My son is 27 months old and can’t speak. The only time he can speak is when I point a picture on a book, and there is only 10 to 20 things that he can say, barely clearly though, mostly easy words like “mama, dada, car, ball, duck…. He is good in better in other areas like motor skills, and walking and running. He starts walking at 15 months – quite late.
He is good with puzzles, he smiles and responds to people most of the time.

Most of my friends says late talkers will turn out to be bright boys. But I can’t totally believe that. The thing that worries me most is his understanding instead of speaking. As I have noticed, so far he can only understand simple things like: go get the ball, pass this to your sister; go close the door kind of things. He can’t understand: what’s your name? And how old are you?

I have taken him to see pediatrician twice, he has been confirmed to have no hearing problem. All the answer I can get is: at the age, it is hard to diagnose, let’s give him another few months…. it is probably PDD.

Anybody has the similar situation before and how did things turn out? This is driving me crazy. Please help.

Are you in the US, oath123?

No, actully I am in Canada.

Sorry, then the info I have is no good. It applies to children in the US. There should be some other folks online later than can lead you in the right direction.

Your child needs to be accessed. I find it unusual that your pediatrician hasn't suggested it by now.

Assessment has actually been done. He is speech delay. He is receiving some speech therapy, but improvement is a little slow. They don't want to diagnose him as autism, they say it is PDD. Anybody has a PDD child, can the child turn out to be normal one day?

Define PDD, please. My son is diagnosed MRDD - mentally retarded and developmentally delayed. I consider him normal. He can work and function in society.

PDD is pervasive development delay

Just from my experience I have seen a few kids that were further behind yours in speech and eventually caught up in time for their 3.5 year old accessment that we have here in New Brunswick. I think that if it was PDD he would manifest itself in other skills (walking at 15 months falls within the curve) and not simply speech. I vote for left the little fella find his will to blurt out everything that is on his mind. :)

Thanks for reply. All my friends tell me he will be fine.
But I just fear he may have some sort of autism.. because he seem to be delay not just in expressive language but also in receptive language. Anybody has a late talker boy ?

Language is a motor skill, oath. How are the rest of his physical abilities?

Language is not a motor skill. His other skills looks fine.

Speech is a motor skill, oath. Does he cry in frustration because he can't make you understand him? Have you tried sign language? Both my kids had speech delay - one due to developmental delay the other due to hearing issues, but sign language helped both of them grasp the concept.

Your son may have a speech delay. Don't worry about it. Speech therapy works wonders. And to correct you there is oral motor problems as well in some children due to low muscle tone in the mouth

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Originally Posted by oath123

My son is 27 months old and can’t speak. The only time he can speak is when I point a picture on a book, and there is only 10 to 20 things that he can say, barely clearly though, mostly easy words like “mama, dada, car, ball, duck…. He is good in better in other areas like motor skills, and walking and running. He starts walking at 15 months – quite late.
He is good with puzzles, he smiles and responds to people most of the time.

Most of my friends says late talkers will turn out to be bright boys. But I can’t totally believe that. The thing that worries me most is his understanding instead of speaking. As I have noticed, so far he can only understand simple things like: go get the ball, pass this to your sister; go close the door kind of things. He can’t understand: what’s your name? And how old are you?

I have taken him to see pediatrician twice, he has been confirmed to have no hearing problem. All the answer I can get is: at the age, it is hard to diagnose, let’s give him another few months…., it is probably PDD.

Anybody has the similar situation before and how did things turn out? This is driving me crazy. Please help.

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Hi,

This question sounds too familiar to me. My daughter did not start walking till about 15months. Speaking is a whole other ball game. She is now 3 years old. She really only started speaking more so around 2 or little over... she is getting much better as the months go by. She is also very shy so when we are around others and I ask her to say her name... she won't or she whispers so no one can hear her. I would give it some time though. That is what I do every day... just give it some time.

Thanks. I think your daughter may be brighter still. When you ask her: what’s your name and how old are you? when could she really understand you ? ( at what age) My boy’s problem is he seem not to be able to comprehend what I asked. I wouldn’t worry too much if he can at least understand those.

You can ask your pediatrician about a speech therapist... I believe it is covered by the government up until age 3. That might give you some peace of mind. Every child is different. My daughter still is not potty trained. Very few times will she go on the toilet but I have excepted that every child learns at their own pace. Just find out about the speech therapist.

Can you please just answer me: when do you think your daughter understand the question: what's your name and how old are you? Just understand the question. I am just trying to measure how delay my boy is. Thanks.