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25 month old has speech delay

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March 13th, 2008
My 25 month old's vocabulary consists of 'no' (unprompted), 'hey' (very rarely unprompted, mostly at my prompting), 'bye' (almost always at my prompting), and on occasion the word 'ball'. She understands everything we say to her, can make animal noises (what does the cat say, etc.), follows complex commands (go find the red cup -out of several other colors-and put it inside of your toy box), knows what things are for (puts a brush to her hair), etc. She was evaluated today and everything other than talking is fine. Basically she just won't talk (there aren't any physical impediments to our knowledge...her hearing has yet to be evaluated, but she hears me even when she can't see me...). The kids at her preschool who are 15-16 months old have a greater vocabulary than hers. She is in a class with 2-3 year olds and she is the only one who cannot communicate with words. She babbles constantly (for example, will pretend she is reading a book, talking on a phone...even uses inflection with her babble), but the babbling is garbled and doesn't contain consonants. The evaluation today determined that she needs and will get speech therapy for this.

My husband is deeply concerned that she is at risk and feels that she possibly will have, despite the therapy, *permanent* speech and language delays/impediments all of her life. He was concerned as early as 12 months that she was not saying words...I kept asking the pediatrician and she said to wait and see. The evaluation today determined she is at a 15 month old's level in regards to her expressive communication. Because this is a gap that is 10 months off, husband thinks we have waited too long, it is just about too late and wonders if the therapy will be able to correct it (thinks she's almost too far gone)...but still wants the therapy for her.

Has anyone been in a similar situation with their child and the child has turned out alright? I don't really need advice on what to do because the therapist has provided us with things we can do to help. I'm just so hoping that someone out there has experienced something similar and the child caught up, is talking normally, etc.. My husband seems to think there is a good chance that she won't ever be completely normal. The therapist says not to worry, but it is always reassuring to hear from people who have experienced similar situations and it all worked out. Thanks in advance.
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mominashoe
replied March 22nd, 2008
Community Volunteer
My daughter also has some things about her speech that aren't together yet and she is almost 4. We didn't have speech therapy for her, but we have other children who help her speak, and have helped her ourselves (my husband is a language teacher) in the home. She gets better and more understandable every day. She should be able to speak normally by the time she goes to school.

I think your husband needs to stop being so negative because that isn't helping the situation at all. It's going to make you depressed and isn't going to help your daughter with the support she needs. He needs to change his attitude right here and now.

Trust the therapist. They don't know EVERYTHING because every child is different, but they are WAY more experienced than your husband and they know what they are doing. They deal with these situations every day. Worrying about what things were like before and what you did or did not do in the past isn't going to change what is happening now or the way she is now.

The important thing is that she is on her way to a better life by getting this therapy, and that she has two loving parents who are going to be of one mind with the therapist and who are going to work together to get her speaking normally.

My best wishes for your success.
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kchoops
replied September 18th, 2008
request for annasmama
Hi annasmama - I just saw your post from March while I was google-ing information about speech delays. I couldn't believe it when I read it because the description of your child at 25 months fits our current 25 month old son to a T. I was wondering how the speech therapy has helped your daughter and if she has improved much since March. I'm very anxious about our son's delay and in the process of finding a speech therapist. I've read about something called apraxia of speech which somewhat fits what we're seeing with him, but have not had that confirmed. I would love to hear an update from you. Thanks so much.
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hrey
replied September 24th, 2008
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kchoops-

Your message could be my message. I was searching for information on speech delays for my 27 month old. I keep finding information on how many words is normal, but what I am concerned with is his effort to talk and lack of ability to form words.

My son will look at you and "say" something in long sentence form and wait for you to answer. It is if he thinks he is talking just fine. We had his hearing tested and he is otherwise healthy. He still mainly babbles. Lots of people say to not worry as he is a boy and has an older *chatty* sister and he delay is normal.

I am also considering speech therapy for him, but don't know if I should wait it out or get him started.

If annasmama or anyone has any experience with this, I welcome any feedback.

Thanks!
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krj1028
replied January 21st, 2009
Experience with Speech Delay
My son was 26 months when he was diagnosed as tongue-tied. He only had a vocabulary of about 10 words. After surgery, we sought out speech therapy. He is now 4 years old and has better speech than nearly his entire preschool class. They are still working with him, but he is intelligible now, whereas before you couldn't make out a single word.

For annasmama, speech therapy will do wonders. Don't expect immediate results, but results will come. Remember to actively play with your child and always ask questions encouraging her to respond, even if it is with simple words.

For hrey, get speech therapy now! Don't wait because the longer you wait the longer it will take to bring your son up to age level. It will take work on your part, but he can get there.
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spanishmom
replied April 2nd, 2011
That sounds like my daughter at that age--she is now 4 years old, speaks perfectly and is always talking. Although her speech was 'delayed' compared to peers her age, we didn't do anything special as we knew that she understood everything, she was bright (average) and it would come. You're doing a great job as a mom. Best wishes.
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fddfff
replied April 14th, 2011
I too, are about to seek speech therapy for my daughter 27 months old I was told at all her visits she was doing fine on schedule she understands most of whats said and can perform tasks when ask but Im concerned with hewr speech most times i cant understand her except for one word liners. I think its ok to be concerned and always ask questions it dosent mean your child is not intelligent either or that another child whos mastered and excels in speech is a braniac. If I have the scientist correct they thought einstien the theory of relativity fellow was an idiot. so be concerned just dont worry so much and let each child grow at their own pace.
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kerrryn1
replied June 2nd, 2011
my sone was the same, he was just over 2 and nobody could understand him at all, there is a major waiting list for speech therapy here and i didnt know what to do. I got offered a place on a course for parents of children with delayed speech and here are the tips they gave me 1) dont ask too many questions because its overwhelming for a child who doesnt have the vocab to answer, so they wont even try
2)if your child has a few words, use the a,r,e, model that means acknowledge, ie yes, repeat, it is a ball, exapand, its a red ball. Add one or 2 words for each word they say.
3)sing lots to your child. singing helps develop speech and inflictions. Kids dont care how off pitch and out of tune u are so belt out those nursery rhymes
4)use easy to understand actions, so if you ask "do you want a drink?" pretend you are drinking out of a cup.
5)praise and acknowledge every attempt in the right direction, even if the sound is nothing like the word they are trying to say.

implementing these tips and skills, as well as putting my son into daycare had amazing results. He is now 3 and talking as well as most kids his age.
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