Tardy talker

[Mommy22]

My oldest son is about to be 2.5. He says a few things:Momma, Dadda, rock, night-night and maybe a handful more. He's made up a lot of word for things-namely what they sound like (dog=ra-ra, cow=mooo) and he's even made up signs for things. I had been teaching him sign language but I was afraid that was slowing him down. He COMPLETELY understands everything you are saying, and in his own way responds, even if he's not the one I'm talking to. In every other aspect he's been ahead of average, esp. physically; walking at 8 months, crawling at 3, he just will not talk. I was told because he could walk and get the bottle, he never had to say it, because he could climb on the chair, he never said up...that sort of thing.

I spoke to my husband's parents, because I knew he had a speech therapist when he was younger. They said he really didn't talk talk until he was almost 5! The therapist said he was just stubborn- he knew but he chose not to say. I know that's what is the deal with my son- on random days he'll throw out words like Clicker and Dorothy (fave movie- wizard of oz) so I know he CAN he just WON'T. Does anyone have any suggestions aside from seeing a therapist or peditrician- he's already said that he'll talk when he wants to.

[gorgeousmom]

Just love him for the quiet kid he his. You might miss the silence once it's gone. If you're really dying to communicate with him (I would be) go back to sign language. If he loves communicating with you this way, then maybe he'll start using other ways too.

[Mommy22]

oh he's not quiet! The things that he does say and the things he's made up take up a GOOD portion of any quiet time! I just know I get frustrated sometimes knowing he's trying to tell me something and I just cannot figure out the gestures or the noises...once I do- he makes perfect sense and I wonder why I didn't get it sooner! Nope...no silence here thanks though- i'd love him no matter what!! he's my miracle!

[orkaj]

My oldest is 2.5 also and he was the same way. One day his dad just started telling him what everything was and just keep repeating everything that we ran across for a couple of days not asking him to repeat the word but just telling him what it was and saying it slowly so he would understand how to say it. We know he understood how to say it when he looked at us like ok I got it look that he gives (I'm sure your son has the same look)Anyways a couple days later his dad asked him what he wanted to eat like hamburger or chicken and he told us what he wanted . Now he talks all the time. We didn't pressure him to say the things we just let him know what they were and how to say them. It worked for us. I think he was just ready to talk though.

[Mommy22]

Thanks Orkaj- I think you understand the boat I'm in. I know he gets 'it'. You can look at a book and ask 'where's the ...." he finds what your looking for everytime- I can even hold up fingers of how many he sees. I had worried about 'can he actually talk' until one day I asked him what he wanted to watch on TV...already knowing it was The Wizard of Oz- he covered his mouth up and screamed Dorothy! Just like Auntie Em! Stubborness runs on his daddy's side Thanks agaiN!

[Mellymomma]

My son is 2 1/2 also and we had little to no talking for the longest time! I got him into the Birth to 3 program in August and he's shown amazing results! He strated with 16 words and now has well over 100, and is speaking in sentances.
Therapy may not be 100% responsable, but if nothing else it taught me to step back and let him TRY to communicate. It might not be a bad idea to look into what programs are available in your area.