2yrs in 2 months, Should my daughter be talking by now??

My daughter Ava is 2 in August and still isn't talking. She can say a few words, but she can't say anything basic, like 'yes', 'please', 'no', etc. If, for example, she wants a drink, she will bring her sippy cup up to me and say 'ah?' Its like this with everything she wants. Is this her saying 'ta' (which we have also tried to teach her)?? If we bring her a cup of water and ask her to say 'please' she just gets extemely frustrated and throws a bit of a tantrum, and we end up giving in most the time and just giving it to her because she just won't say it. My husband tried for about half an hour the other night, and all it resulted in was a very frustrated husband and very upset daughter.
I am getting really upset that she isn't speaking, even when we try our hardest to make her talk. As I said, she can say a few words, and she does understand what we say, so why isn't she learning speech faster? I thought by 2 they were supposed to be able to say short sentences? Please help! :wall:

Jess, I had two early talkers who were talking in sentences by 2yrs old, and then I had Paige, who by two and a half still wasn't really saying much other than two words together and very basic at that. Now she is nearly three and is talking like there is no tomorrow. She is still a little hard to understand at times and maybe she might need some speech pathology if it doesn't improve, but for now we are happy where she is at with her speech. So she has come a long way in six months and we were starting to get a little worried about it too, considering the older two were great talkers.

I think so long as she does understand what you are saying and can follow directions/requests etc then she should get it in time at her own pace, but by all means go and have her assessed if you are really concerned about it. your GP or MCHN should be able to put you in touch with someone in your area.

Hi Jess,

Have you taken Ava to see a doctor or speech therapist? I used to babysit a little boy who couldn't really talk by age 2, and the words he was saying came out sort of scrambled, e.g. his name is jordan and he would say it sounding like "doo-aah" and so his mum took him to a speech therapist for a while and it fixed everything, he's now the top student of his class at school! I think some kids just need some extra help?

Good Luck with everything Jess, i'm sure everything will work out for you ;)

Mason barely said a word till he was 2 1/2 so I understand your frustration. He'd say Dad and Bob (as in the builder) but I was just Ahhh. He was fantastic at animal sounds though. He'd spot a dog and say "woof woof" or scream when he saw a cat so there was langage there but not that we could really understand.

I spent a lot of time reading to him, especially books with real pictures of animals and everyday things. I also talked to him all the time eg putting on socks and shoes "this is a sock Mason, can you say sock etc.
One day we were looking through the photo album and he started telling us the names of the people in the photos. Nanny, Poppy etc. It was like he'd been waiting till he was ready to talk to us, then he didn't stop.

My brother had a developmental delay with speech. At 3 he would say mum, dad, bub and that was it. Next thing mum knew he came out with a full sentence and she was gobsmacked. He was fine since, A student etc and is fine now.

Ears are another thing to get checked - as in glue ear and fluid levels.
One of my cousins' daughters wasnt talking much at all and I think she was about 3 when they realised she needed grommets in and had been having touble hearing, but could manage enough for no one to notice that they could be the cause up until then.

She'd been following basic instrucitons and could get her message across but not "proper" talking for her age level.

Maddison was talking sentences by her 1st birthday, but that was living with 3 adults whom love a chat... Indah was a bit slower but can count to 10 in English & Indonesian she will be 2 in Sept, she can sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star & The barney (I love you, you love me) song.
We all talk all the time, so I think that must help, plus when she started pointing to things & grunting we ignored her so she had to say the word of what it was she wanted!
Our friends son whom is 9 days younger points & grunts & is handed everything so he still gets what he wants & therefore there's no need for him to speak IYKWIM?

I dont think there's anything to worry about, but having her assessed isnt a bad thing either!

I think I read they should be able to say 50 words by the time they are 2?

My DD#1 was stringing sentences together by 18 months. My 15 month old is saying single words at moment...so we will see how she goes by 18 months....BUT i do have two nephews and by 2 years old they werent saying much either....single syllables...would point to things, grunt,etc....not actually putting sentences together....by about 2 1/2 years of age it all suddenly clicked for them....they started saying complete sentences....e.g "drink mummy please" or "where daddy?"
As others have said, maybe get her ears checked out etc.....but give it another 3 months or so...you never know, it may just fall into place for her too.....

Shannon, I am hoping not to judge Zyon once it's his turn... Coz I know both the girls have been quite good talkers & almost anyone can understand Indah's words, questions, sentences etc, but I just know I will be comparing Zyon & panicking about him... hee hee!

I'm sure Jess is fine too... It's hard not to compare hey!!

This was so me 4-5 months ago,
So after spending about $250 on speech therapy that really didnt do alot my daughter is a chatter box. What I would suggest is
1. Get hearing checked (Eliza has fluid on her middle ear but has normal hearing for development of speech)
2. Praise this helped us alot, the speechie told us to make a big deal about any noise and not to say "What is this" More like give an option many times Eliza would grunt and we would have to say Yes Eliza you want (Example) Cheese". If she pointed we would have to say yes Eliza that is a light.When she made an effort whether it be the correct name or noise we would have to say "Good Speaking Eliza ...you said Cheese" Believe me you feel like a dill but it rewards them to vocalise.
3. At 2 Eliza went to the speechie and she was borderline at an age where we were surrounded by fantastic talkers so it was magnified so much more. She gave us the tools to help develop in the next 6 months and it has been beneficial and re-assuring.And the gap that we started with has now started to lessen. But to see the child that grunted for so long now walk along and yell out Kids at the local school is amazing and the amount of words in her vocab.
4.Do animal noises they counted as words to the speechie any positive parroting is good, sheep goes baa, snoring was sleep I felt this was the wrong thing but she thought it was a step in the right direction

So at 2 and a bit Eliza is now trying to do 2 word sentances "Daddys car" ect we are now having to use expansion words like noisey truck, Mummys cuppa is a favourite lol.
But Eliza was slower to speak but happy to follow instructions, now she can follow instructions to the point where DH tells her to put the laundry in the washing machine and she can as she chores off "Helping" Helping.
Bec
ETA: Just because they speak slower, no way reflects there intelligence. So many stories I have heard across the medical field about highly intelligent children that have just taken it all in for longer

Hey Jess

I'm a Speech Pathologist.

I would really recommend you having Ava checked out by a Speechie...they will be able to give you a good indication of where she is at, give you some hints on how to stimulate her speech and hopefully just be a really good support for you both.

Also, like rayray mentioned, get Ava's hearing checked out...if you go to your local GP they should be able to do a tympanogram with her, just to check out her inner ear pressure (checking for otitis media/glue ear)...and may also be able to some basic hearing tests...if not, they can refer you on...

They can also refer you to a Speech Pathologist. You can either go through government services, private services or if you live near a Uni which has Speech Pathology has a degree, you might even be able to get in there.

Government services are great (especially for the under 5's) but the waitlists can be long. Private services are great but obviously cost. You would be looking at around $100 for an assessment (just an approximate, could be less, could be more) and around $60 for ongoing therapy sessions...if you have private health with ancillary cover, that can help...

I think the most important thing at the moment though, is just to get Ava checked out...a Speechie won't just look at her speech, but also her comprehension and use of gesture/signs...and all of that will be really helpful information...

Like Sammi suggested, reading books together is wonderful...

WIshing you all the very best...

Take care

Monnie

Tallon hasn't reached an age where I'm worried yet.. and he's starting to speak more now, but I was going to suggest baby signing. From what I understand, it can help them greatly in the speech department too. We've done signing, and I'm glad we have seeing as he isn't speaking yet.. but for a long time now he's been able to tell us if he wants food or drink, or whatever, with little frustration.

The tinytalk website has some info there if you're interested. Certainly can't hurt, and can reduce frustration with communication.

All the best :)

Thank you so much for everyone's help on this, its really starting to frustrate me (as well as Ava and my husband). I have decided to see a speechie, I have booked into one today. Its been really hard as we read to her everyday, talk about things we do, etc. She is like Shannon's Jessalyn, as Ava also says things in the tone of voice, but not in the actual words. Family members have just told me she'll start talking when she wants to, that shes a perfectionist and wants to speak properly (MIL's advice, I don't understand what that means...) anyway, its been frustrating and I'm looking forward to talking to the speechie about it!

Hey Jess

Wishing you all the best!

Sounds like you are doing all the right things...so it will be good for the speechie to have a little look at Ava...

Take care!

My son Jacob will be 2 in August as well.. He mainly speaks in his own little language but we know what he means.. He only said basic words

Jacob doesn't say please or thank you. Admittedly he has said them (0nce) but IMO for manners I have never forced them.. I use them.. When I pass them a drink I say Ta or Thank you. and eventually they pick it up. Jacob has just started saying Ta when he wants a Drink. Before that he would just bring us his cup.

They all learn in thier own time.. If you are concerned go and see your local child health clinic and they can put you in touch with speech therapists even if it just to put your mind at ease..

by the way out of curiousity.. What date was Ava born? Jacob was born on the 22nd August

Lucie will also be 2 in August and is hardly saying anything. We have been seeing a Speech therapist at the Community Health Centre now for a few months. She understands heaps too, but just won't say anything. We have taught her 2 signs which she is now using all the time (more and finished - you can actually use both these in heaps of contexts throughout a day!). She says now - Mum, Dad, Ned, No and her latest (to my embarrasment) is pooh. And she started saying up today. Most of this has come along in the past few weeks. I agree it is stressful, and def have a hearing check just to make sure, but I'm hoping they'll both be chatting away soon and we will be wishing they'd be quiet for a minute LOL. Good luck, let us know how she goes.

Wow there is such a range isnt there....no wonder we get confused! Sammy is 2 in August too and very often I have to go through a list of words to make sure I am getting what he is saying. For us 'Bryan' (our cat) 'Muffin man' (other cat) and 'superman' all sound the same so he is very patient in waiting for me to get what he is saying lol. Like Bec has said, we found the constant reinforcement and praise has worked wonders. For example...when Sammy wants booby he will come to me and say 'booboo'...to which we say manners please, then he says 'Cheee' (his word for please, and just this weekend have been reinforcing 'booboo, please mama' and whaddya know just this weekend he starts 'booboo chee mama!' saying it all together! Weird example i know but just making the point lol. I know they all get there in their own way but its good to know what can help. Reading too for us has been fantastic because we get him to find and say animals, shoes, socks toothbrush, juice etc.

Jo

Ava was born on the 19th of August 2005. So only 3 days before Jacob! By the way, I was putting her shoes on today and I said 'shoe' and she picked that up and has been saying it all night now!

Hopefully it all falls into place :)

Hi Jess,
How did everything go with the speech pathologist?

I am in such a similar situation as you with my (almost) 2 yr old. My DH & I were really worried as she too cannot say common words like Yes & No... but quiet happy to speak her baby language. The good thing though is that she can understand everything & speak a few words (not v many). The processes we have gone through recently include:
1. First we asked our GP what she would recommend for our DD speach
2. We had DD ears tested - results showed that she was recovering from glue ear... but this should not have delayed her speach. The waiting list for DD to get ears tested was 12 weeks... we ended up getting her ears tested privately - as we wanted to get everthing saughted more quickly. Unfortunately medicare or private health insurance would not cover the test... but for us it was worth getting done quickly.
3. We then visited a speech pathologist recommended by the audioligist who tested her DD ears. She is great & has given us a lot of at home activities to encourage DD's speach. However our daughter is very stubborn and tries to be a perfectionist in all she does & is not taking to the excercises very well. My daughter would rather go without then try to ask for something verbally. It is sooo testing - I hope it works soon :)
4. We were recommended by our GP to visit a paediatrician for DD to have an overall checkup. I went into detail with the paediatrician about her speach... And he gave me the best advice ever - and that is she will definately speak! She is about 6 months behind her age group & some kids just take longer. He was not concerned at all as her receptive speach (understanding of what others speak to her) was age appropriate.

Sorry to exhaust you all with this long list - just wanted to share the long process we went through & options availabIe. Hope it all makes sense (writing it through my BH contractions)

I guess we have come to the conclusion that DD will speak in her own time. I will continue to see the speech pathologist for the next month or so & continue with the exercises but really feel like it will all happen when she is ready. At times I feel my speach pathologist suggests that my DD wont progress unless I keep seeing her - especially after telling her what the paediatrician said.

Anyway all the best with your daughter... really interested to hear how your both going with her speach & if you have any tips.

Sarah

All the best, Sarah

Unfortunately, we waited to see what happened with the government run speech pathologist. I just got a letter back saying they would book an appointment within 12 weeks. Ava still isn't talking a lot, maybe a bit more lately, but still finds it hard to string 2 words together. I hope everything goes well. Thank you so much for everyone's help with this.

We have the same problem with Alex he doesn't say much at all and is on a waiting list to see a speech therapist which is a 6month wait. We are also seeing someone next month for his hearing to be checked.
Your child nurse should be able to help you out.