son turns 2 1/2, and still doesn't speak better than he is now, I would be a little concerned. I would just keep talking to him, and clearly pronouncing the words for him to pick up. Maybe ask him questions so that he has practice talking. I hope this helps. Good luck & God bless!

Here's my non-medical opinion:

Kids talk slower than others for a variety of reasons, hundreds of them. But it really boils down to these:

1) Does he have to talk?
-Do you make him show you what he wants, say 'Please' and 'Thank You' when he wants something and gets it? Or do you just give him anything he wants when he starts whining or gets frustrated?

If he really wants those Oreos, he'll learn how to say please very quickly when he figured out that's the quickest way to get it.

Part of the problem that comes up with this is that parents know their kids so well, they can predict what their kid wants. If your child doesn't need to tell you what he wants, ask for it (Please) and Thank You when he gets it... then he won't.

Make him show/tell you what he wants, and try to correlate the words he needs to use consistently while you do it.

2) The Pacifier

Get rid of it, if you haven't already. How can a child learn how to talk if he's too busy sucking on a pacifier all day? Even worse, if he's trying to talk while it's in his mouth, then you may run into lisp issues or speech irregularities.

The basic purpose of the Pacifier, let's be honest, is that so we the adults don't have to listen to our kids cry. Put it in, and bam.. no crying. We're really doing ourselves a disservice by using them after 4-6 months old.

3) I'm not a strict parent by any means. I let him get away with a lot at 19 months because I wanted to him to find out first hand what would happen if he did stupid things. Want to stand on the tennis ball? Well, be prepared to a big headache! Want to kick the dog? Well, how did it feel when he but you in the nose?

Since I'm not too strict about a lot of things, he knows I mean business when I am serious about something. He won't get his hands on any piece of food without asking for it, saying please, and saying thank you when he gets it. After a while he figured out what each piece of food was called, and we added that. "Cracker Please!!!" "Basketball PLEASE!!!

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The way I generally feel is after about 6 months of age, the honeymoon is over. You have a kid now, not a novelty (Come on, we all felt that way). Your friends have already seem him/her, now it's time to teach them about life. If they're 12 months, act like they should know things a 15 month old kid knows. Ever notice the 3rd kid always learns the quickest? You want to him to learn, so he does.

If he understands what you're saying, then he can say it. You just have to find your own mother/son way of forcing him to do it, in order to get what he wants.

Hi T.,

There is a SAHM meetup group that may be able to help you with your concerns.

website is SAHM.meetup.com/

The Norfolk attachment parenting Group may have some answers for you. Good luck. D.

Great news! Until he is three, he qualifies for free testing! You can have him evaluated at home or with the public school system! My daughter's therapists come right to our home and are working with her in her natural environment. I am hands on and she is qualified to do this for free until she is 3! We are looking into the school system, her eval is on the 1st, but only because she requires much more help then twice/week.
It is my opinion that many doctors like to give kids time. See what happens, but as a mom if you are concerned I think you should have him evaluated. It is painless and free at this stage. Why wouldn't you want to give him the best shot at life? The earlier you begin the better he will be by kindergarden. He may be right on schedule, but you won't feel good about it until you have a pro tell you. At the very least I didn't, it just so happens that I was correct!

My friend accessed a free program to test her 2 year old and received free speach services for about 6 months. She lives in Baltimore so I don't know what services are available here but you may want to look into what may be available.

My sister had the same problem with her little girl. it seemed like once she turned 3 almost 3 1/2 she just started talking. the doctors told my sister to read more to her and try to have just one on one talks with her. I hope that this helps I am sure that he is fine. good luck with everything
C.

Hi. I'm a mom of four children. I live in Portsmouth, VA. I'm also a school teacher. Have you talked with your pediatrician?
My first three children seemed to progress fine. My youngest son was doing okay, but not talking quite as much as the older ones. I didn't worry too much. I talked with the pediatrician and he said not to worry. Then at church one day, his Sunday School teacher told me that she was worried about him. I told her that probably because he has three older siblings he doesn't speak as much because they cater to him.
Anyway, to make a long story a little bit shorter, we put him in a diagnostic class for a couple of weeks. It turns out that he has a mild form of autism. I waited until he was almost 4 to do something. It's easiest when they're younger.
He's doing fine now. He's very verbal and gets along well. He's on track with his academic levels, but is still behind on social skills. The SECEP program is a wonderful thing and they have helped him tremendously.
Your son may just be taking his time and will be fine. Try making him say the words when he wants something. Praise him when he does use his words.
I didn't tell you about my son to scare you, but I was told that the earlier something is diagnosed, the better. You may contact your local school system, or your pediatrician. They have forms for you to read and checklists. If your son is doing fine on all of the other categories except for his speaking, then you'll know there's nothing to worry about. Like I said before, when you look at my son, he appears to be just like like any other child.
I'll keep you in my prayers.