When did your child start speaking?

I have five children and every one of them started speaking at different ages. My oldest was speaking in complete sentences at (you won't believe it, but I swear it's true) a year. The second kid barely strung two words together at three - but that was in part because his sister seemed to know what he wanted and respond to it without him needing to say a word. The only one of my children that concerned me was my fourth, who was obviously very bright and understood everything that was said to him, but whose speech lagged far behind. His vocabulary was very small, and he was difficult to understand when he did speak. I talked with his pediatrician about it several times, and was told that my expectations were too high because I was used to my brilliant older children. I accepted that until an unrelated problem put my son in an Early Intervention program that required a full physical evaluation. Turns out that he had a 40% hearing loss in one ear, and a speech evaluation showed that at 32 months, he had the functional speech of a 12 month old. He also had frequent ear infections, and at about that time, we decided to have tubes put in his ears to allow the fluid to drain. The day they drained his ears and put the tubes in it was as if a miracle had happened. For two days, he walked around wide-eyed and startling at every sound he heard. He had three months of speech therapy (twice a week). By the time he turned three, his functional speech had gone from that of a 12 month old to that of a six year old. I guess what I'm saying is that kids do develop at different paces, and there's a good chance there's nothing to worry about - but if you have concerns, trust your instincts. If your pediatrician isn't being responsive to your concerns, ring up your local school department and ask if they do early intervention evaluations.

When my son started speaking, no one could understand what he was saying except me. I was always with him and I learned his vocabulary. He was certainly speaking an alien language which only he and I understood. It was fun for both of us, his growing years. Cheers!!

My 2 children although 8 years apart in age were very similar violetdreams. Everyone kept telling me not to worry that their speech was just immature and it would be fine as they got older. I was even told by a nursery head that there was nothing wrong but I had battled with my eldest to get speech therapy but because it took so long he had to attend til he was about 8 or 9 - with my daughter I won the battle and she started speech therapy when she was 4 which lasted til she was 6! Both of my children are very intelligent, they had fantastic and advanced vocabularies but had a problem making themselves understood. Speech Therapy changed their lives. My advice would be to get your doctor or health visitor to refer you for an assesment as soon as possible as if your son needs help the earlier the better! Do please let us know how you get on. Hugs xxx

My first child started speaking early but then she was surrounded by loads of adults. My second child could only say 10 to 15 words when he was two. The HV thought he should be able to say at least 50!!! My girl twin never spoke until she was three and then it took her until she was 5 to 6 to become really clear. Twin boy was a lot better, but he never ever spoke for his sister. I think they all do it when they are ready. My girl twin was dry at night before she could speak, my boy twin wasn't dry at night until almost 6. My little girl was always more independent than her twin brother even thought she didn't talk and would try everything until she could do it. My boy twin, if he couldn't do it first time wasn't interested. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

All of my kids are developing at different paces. I also have a set of twins, they will turn 3 in Oct. Ialso have an 11 month old. I can honestly say that my twins have developed at different speeds. Twin A has developed faster in terms of intellect where twin B has been quicker to pick up on the physical skills. Unfortunately, twin B is suspected to have a slight form of autism. She like your child is very hard to understand and only a few were that she communicates with can be understood by us. She is current receiving speech therapy through a 0-3 program as well as meeting with a development specialist and an occupational therapist. Once she turns 3 she will start receiving these therapies through the school system as part of our local pre-K program. This has helped her with communicating verbally as well as nonverbally with us and has lessened her's and our frustration. Our 11 month old seems to be moving up the developmental ladder even faster then our other two she is already using about 4 single words, is walking with very good balance and can move pretty quickly and is already climbing onto her sisters little chairs and on the coffee table and up steps. If you are worried that your child may not be ready for school when the time comes I think that it is very beneficial to see what types of assistance is available in your area. In ours the 0-3 program actually comes to our home for the therapy sesions and since my daughter is elidgle for this the shcool system has to take at a minimum for her therapy sessions. I am not saying the there is anything wrong with your child so please do not take this the wrong way. I just know that there are alot of program out there for making sure that our kids are ready for the school system but most people are unaware of them. I would not have known if not for my pediatrician telling us about them.

My child is two and can say over one hundred words. He makes clear statements and asks questions. He says things like, "Did you see that helicopter up in the sky?" My nephew who is the same age doesn't talk near as clearly but he understands just as much. I think each child is different and develops at their own pace.

Oh man yes!! I have 4 children and none are twins. They are all completely different from each other. And I encourage that. I love that they are all their own person. It makes it very tricky for me as this also makes me work harder to reach each one. But rest assured this is all normal. And as an early childhood educator this is not usually an issue until like 1st or 2nd grade.

I feel your frustration. My son had some trouble speaking clearly and seemed to lag behind his peers when he started school. He had trouble pronouncing each of the alphabet and even more with two letter combinations. He passed the hearing tests with flying colors so the school referred him to the speech therapist. With various test she determined he didn't have a speech problem but was not correctly processing all of the sounds and therefore was not reproducing the correct sounds. His ears were working perfect just his brain was not processing everything correctly. We bought the phonics game and worked with him at home with his teacher giving him extra attention at school helped him master clear speech. Your son may not have any problem but just be a typical boy. Boys do normally lag behind girls in language development. Girls have tea parties and talk to their dolls, they play house taking on role play repeating the various things mother says. Boys play with cars, tonka toys, or play space alien games making sounds... vroom, grrr, zzzzz etc. Girls are wired for verbal communication. It is no wonder women will speak 3- 5 times more words in a day then men. Have your son's hearing tested but also engage him in play that requires verbal responses. "See n say" type of toys or ones that record and replay what your child says are also great ways to encourage verbal communication. The Reception class you mention sounds like what we call Head Start. Try meeting with one or more of the teacher or administrators of the program to find out what kinds of thing you can do at home to prepare your son for school. Good luck and let us know he progresses.

It seems like children with older siblings sometimes aren't as vocal - because they don't have to be!! :-) My son started talking early and had a large volcabulary early on, but was around a lot of adults and no children, so I think that makes a difference. When kids are around kids and they speak for them or know what they want and do it for them, then there is no need or desire to speak sooner. It will come. I think they all speak in their own time.

i appreciate your concern here. unless a doctor has pointed out a problem, like hearing or speech, or something physical...i think it's just that all kids are different. if everyone understands him, the family because you CAN understand him, perhaps he doesn't think he has a problem. does his twin understand him better than anyone ?

My two children are very different, much to my surprise!! =) R may have speech issues that need therapy, or he may just grow out of it. Boys are known to be a little slower. Have you had him checked for "tounge tie"? That would be where the tounge is attached too far into the mouth.

Each child is different and will develop in heir own way. Your litte boy will probably be talking so much by the time he goes to school that you will be wondering what you were worried about. If he is still having problems the school will soon sort things out and get him speach therapy if needed. Both of my children were completely different and I now have four grandchildren. One, a ittle girl of eight cried because she had to do art when she was meant to be doing maths! Her brother is only interested in art and design. Try not to worry about your little boy it will all work out.

My kids start speaking at the age of two,the first word came out is "PA" and "MA"

I don't think there is anything to worry about, you will probably find R will come on in leaps and bounds in next 6-9 months. Ive never known twins to show same abilities at same time, always seems to be 1 slower than other at such early stage. You watch they will be equal before you know it

I wonder with them being twins if one is speaking for the other, as I knew someone once who had this problem with twins. One was really advanced and spoke perfectly but the other twin was slower and would not talk properly. When the child spoke and she could not understand what it was saying to her she would ask the sibling twin and they would explain. She ended just having to take the twin to speech therapy just to bring him on. I know that when they start school though it will bring them on anyway, he will have to talk to fit in so I would not worry about it until he goes there. If the teachers think there is a problem they will talk to you about it anyway.

I didn't have any difficulties with my son. He was saying small words by the age of one. But I know from my mother that they had trouble with me. I still have certain words that I have to work at saying properly. I also took a speech class in elementary school to help me. Have you had your child's hearing checked? Children learn mostly from what they hear. Its possible he can't hear as well. I don't know where you are from, but I do know Walmart does hearing tests - and I think they are free if I remember correctly. Teasing isn't fun for anyone I know. I too was teased. Even as an adult I had a coworker once who teased me because I couldn't say the company name very well. I finally got fed up and told her she was being rude. But I'd work with your child, and check the hearing and see how he progresses. Good luck.

Actually to say the fact it usually affect the first child for instance when husband and wife were living in a self contain whereby they is no children to play with their child it will be very difficult for such child to speak in time.

My cousin back then, I was ten and she was four, doesn't speak that well. Sometimes we can't understand her words, but as time passes she started speaking a bit straighter. My mom said I started speaking when I was about some months old(not that well of course). I think it depends on the child's development when he/she can speak straight.

My son is one year and seven months and he is yet to speak more.He has started to tell mama,papa only.sometimes I really get paranoid and a worried mom and that is the concern of all the mothers when they would start speaking.One thing I have noticed in him is that he can understand everything and he is really smart.Touch wood. When I spoke to my mom reagrding that she told me I had started speaking when I was only two and half.So may be that would be the reason that my son is also delaying.In my son's case I really dont find any difficulties as he is very clear. I am sure everything will be fine on your side. Regards

I'm sure he will catch up - he just needs time. Maybe he just doesn't have anything he wants to say - as long as he can get his point across and isn't stressed out about it I wouldn't worry. My son is 2 1/2 and doesn't really talk much but he knows how to get what he wants and he understands everything he is told. He just isn't ready to let everyone hear him yet.