Should I be worried that my two-year-old doesn’t speak yet?

Question

He understands A LOT, and can definitely express himself in many ways, he’s just ... not verbal. At all. He’s said probably a handful of single half-words here and there, but he doesn’t repeat them. I’m not sure if I should start getting concerned about this or what.... 
If I ask him things like ‘where is your tummy?’ He will point to his tummy, he knows hair, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, nose, shoulders, hands, tummy, knees, and feet for body parts (for example, so he does understand things) 
And both his dad and I try to practice simple words around him over and over so he will pick up on at least one thing, I talk to him a lot when he points to stuff so he knows the names of different objects... I’m just kinda at a loss here.. 
Thoughts?

Answer

Should you panic? No
Should you look into it? Yes. Speak to his doctor and consider meeting with a speech therapist. IF there is a problem, early intervention is important.

Answer

I don’t know where you live, but you should look into Early Intervention if your area offers it. They will send specialists out to your house and address any concerns you have. They will do their own assessment and tell you where your son stands. If he qualifies for help (which it sounds like he will) it’s FREE. They come to you once a week for an hour (could be more or less depending on what’s needed) and they will give you tips and show you how to help your son along with helping him themselves. They are great.

Answer

I wouldn’t necessarily worry, but it’s worth discussing with your pediatrician and getting a referral for early intervention services, like the other commenter said. At 2, kids are expected to have 2 word phrases, but it seems like plenty of kids vary on this. 
My son will be 2 next week, and he is also nonverbal. He goes to speech therapy twice a week, and early intervention comes out once every other week for an hour. He has been going for about 7-8 weeks, and he’s now using sign language, and hes getting less frustrated as he is learning how to communicate better. My son is also at risk of being on the autism spectrum, so we are having him evaluated for that too. I’m not saying your child is at risk for autism at all, but it just happens to be our situation.

Answer

My son is 2 and doesn’t really talk. He has said words and had put multiple words together and has repeated them. But he doesn’t repeat a lot and he just says it when he wants I guess which isn’t too often. His doctor isn’t worried and said it will come with time but if it doesn’t by his next checkup then he might need help. I didn’t start taking until I was 3. My boyfriends niece didn’t talk until she was 3. Never anything wrong. Just on our own time. Of course you can get it checked it won’t hurt. But we also now have him in daycare 2 days a week and he just started an early preschool today so we’re hoping being around other kids his age will help as well.

Answer

I don’t think it’s something to be alarmed by but maybe talk to a speech therapist or his pediatrician about it. I’ve never heard of a 2 year old not speaking very much words. Has his doctor not been concerned about it?

Answer

It happens more often than you think. I am a home health aide and some speech therapists reccomend requiring him to talk. Like YOU know when he is hungry but make him say it. Or if he wants a specific toy dont just give it to him try telling him "I dont know unless you say it". Some kids will do good on yes or no questions and you can build from there but dont let him slide with non verbal if you're concerned. Usually if a kid doesnt have to talk and still get what they want they wont for awhile

Should I be worried that my two-year-old doesn’t speak yet?

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