HELP!!!! 3 Yr Old Wont Talk

Hi L.,

My only advice would be to contact early intervention. All you need to do is look up early intervention and the state. Early intervention only works w/ children from birth until 3, so you have no time to waste. Once she gets in the system, if she still needs help after 3 then early intervention can help with the transistion from 3 years old to preschool and any other temp. solution. These people are great but it is free.
Hope this helps!

H. B.

L.,

First stop talking to her like a baby. I never have talked to my kids with much baby talk. Both started talking and saying first words by 8 months old. You should also speak to your pediatrician. I would also get her into early intervention. She should speak quite a few words by 2 1/2. I know a few kids about the same age as her that use this problem because they have developmental delays. They are a great program. You can also start using sign language. www.weecansign.com. I used this with my kids and am doing this with my daughter and it helps them communicate easier. Good luck!

L.

Only things I can think of is to not let anyone talk baby talk to her anymore, read to her a lot and as a last option, wait 4-5 months and if there is no improvement, seek out a speech therapist!

Hi L....

There is a difference in speaking to your little baby girl in a mothering tone (psychologist actually call it "motherese") which is using high intonations and upward inflections, soft cooing sentences and this is encouraged for bonding and baby responsiveness... but, you're absolutely right about the baby talk hindering your daughter's speech. Baby talk gives the speech examples you really don’t want them mimicking (obviously). That’s like “tewwing youwr wittle sweethawrt she’s so cwute” – not a good idea.

I would start by repeating everything she says, or you think she's trying to say, in clearly annunciated words, point objects out while asking her 'what's that?' tell her and then ask her to say it, and of course, read read read to her everyday several times a day! :}

Baby signs is one great option for you to get to understand her better until she develops her verbal skills. Another great option is a speech therapist. If you live in the slc area, you might do well to contact 'The Children's Center' and a representative there can either direct you to the proper facility or help her there where they have two speech therapists on staff who i know of.

Good luck!

I know my daughter can say the words, so in order to get anything, she has to ask for it properly (with please and thank you as well). If I don't think she knows how to say it, I'll model the correct phrase for her (Orange juice, please...or May I have some orange juice, please) and she'll need to repeat it in order to get it. It'll be hard at first, but your daughter may not need to speak in your home. Make sure she "needs" to speak to get or do anything and she'll pick up on it really fast.

My suggestion is to get everyone to stop taking "baby talk" to her. She's old enough now to be past the 'parentese' talk and she'll only learn proper English if that's all she's spoken. Also, when she asks for something in baby talk, then you should correct her with the proper pronunciation. Say she says she wants water and says, "wa-wa", you would reply, "Do you want some WATER?" And when you hand it to her say, "Here is your WATER." As she starts to learn the correct words, then only acknowledge her when she speaks them correctly. Just like whining, I tell my kids when they want to use their normal voices, only THEN will they have my attention.

Hi L.,
My name A. from slc UT. I have a son who is turning 3 on OCT. 26. He also does not talk. He wines a lot because he express his feelings. He also has a called Digeorge Syndrom, which you probably wouldn't know about. With the syndrom it may cause not to speak tell at least 4 or 5. At the begining it was hard. I couldn't what he wanted or if he was done. He would just point in the direction and grunt. My sister told me that her friends was doing sign Language for her kids. So I started it threw books and people that we know who signs. It will take a lot of times showing her the sign before she gets it or not. She may just catch on fast. But its a wonderful thing for kids that are slow talkers. A few months we found out that he also has CYSTIC FIBROSIS. So now I'm glad he signs. HE first couple of words were. Dad and birdie. Since we bought birds. IT is also hard at first to tell what she will be signing, but you will catch on. Just like when kids first start talking you don't understand them all the way. Type back and let know how you like that idea. Also need any help about it let know. YOur Mamasource friend A.. Thanks.

First of all, start speaking to her in clear, understandable, actual language. By baby talking to her you are modeling that language for her. How is she supposed to learn to speak if you aren't speaking to her in the way you want her to learn to speak? Beyond that, you could call your local Early Intervention office. In Nevada it is called Nevada Early Intervention and you can find them in the phone book. They will evaluate your daughter, test her hearing and if they decide she's delayed they will provide services for her. All of their testing,evaluation and services are free. Once she turns 3 her services will be transfered to your local school district. The school district services are also free. A 2.5 year old not speaking is not normal. My son has been in speech therapy now for more than 2 years (the first year the services were poor but the last year has been really good) and he's only now starting to speak clearly enough that most people can understand him. He just turned 4. Do get her evaluated. The longer you wait and the further behind she gets the harder it is to catch up. And do take as many free services as you can get. We've been paying for private speech therapy for over a year now and it is $120 an hour.

T.

Well, you said it yourself. She's spoken to in baby talk. My advice is to speak to her as you would anyone else. She is a sponge right now. Have you tried to teach her sighn language? You can get a dvd at toys r us. I have a five year old son with a great vocab, I never baby talked him. (only the dog). I also have a five year old neice who is autistic and refuses to talk, although of course she can. One good trick is to get a treat or something she loves and hold it up and say cookie,,don't let her have it till she says it,,make sure to smile and make it fun so she dosen't get mad,she will say it eventually.
Then agin I have another one who spoke what sounded like conversational cling on till she was 3 1/2. One day she started speaking in full sentences and is a genius. So don't worry, one day you won't be able to get her to stop talking as you enjoy every moment!!!

I wish I could help, I am having a similar problem with my 2 year old son. My first child 9 a girl) was talking early, by two she could sing entire songs!! My second ( a boy) was using two word sentences by 18 months. Still a bit behind the girl but I was told boys talk later. My third who just turned two says all of ten words. I never used baby talk with any of my kids and they all began speaking when they wanted to. I would as her doctor. Have a good week.

L.,
I think that you should try singing with her and singing nursery rhymes. She may respond to the music. It is imperative that you speak to her in a normal voice, no baby talk. I never talked baby talk to my girls, just in loving tones but with real words. They can both talk amazingly well. I think reading to your child is the most important thing you can do. I could give you example after example of the things my daughter has learned from books. I use Story Time Felts products whenever I can because they integrate language, music, movement, and creativity. The felt pieces are easy to handle and many sets come with CDs that offer great music, rhyming, and sing alongs. check out www.funfelt.com/R..html if you'd like to see more.
Any kind of unstructured play time you can give your child is important. Also how much television does she watch? It's recommended that children under 2 watch zero hours of t.v. so if she's watching much more than an hour as an almost 3 year old, it's too much.
I hope that you can find something that will help. Pat yourself on the back and know that you are doing the best you can by intervening now and helping her.

Nevada has a service called Child Find that is a free service and administered through the Clark County School District. He would need to be evaluated and then they could possibly be set up with a speech program. My child just turned 3 and is going to start their services next week. Every bit helps!
###-###-#### is the number to call to make a referral

Good Luck
N.

Hi L.,
I would say no more baby talking. That may not be her problem, however it will not hurt. I can't imagine she learn to speak while hearing the speach improperly.

My husband baby talks sometimes to our almost two year old and I correct him immediately. I also tell her to watch my lips and I point to my mouth while I correct her speach. She watches and runs off to play, but atleast I know she heard me properly for the next time.

I would take advantage of some of the free services mentioned in the other posts.

Best of luck!
C.