| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 27 2009 : 4:02:07 PM
Nora is 2.5 and it seems like she isn't talking as clearly as some other kids her age are. However I know she can hear very well as she can hear me whisper. But I am still going to get her hearing screened just incase she can't hear some ranges.
Anyway she surprised me this week- perhaps it is just because I am paying more attention lately to her speech or maybe she has had some breakthroughs...but...
Just now she found a sample children's audiobook about Gorillas. The package has pictures of Gorillas and children on it and she picked it up and said "Movie about Monkeys?"
I told her "No, it's not a movie. It's a book. Would you like to listen to it?"
"Yes, Mama!" So I proceeded to open the audio book wrapping and put it into the computer. I gave her the packaging as it has some mini games and such inside.
"Oh! Monkeys!!" Where did she pick Monkeys up from? None of her toys have monkeys. They are all barnyard animals. the only think I can think of is from Curious George that she sometimes watches on our PBS channel! How funny is that!
So I am starting to think that my daughter is just way more into pretending and imagining and maybe I shouldn't be worried (Yeah right- don't all parents worry! LOL)
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
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| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| StarMeadow |
Posted - Aug 29 2009 : 4:21:28 PM
Hey Alee..you've heard from the professional...let me add my two cents.... "ditto"!!! LOL.
Actually, I went and hauled out my journal of my first (now about to turn 16) At almost two it was things like -- take it over there -- daddy fix it --- more noodles please --- mama sing please --- pnut butter sandwich please --- thank your welcome --- (goodness he was a polite child...what happened?) -- call grandma -- kiss the boo boo....stuff like that. That was late July...then by November he exploded with stuff like -- I want eat Chinese/rice/noodles -- deers are eating corn -- Mac barks loud -- That's a workin' man! -- I work at the computer -- I take a nap in Mama's bed - Oh, and here's a jem -- (I'm a star trek fan BTW) Space! The final frontier! By January I had written that he was talking up a storm so much that it was hard to keep track. He was having a conversation on the phone, instead of just listening, and he sang a lullaby almost all the way through with no help.
Sounds like your little gem is doing great! |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 29 2009 : 2:43:11 PM
Oh Julia! You are a GEM! Thank you so much! That really does set my mind to ease! Today I was slapping at a fly that was landing on me and Nora came over, grabbed my hand and said "No Hitting! You be nice!" Very clearly and I was actually kindof taken aback because that is something she had to of picked up at daycare. She doesn't hit at home (and I hope she doesn't at daycare) so we don't usually have to coach her to "be nice" but I am sure at daycare kids are getting coached to "be nice" several times a day!
So thank you very much for you insights, Julia! Reading your post makes me feel so much better and having thought about it for a few days I can see how Nora is gaining more each day. *hugs* Thanks again!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
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| julia hayes |
Posted - Aug 29 2009 : 09:41:44 AM
Alee, ok, I'm going to dust off my Speech Pathology and Audiology training and offer some thought here.
First and foremost, relax. Nora is only 2 1/2 and her 'lack of speech' at this age is perfectly normal. The variation of children and language from 2 -4 years is ENORMOUS! Intelligibility also varies a great deal and is very very common for mothers to act as interpreters for their kids. Children often reverse sounds like r's sound like w's or r's are replaced with l's, the 's' sound can come out in all manner of ways. All of it is perfectly normal development. Some kids omit sounds in certain words and not others. This is ALL part of learning language.
The other thing worth mentioning is that their comprehension of language is much better than their expressive language. In other words, they understand A LOT more than they can typically speak. If you were finding her unable to understand you, then I would worry. If she stared at you blankly when you spoke to her, I would worry. If you held her on your lap and showed a book pointing out characters and she wasn't copying you once in a while, I might wonder. If she was babbling still and not making ANY attempts at words, I'd worry.
With respect to her hearing, if getting her hearing screened would make you feel better, go right ahead but testing a child at this age can be a challenge. It is NOT a matter of plopping a set of headphones on and having her raise her hand whenever she hears a little beep. It is usually much more involved than that. Not to imply anything invasive, but it typically requires training the children to do some task when they hear the sound OR put them in a audiology booth on your lap while sounds come out of speakers and Nora would turn her head to the sound. This is a typical screening procedure for kids her age. I can tell you right now that it can be kind of scary for little kids.
It is VERY uncommon for kids to be born with hearing loss in certain ranges (frequencies) and not others. The most common kind of hearing loss is temporary and due to ear infections. Permanent hearing losses do happen and the hearing screenings that occur right after babies are born are GREAT in identifying them early on. It would be extremely rare for her to pass that neonatal screening, have language now at 2 1/2 regardless of what any of her peers are doing and have some kind of hearing loss. Rare rare rare!
In terms of language development there is a super easy gauge and that is that this age she ought to be putting at least 2 words together. "Bye Mama! Yes Mama. Not that! Go pee-pee! Want that. etc.etc." She is already using higher language skills and her 'clearer speech' will come with time and practice. Preschool will be a wonderful thing for her too so she can be around peers and practice speaking that way when she and you are ready for that.
Sounds to me like you have a perfect little toddler! I've met her and indeed you do!
Much love, ~julia
being simple to simply be
Farmgirl #30
www.julia42.etsy.com
www.about-aria.blogspot.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 27 2009 : 11:46:01 PM
Teresa- Yes, she is an only child. That is kindof what I am thinking too. Doug and I talk like adults around her, so I am thinking it might be taking her longer to really understand the variance that our speech means, but hopefully once she learns to really wrap her tongue around the words, she will have a broad understanding. She does speak pretty clearly for her age. She can pronouce r's which a lot of little kids struggle with, and l's which is another hard one.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| Sitnalta |
Posted - Aug 27 2009 : 5:39:29 PM
Levi is around Nora's age. He will be 3 in February. I was so worried because he didn't say much for a long time. Over the passed month or so, he's been spitting out full sentences even with bigs words in them.
I thought about having him tested for hearing or speech impediments, but a friend of mine said I should wait and see what happens.
It seemed like he just started really talking all at once. I am sure that is what will happen with Nora. :) We Mommys worry alot when we think our kids should maybe be doing something around a certain time, but every person including the little ones all have their own pace and everyone is different. :D
hugs
Jessie
People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.
www.messiejessie2.blogspot.com |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Aug 27 2009 : 5:31:49 PM
Is she an only child, if so is she around other children her age alot, kids learn speech by copying others, especially other kids their age. Most 1st children are later in speech, the 2nd child learns from the first, the 3rd learns from the first 2, and so on. Usually each additional child learns to speak and speak clearer then the previous, and earlier.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| Annika |
Posted - Aug 27 2009 : 5:27:28 PM
I'd worry too, but like I didn't talk much until I was 3, and now I never shut up 
I think that she is just a very intelligent child and plays in her own imagination a lot.
I am childless so I have no good advice, but if you are worried about her, it will ease your mind to have her checked out, and that will save you a lot of lost sleep.
The monkey thing is just too funny! she is such a smart little person!
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
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