Thank you everyone for all your thoughtful advice  !!! All of it is sooo true. Nick is three years and four months now and is talking really well. I went through all the avenues to get to this point and have realised that all it really took was time. The doctors, baby health nurses, child psychologists, and speech therapists were all very reassuring. When I initially wrote this I was devastated because at two Nick wasn't even saying mum anymore. He had a language delay of about 9months. The worrying part was that he had been babbling at the right times in his first year (6-12months) and even said some words, mum, dad, hat, dog but just...... stopped... For almost a year he was quiet. I started to worry that he might have autism and sought all kinds of help. We had regular appointments with our baby health nurse and our GP referred us to a speech therapist who diagnosed him at 2 1/2 yrs as having a moderate expressive language delay of 9 months and a moderate phonological disorder because when he did start talking he would leave off the beginnings of words, everything was 'ar', 'ee', 'oy' and so on. We went to a music class at the University of Newcastle's Conservatorium of Music and the two ladies who ran it were awesome!! In Nick's group there were about 5 children, all with a range of different problems including autism and behavioural difficulties. The group taught me so much about how to interact better with Nick. I know that it would probably just come naturally to most people but I'm not a very confident person and I had to learn to communicate with him on a more simple level. I had been talking to him in full sentences and had to learn to just use singe words or just two words at a time. At the Music Group I was also able to learn more about Nick and I learnt to handle frustrations on both our parts much better by understanding the causes. Therefore tantrums were easily worked through and I think we skipped the terrible two's. To this day Nick's a very happy and easily pacified little guy who gets loads of attention for his good manners and pleasant nature. He's just gorgeous and really easy going. I absolutely love him to bits!! 

So after all that Nick's now 3 and is talking in full sentences and really clearly. There are still some speech sounds that he struggles with and will simply drop, and we are still in the system to get speech therapy for him, but he may not need that for another year. He's just going really well now and will get better with time.

I hope this offers others mums hope that all will be well. Children do need lots of nurture and stimulation to encourage language development but at some point they also need to have the motivation to talk. And they all do in there own time!! Even for children with learning difficulties and autism, there are early intervention initiatives for kids to learn to communicate. There is hope for everyone! If you are worried, there is always someone who you can talk to for help, and there's loads of services available. It's also great for kids to learn from other kids too. Playgroup and Preschool are vital for kids to learn the first important socialisation skills that will help them throughout their lives.

Thanks again to everyone who offered me support through the beginning and to those who have shown support recently. Good luck to everyone who's waiting for their children to talk. Trust me.. It will happen!! 

 Best wishes 

Hayley 

Some really fantastic answers here. I thought that I'd just point out that some of our most intelligent citizens did not start talking until quite late. Einstein apparently did not start talking until he was five! The only other thing I have to say is that if you have concerns get him checked out because if there are any issues, early intervention gives you and him the best chance at an average/normal happy life. See your Doctor if you have to.

My step daughter had issues with talking.. Not sure why exactly but once she got to school she really took off with it...

As for my son, I sort of refused to understand him unless he spoke...  Sounds cruel.. But for example if he wanted a bit of fruit, I'd hold an apple and a banana and say "Would you like the apple or the banana?" while showing him what each one was....  And he would not always get it right first time, but if he pointed I would just tell him nicely that I did not understand him he would have to tell me which one he wanted...  And each time he made an attempt i let him have which ever it was...  Eventually he'd get the words right...

If I just said to him I did not understand him he would try and I'd repeat the words for him so he could copy me... When I noticed it was getting frustrating for him I'd give him a break...  But I did that with most things...

Sorry I don't understand... Of course he was not able to say everything straight away so you have to be a little forgiving and just let him have it if there was an attempt made at actually telling you what it was he wanted...  Eventually the attempts become real words, which become sentences...

Some kids are a little quicker with picking up speech then others, and in the words of the great Pantine ad for shampoo "IT won't happen over night but it will happen"...

Good luck xx

my daughter didnt talk properly until she was about 3 and alot of people gave me a hard time about it even though until they di i wasnt worried at all.

i took her to a doctor and she checked her ears and things then sat down and held up objects like toy cows and said each one and got my daughter to repeat and she could, all her words were there but she still didnt speak for another few months and when she did it was full sentances overnight!

kids are strange lol

My litle boy is 2 and a half and only says five words. It annoys me so much when people ask if I've had his hearing checked or advice me to read/talk to him etc. Of course I have and of course I do. I'm a stay at home mum and I constantly explain everythng to him, read to him every day, take him on trips out to show him the world and everything in it. Of course I repeat things, of course I point things out to him, of course I encourage him in every possible way. I am absolutely devastated that he can't talk. Nobody seems to have any answers for me. He understands everything I say and is so clever in all other ways. Like others have said- i just wish my wonderful son would talk to me.

My son, who's 11 now, had the same issue. When he was 18 months, he would only say a few words. I called for a speech evaluation, and they came to the house, did the assessment, and said he's not elgible for services. I asked why?, and they said he just didn't have anything to say. The next day, my son was talking like he should. He had an issue saying the word "school". I was told children have an issue with that word until the age of 6. My son said it perfectly at age 6. I'm not a speech therapist, or anything like that. I'm just a mom. I hope my opinion helped you, and good luck with your son's evaluation.....

Hi!  As everyone else has said it is not unusual and you can certainly do a lot to help.  Reading is one - talking to them and giving them time to answer - not asking too many questions as it can stress them but letting them know that they can have a say in things - singing and nursery rhymes are brilliant for sound recognition and the rhythm that underlines speaking - ensuring that they have quiet times where they can communicate without too much competition and if they do say something, affirm it, repeat it and show you've understood.  I'm sure he'll get there.

My son was the same way. When he turned 2, he definitely understood a lot because he follows simple instructions but he didn't speak very much. He strings 2 words every now and then, but he mostly pointed at things.

By 26 months, he started saying more and more and after that his speach just took off like a rocket ship.

While you are waiting for a speech assesment, try to encourage speech at time being. If he is pointing at something he wants, tell him the word and maybe get him to say it once.

Good luck!

My youngest was a late talker and it was his ear infections that was causing the issue.

But, my friends youngest was not talking till 2 and even then his new words he was learning were not that extrememly clear. She went to a different Dr. to find out that the little thingy under his toungue was too short. You know, that little stretchy skin thing under your tongue? Well they did a simple snip in outpatient surgery and that did the trick. Just thought I would share this story and want to add maybe you should see a Dr.

But some children will talk later. I work in a preschool  and in the 2-3 year old room half are chatty and others either know one word or very few.

Once you find out his health is ok then there wont be anything to worry about till he is ready to take off and talk.

I will be thinking of you both.

I know this sounds silly, but have you had his ears checked? I know when my daughter has ear infections, she clams right up. And my friend's brother, everyone thought he was going deaf because he wouldn't talk, but he turned out to have a weird (and gross sounding lol) ear wax prob.

Is he well socialized? It seems like kids talk faster when they have other kids to follow and copy.

Don't stress! You never know! He could be practicing out of earshot and one day he'll just come up to you and spout out a full sentance!

Good luck!!

my son is 20 months old. and he only says mommy, daddy, nana, up, hello, and ta. i was abit worried to, but i guess he will talk when he is ready. i have read to him ever since he was born.

I know exactly how you feel as my first child was speaking early and now my middle child who is 16 months and although is a little younger than yours doesn't say anything really as my first child was speaking clearly at this age.  He can say words but just doesn't but he finds other ways of communicating and i suppose he manages to get what he wants and needs so feels that he does not need to. At first i though he had something wrong with him but upon watching him and his body language i can see he will just do it when he is ready.

Don't worry too much each child will develop in there own time and it never hurts to get an assesment and who know's by then you probably won't even need to keep the appointment as he will be chatting away.

Polly

Our little Caty did not talk untill she was 21/2yrs, then she added a few words, she is three this week and is suddenly, chatting away like an old hand. Our eldest was talking within a week of her 1rst Birthday. If you feel frustrated and want to be doing something to help him, Just get lots of different books with vibrant pictures and chatter to him about the pictures, just keep pointing out the pictures and associate with him. Read,read,read. We act out some of the stories, like "Were going on a Bear Hunt" or "Room on the Broom". Best wishes, however try not to worry too much, we all come on at our own pace. My Brother was 3yrs before he uttered a word, then went straight to talking in clear sentences, now at 40yrs, we cant get him to shut up.LOL

Luv,Winnie.xx

there is a boy who goes to the church I went to that did not talk.  He's like almost 4 and at about 3 he still did not talk.  He has 2 older brother, twins, and they talked alot earlier then him.  It's very normal.  My niece is almost 3 and her vocabulary is about that of my what my girl had when she was 18m.  Every baby is different, and as long as he is using other cues for you, he is probably just content to not say anything else.  In his eyes if you understand him without talking, then he sees no need to try.  With my girl, from day one I would talk to her like I would anyone else, and when she wanted something I would say tell me what you want and I would respond to the verbal cues.  Even if the words are not exact.  I would also play a game where I would say a word and ask her to repeat it.  This helped her to have a huge vocabulary at such a young age....Just keep at it and keep encouraging him to talk.  He does understand what you say right?  If yes, then he just sees no reason to talk just yet....But don't worry cause soon he won't stop talking!  My girl is not stop chatterbox, lol....Take care!

late delveopment can be a sign of a few things. He might be like a friend of hime and her daughter wouldnt talk until she could make full sentances. or there is worse case and it is something like Autisim. My son spoke late and is autistic but is doing better now. i would see your doc and see what he thinks as they know a bit better than a health nurse.