My nephew is aver 3 years old and does not communicate. He parrots almost any word you say but makes no attempt to communicate. He does not say Mommy or daddy nor makes any attempt of the words unless you say it first. He does not ask for anything like juice or milk. All he does is whine and throw tantrums to get what he wants. He will bring you what he wants but won’t verbalize. He can recognize several colors and a few animals now. His pediatrician said last year if he was not talking by age 3 that they needed to do further testing. My sister switched pediatricians and the new one doesn’t know his history and said to wait a few more months. I really think she should have him evaluated or something.Please email me with any info on language/communication disorders. Maybe there is one I haven’t seen.
Re: Language disorder?
Your sister shouldn’t wait. The child needs a speech and language assessment by a speech pathologist. If the current pediatrician won’t give an immediate referral (it may just take a phone call to the pediatrician from your sister), then I would change pediatricians.
Mary
Re: Language disorder?
My son wasn’t as delayed as this and he qualified for help as a preschooler with a disability. We lived in NY at the time and he got one on one speech therapy twice a week through the school district. She should either call the school district she is in and find out the procedures for preschool evaluation. Alternatively, she could go privately to the nearest children’s hospital. Don’t mess around with local places—we lost time with our son when he was just three and had people there think he just was a behavioral problem (which he was—just like your nephew–but it was the effect not the cause).
I also would get a new pediatrician. What he is saying is reasonable—if he was two. My second son was referred for evaluation when he was just two and was functioning at the level of your son. I am not sure it was necessary but he was considered at risk because of his brother. He also ended up qualifying for speech therapy (under a different program with more lenient standards).
Re: Language disorder?
I agree that he needs to be evaluated- now. I am curious about why your sister changed doctors-bacause the original one was suggesting an eval?
Robin
Re: Language disorder?
She should have him evaluated now. My daughter was delayed in speech development and at age 3 was gesturing and grunting to let me know what she wanted. She and I both found this type of communication very frustrating. She started having temper tantrums because she couldn’t communicate with me effectively.
My daughter was found to have some minor speech problems but most of her difficulties were in receptive and expressive language. She began private speech and language therapy at age 3 and then the school system picked it up when she entered kindergarten. I believe very strongly that your sister should get a private evaluation and help from a private speech pathologist. Most local school systems are overwhelmed with requests for special services and they will deny services whenever they can. I can’t say enough about the importance of having a good special education advocate but that is something to worry about down the road.
She should get her son help now. The depression is a significant symptom of his high level of frustration.
Good luck and God Bless.
Janet
Re: Language disorder?
The sooner the child receives help, the better. Call the special education department of your local district for advice - testing should/could be without cost to you. God Bless, Ken
Re: Language disorder?
Please go to your local library or on -line and get a book on ASL Sign Language and start teaching him words that he can use to communicate with the others in his world now. As serious as his language disability might be the biggest danger is the fustration he feels when he can’t tell you what he wants or is feeling. You will be amazed at how quickly he will pick up sign words and how just as quickly the tantrums will end. As he starts speech therapy and can say words he will automatically drop the sign for that word. Until then he will just be relieved to be able to sign “cookie” and be able to get one.
Wow. I admit I’m surprised to hear any pediatrician would recommend waiting on a child whose language issues are as severe as the ones you describe.
In the meantime, is he in preschool? Preschool can help to stimulate a child’s language abilities and a good one can also help parents to understand what else a child might need.