[mcvfkcv]

My son is almost 2 and 1/2 and only says 4 words. He's a very happy little boy, he's also intelligent and likes to be around other people but when I see other children I worry that he's not developing the same way as them. He was also a very late walker, he walks fine now. Someone told me he could be autistic, this terrifies me, his doctor told me to wait and see what happens until he's three. I'm worried, can someone tell me anything? I shouldn't leave out that I'm from Spain and I only speak spanish to him.

[Nicole C 1128]

He might just have a speech delay. Both of my sons have severe delays, but my daughter is fine. Both of them got speech teachers from the age of two and both of them went to and one is currently going to speech school at the age of 3. My older son was worse and talks great now. I wouldn't wait, go to your dr and get a referral for a speech evaluation. The earlier they start working with him the better! Good luck

[hbnorlund]

Where do you live? In many states the public schools will do a screening for delays prior to preschool. They can also screen for hearing problems. I had my daughter evaluated in Washington State when she was 2 and a half. She was also not speaking. She was found to be developmentally delayed. They started her in a developmental preschool. She still receives Special Education services. If he is found to be learning disabled... keep in mind. It is not your fault. There is nothing you could have done differently to prevent a learning disability. AND finally, and I think most importantly, there is nothing to FIX. Your child is not broken, he may learn differently. You may have to use resources to help him adjust. I hope this helps.

[m3vke]

My son is almost 2 and 1/2 and only says 4 words. He's a very happy little boy, he's also intelligent and likes to be around other people but when I see other children I worry that he's not developing the same way as them. He was also a very late walker, he walks fine now. Someone told me he could be autistic, this terrifies me, his doctor told me to wait and see what happens until he's three. I'm worried, can someone tell me anything?. I shouldn't leave out that I'm from Spain and I only speak spanish to him.

Some children don't begin to speak until older than that, some times they just don't have anything to say.

If you are worried I am sure there is some way you could have him speech tested or something similar, not sure what they offer where you are.

[nauticalstar420]

Children do things such as crawl, walk, talk, potty train, etc. in their own time. My son is 2, almost 3, and he just barely started talking, but it was weird... when he realized he could do it, he never stopped talking :)

[Xrayman]

Has his hearing been tested? If he interacts with others well, then he is not likely to be Autistic.

Get it checked NOW. A parent knows when something is not right-push the issue to get a hearing test

[natetheskate]

Clap and you will know, as stated children often speak when they are ready. As parents we often can make a mountain out of a mole hill.

[sheena8]

Why doesn't my son talk at 3 yrs old

[nauticalstar420]

why doesn't my son talk at 3 yrs old

Does he say any words at all? Any words are better than no words. Some 3 year olds speak jibberish with some words in between, does your son do that?

[mcvfkcv]

He now says 6 words: agua=water, hola=hi, bye, papa (he says papa and mama and knows who we are but doesn't call us anything) and recently learned to say Epi=Elmo in spanish.
By the way, we live in Bayonne, NJ and I know for a fact that he doesn't have a hearing problem.

[nauticalstar420]

The best thing you can do is work with him. Read him books, talk to him as if he were an adult (no baby talk), let him watch movies, buy him some games that help him learn words.

He will come around, they just like to do it in their own time sometimes.

[kp2171]

I think you need to give it a little more time. You know at this age they can take great leaps in just a few weeks.

I think my son had a few more words under his belt at 2 1/2, but not a lot more. And he also mumbled a lot of them. He used to run around babbling to people about things and you might be able to catch a word or two if you were lucky.

When in preK the teacher, whom I respect a lot, noticed some speech "issues" and asked to have him checked... not so much that she thought anything was really wrong, but she wanted to know if there were things she needed to work on with him... the speech counselor said she thought his speech was actually advanced, but his brain and mouth were not in synch yet. Especially when excited.

Now, to a person that didn't know my son, they might have said he has speech issues. My opinion is that he learns things as he needs them. If he asks for something and he doesn't get it, he needs to find a way to restate or recommunicate it.

Just like your son walking. My son started walking much later that his sister did. My wife said he will walk when he decides its important enough to do to get what he wants. I really think that's the truth.

So... like all parents, you are going to worry about things that aren't and things that might be. I just think he's got a few years before you really need to worry about anything unless there's just no forward progress.

[Xrayman]

He now says 6 words: agua=water, hola=hi, bye, papa (he says papa and mama and knows who we are but doesn't call us anything) and recently learned to say Epi=Elmo in spanish.
By the way, we live in Bayonne, NJ and I know for a fact that he doesn't have a hearing problem.

A) No clapping will NOT tell you if he understands language. Just that he hears loud claps?! (referring to another post).

B) How do you know for sure he can hear properly?-has the level of hearing been quantified? What is his auditory range? (as in spectrum?)what is his language understanding level? Does he say all the words (6 of them) the exact way? Do ANY other people say that they can't understand the words he says?-sometimes others not related to us give us honest information-you may understand the word he tries to say, but it may be gobbledegook for others-pointing toward speech/hearing.

To me you have not convinced me that all this has been done. Sorry to be a dog with a bone, but at this point (if there is a hearing problem) it can be remedied, leave it too long and it is permanent.

Cheers.

[TheNikels]

I was just curious. Since you do live in the US are you making any attempts to teach him English? Bi-lingual children can sometimes take a little longer. If you are only speaking Spanish, But he is hearing English as well. Maybe he is just confused.

[mcvfkcv]

You are right, he has been saying much more since I started speaking just in English.

[mcvfkcv]

He has also been going to school for 3 months now. I think that's what really helped him.

[TheNikels]

I am actually having some concern for my son not speaking yet as well. I have read all of your comments and answers trying to get some perspective. Good Luck! You seem to be getting good advise over all.