my nearly 3 year old nephew not talking

lollol

My nephew who is nearly 3 years old cant talk. He has not started saying any words. unfortunately my cousin seems to be in denial about this and is reluctant to accept that there is a problem. she has only direcrtly spoken about it to one person in the family.

any ideas how we can try and help the child.

I do not know the full symptoms but what i have noticed is that he is very clingy with his parents, points to items he wants but does not say anything, seems to recognise cartoon characters

any advice please

merlot123

In my experience (have 2 children), it is not unusual for a 3 year old not to talk at that age. Why should the child talk when the Mother gives him what he wants when he points:D

I wouldn't be worried at this age.

As for the clingy child, again nothing to be concerned about.

You mention symptoms? what do you mean by this?

merlot123

chunkychocky

I mentioned in passing to my HV once about the fact that my youngest didn't make any attempt at speech. He was probably around 18 months to 2 years. He didn't babble, or coo, or say dadada or mamama like most babies do. They sent him for a hearing test as they said that was the most likely cause (I'll also point out that generally he had been a bit developmentally delayed - first sat up at 10 months, didn't walk until 18 months). He had no problem with his hearing but at least it helped to know.

When he first made an attempt at speech at around 2 and a half it was a perfect sentence in perfect English, and now we can't shut him up. It has been suggested by the pre-school that we should have him assessed as 'gifted' whatever that means, so that he can have the extra work and attention that they think his enquiring mind will need when he starts school.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there may or may not be a problem and it would certainly be worth having his hearing checked, but all children develop differently. My example shows that it isn't necessarily a bad thing, and apparently I didn't speak English until I was 3-and-a-half as I created my own language and expected everyone else to learn it!

The clingy thing is something that most children go through, some more than others. I wouldn't worry about that for now.

nonnatus

Is he an only child? Does he have a dummy? (shudder...) Is he reaching all the other developmental milestones? Is his hearing OK? When did they last see a health professional of any kind?

j.e.j.

I seem to remember a health professional commenting that my nephew 'should be speaking in full sentences' by the age of three. (He was almost 3 at the time and was very quiet and only saying the odd word now and then). With him it turned out that although he was a bit later in starting to speak than other children, there was no problem as such. Within a year or so he was chatting away fine!

Is your nephew the first child by any chance? I notice that younger siblings seem to be a bit more 'vocal' as the children talk to each other, so chances are a 2nd or 3rd child will learn to speak sooner than the first.

olgadapolga

Your cousin should speak to her health visitor, who can do an assessment of his speech and refer to audiology and speech and language therapy if necessary.

Does your nephew get much interaction with other children of the same age? Very often that can encourage children to start talking; the children's centres are a good place to start, along with pre-schools. If your nephew is over the age of three, he should be entitled to 15 hours funding for a nursery/pre-school place.

HTH

VfM4meplse

Again, I wouldn't worry.

chunkychocky wrote: »

When he first made an attempt at speech at around 2 and a half it was a perfect sentence in perfect English, and now we can't shut him up.

The experience of many parents! Although the perfect sentence is rare.

I agree with j.e.j. about first children btw. I think your nephew has probably developed a way of communicating with his parents that work for him, so is disiniclined to speak atm. If they were to ask him open questions, it would encourage him to attempt speech. Once kids latch on to as being a useful tool to getting their own way, there's no going back.

marisco_2

My youngest son was just as you describe your nephew. I was very cocnerned about it as my eldest had been the complete opposite and said first words on his first birthday etc.

When my youngest use to point at things he wanted I would say ' so you would like your teddy xxxxxx, say please mummy may I have my teddy'. Of course he didn't but it was all going in. Once I had handed it to him I would say ' now xxxxxx you say thank you mummy'

When we were out in the car I would be chatting away to him pointing out the big red bus, the trees, look see that dog over their going for a walk. You get the idea.

Shopping trips were amusing as I would walk up and down the aisles chatting away to this little guy who never responded to me. Chatting about what we would have for dinner and what would he like for breakfast. Everything I picked up I would show him and say 'lets put this bunch of bananas in the trolley', look xxxx here is some cereal.

Some children start talking in a very bitty way and stumble through words and put sentences together very gradually. Other children sit back, watch what is going on, take it all in and then start talking in clear sentences.

My son started a really good nursery when he was 2 1/2. They focused on lots of singing and using nursery rhymes. Adding in actions when singing really helps children absorb the words. At first my son would hum the tunes to himself then very gradually he would add in words. Repetition really helped him.

By 4 he was speaking fluently and his grasp of grammar was really good. He did have hearing tests which were carried out by his health visitor. His delay in speaking has not held him back at all. He is a bright, articulate little boy who is way ahead with his reading, comprehension and writing. He is the chattiest little boy now and has lots of fun and lovely ideas that he feels confidant to share. Had you told me he would be like this 3 years ago I would not have believed you.

If your nephew attends a nursery or pre-school I would think they would raise any concerns with his mum and make appropriate referrals. One thing I have learnt over the years is that children will do things in their own sweet time

jackieb

My nephew was the same. If he wanted a drink he'd take someone's hand (usually mum or dad's) and take them to the fridge, he wouldn't ask for one. Chances are your nephew is fine, but my nephew was diagnosed with autism. He talks fine now though.

dibuzz

Kids are all different, if his hearing is ok then I wouldn't worry yet. Boys are often slower too. Any problems are often picked up at nursery and being with other kids might encourage him to speak when he goes.
My youngest was talking in complete sentences at 10 months, walking as well and I felt cheated because he seemed to miss out a lot of the baby stage. Then again he only slept 2 hours a night so if you counted the hours he was probably 5 :rotfl:

LandyAndy

jackieb wrote: »

My nephew was the same. If he wanted a drink he'd take someone's hand (usually mum or dad's) and take them to the fridge, he wouldn't ask for one. Chances are your nephew is fine, but my nephew was diagnosed with autism. He talks fine now though.

That was my first thought when I read the OP but with MrsLA's work I tend to see it because I'm looking for it, IYSWIM.:)

FWIW our elder son didn't talk until quite late and then started with sentences.