For a kid without words, Hanen's More Than Words book is even better than the other book. It's a great resource. Definintely worth the investment.

2.5 is too soon to be sure. My kid had 2 words at 2.5. Now at 5 he doesn't stop talking!!

But at 2.5 I was mentally getting ready for a nonverbal kid. We were doing all-out PECS. It didn't stop him from talking -- it didn't hurt at all. In fact, we still use visual aids everywhere all the time. I say that my kid's first language is pictures, and his second language is words. More Than Words has a great chapter on how to do visual aids.

Every kid is different, but the breakthrough for my child was three things:
1. his dentist recommended a frenectomy. Turns out kiddo couldn't move his tongue.
2. a special kind of ABA therapy called Verbal Behavior. I was totally amazed at how many sounds they could elicit by offering him a bit of cookie.
3. a special kind of speech therapy called PROMPT. The speech therapist taught him with physical cues, how to make sounds. Also, she strengthened his weak oral muscles. We still do this as he has lots of articulation issues.

But going back to the family issue. Everyone time someone said, "does he have new words?" I would say "No, but he is learning the meanings of more pictures." And then I would give them the task of understanding how to communicate with him with pictures, from photos to more symbolic ones (like a picture for a song), which even they have to learn. I kept funneling them to the visual stuff. Soon they weren't bugging me because they were too busy communicating directly with him with PECS!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I agree age 2 it is too young to tell, and I'm not sure you ever really just declare that a person will never speak. My 4 year old has very few words and may never speak fluently, but he does continue to slowly add more spoken words. We won't give up on that b/c the difference between not being able to speak at all vs being able to say "Yes" and "no" and "mama" and "papa" and "help" is pretty huge. He also signs, and we have started using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device--in his case an iPad mini with the Speak for Yourself app. As get you get more into different forms of communication it can sometimes be hard to know whether speech therapy should focus on signing, using the AAC device, talking, etc. but basically it should be aimed at getting him to communicate one way or another.

The other aspect of your question I think is psychological for you--like, are you holding out false hope to think your child may speak, do you need to adjust your expectations to accept he may not. That is hard. You can't know what the future will hold. That's true for everyone, but most parents can expect that their kids will develop along a certain path and probably they won't be disappointed. As parents of children with special needs we have to become more comfortable with uncertainty than most people. It's not easy!

Right. I think my struggle is more with the extended family. They keep saying encouraging things like 'does he have any new words' or asking him to do receptive language things (bring me the XYZ). It is very loving- but I can't help but feel like we are disappointing them each time he stares back and smiles/giggles.

I'm the PP you responded to. We have had these struggles with family too, especially when my son was younger--people would say things like "I can tell he's about to start talking!" which puts you in the crappy position of thinking "No he's not" and feeling like you're being negative when you should be optimistic about your child. If you don't see your family members all that often I don't think it's worth saying anything, and just answering their questions however you see fit--give them as much or as little info as you want to. The "testing" his receptive language thing is annoying but not harmful if they don't see him all the time.

If they are caregivers or anything like that, it's good to get them involved by letting them observe speech therapy, etc. so they can see how you're working with him.

Have you heard of the Hanen program, It Takes Two to Talk? We found it at least somewhat helpful for giving us strategies on ways to encourage back-and-forth exchanges. The DC Early Intervention program offers it for free to parents of kids in EI, or at least did a few years ago. There's a book that goes with the course--it's kind of crazy expensive on Amazon for some reason: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0921145195/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687602&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0921145020&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0R3YR46SRJJRQ2STHD29

Anonymous wrote:OP I agree age 2 it is too young to tell, and I'm not sure you ever really just declare that a person will never speak. My 4 year old has very few words and may never speak fluently, but he does continue to slowly add more spoken words. We won't give up on that b/c the difference between not being able to speak at all vs being able to say "Yes" and "no" and "mama" and "papa" and "help" is pretty huge. He also signs, and we have started using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device--in his case an iPad mini with the Speak for Yourself app. As get you get more into different forms of communication it can sometimes be hard to know whether speech therapy should focus on signing, using the AAC device, talking, etc. but basically it should be aimed at getting him to communicate one way or another.

The other aspect of your question I think is psychological for you--like, are you holding out false hope to think your child may speak, do you need to adjust your expectations to accept he may not. That is hard. You can't know what the future will hold. That's true for everyone, but most parents can expect that their kids will develop along a certain path and probably they won't be disappointed. As parents of children with special needs we have to become more comfortable with uncertainty than most people. It's not easy!

Right. I think my struggle is more with the extended family. They keep saying encouraging things like 'does he have any new words' or asking him to do receptive language things (bring me the XYZ). It is very loving- but I can't help but feel like we are disappointing them each time he stares back and smiles/giggles.

Thanks!

Any speech preschools in the DC area?

OP I agree age 2 it is too young to tell, and I'm not sure you ever really just declare that a person will never speak. My 4 year old has very few words and may never speak fluently, but he does continue to slowly add more spoken words. We won't give up on that b/c the difference between not being able to speak at all vs being able to say "Yes" and "no" and "mama" and "papa" and "help" is pretty huge. He also signs, and we have started using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device--in his case an iPad mini with the Speak for Yourself app. As get you get more into different forms of communication it can sometimes be hard to know whether speech therapy should focus on signing, using the AAC device, talking, etc. but basically it should be aimed at getting him to communicate one way or another.

The other aspect of your question I think is psychological for you--like, are you holding out false hope to think your child may speak, do you need to adjust your expectations to accept he may not. That is hard. You can't know what the future will hold. That's true for everyone, but most parents can expect that their kids will develop along a certain path and probably they won't be disappointed. As parents of children with special needs we have to become more comfortable with uncertainty than most people. It's not easy!

Anonymous wrote:2.5 He has a few signs (like 2) and makes noises, but no words. He has been known to sporadically say up, apple, and no. But that is it. Waves bye bye- but is very recent.

Receptive is hard to gauge because he is crazy stubborn- but its low. Like can't point to his nose, ears ect.

And yup- his hearing is fine.

Late talker to me is a child over 2.5 or 3. Kids can start talking much later. Mine had some but he really didn't start talking till around 4, and at 6, he's talking but still struggles in a few areas. The receptive language is the far bigger concern, our came later too. He's not stubborn. His brain functions differently and he's not processing what is told. Everyone labels these kids as difficult, stubborn, etc. when they aren't, but they are not understanding (i.e. someone tell you to do something in a language you do not speak).

If your insurance pays, get private speech to supplement. U of MD has a great preschool program starting at 3 that is reasonable. They also have a speech clinic, as well as two other schools in the area if private pay is not workable for you.

These kids are generally bright. Be patient but early intervention is key. Try the baby babble videos, and leap frog. Use closed captioning as some of these kids are more visual and once they pick up reading that really helps with processing.

Anonymous wrote:My son had zero words until he was almost 4! Don't worry about the label and just keep working.

Thanks!

My son had zero words until he was almost 4! Don't worry about the label and just keep working.

Anonymous wrote:You should absolutely investigate supports for kids who don't use speech, they have so many benefits for kids but 2.5 is way too young to conclude that because he doesn't have speech now he never will.

AAC strategies have been shown to increase verbal language so it is not an either or.

What is AAC?

I am wanting to make sure we guide the speech therapy sessions in fruitful directions. We started PECS at home- turned the side of our island into a PECs board. He seems to be really latching onto the idea.

You should absolutely investigate supports for kids who don't use speech, they have so many benefits for kids but 2.5 is way too young to conclude that because he doesn't have speech now he never will.

AAC strategies have been shown to increase verbal language so it is not an either or.

Right- but won't that be non verbal? Still communication, but non verbal.

I think it's too soon to tell, OP.

I saw a young man (in his 20s) recently in the grocery store with an iPad around his neck. He was using it to communicate with the cashier. There is sign language, adaptive technology, even a laminated sheet with basic pictures of common wants and needs.

2.5 He has a few signs (like 2) and makes noises, but no words. He has been known to sporadically say up, apple, and no. But that is it. Waves bye bye- but is very recent.

Receptive is hard to gauge because he is crazy stubborn- but its low. Like can't point to his nose, ears ect.

And yup- his hearing is fine.

How old? Zero words, or sounds that mean words?

Think we might be in need of a reality check. We are involved in EI and have a reevaluation tomorrow. Just wondering at what point we stop thinking of DS as a 'late talker' and just accept that he is not going to get words?

DS has crazy low receptive as well.