Problem solving the frugal way.

[Radiance]

One of the problems I have is that I tend to look for solutions to problems that involve spending money.
So now I have a problem, my 16th month old will not talk, his only word, whish he used once in a blue moon (maybe once every other week) is "No"
He does not say mom, or water or mama, or agua (Spanish for water) nothing, nada.

The first solutions I thought about? Speech therapy, and then, by googling my problem, I am presented to a world of products from books to DVDs, and also kits and courses to help toddlers figure out speech. My credit cards are tingling...

But I stepped back and one of the centers I called directed me to a free service by the State of Florida. I am navigating their system. They are all very nice, but each number I call directs me to a new one.

While that is rolling I still want to find games I can do with my son at home as it relates to speech, talking, etc.

What are frugal solutions to my dilemma?

[arthurb999]

Spend more time with him teaching him words. that's all there is to it. Maybe the Noggin TV channel.

[disneysteve]

Have you spoken to his pediatrician? Speech therapy, if needed, should be available through your insurance plan.

[Radiance]

His pediatrician and his teacher say he seems to be very intelligent and it must be a matter of time. I want him evaluated. Florida state offers free evaluation and therapy. It is just an inconvenient locations and hours.

Does anybody know what else I can do.
Or a better question is:

What are free or cheap games for speach for toddlers?
I'll ask on my mothering.com forum too.

The important shift is that I didn't run to buy any of the resources I found online, yeah me!

[graceful]

Are you bilingual?

The reason I ask is that I grew up in a bilingual houseful that actually spoke 2 dialects of Chinese as well as the obligatory Seasame Street English and I apparently did not speak until I was about 3 years old and when I did and was able to speak all 3 and distinguish one from another. In other words, no Chinglish.

My oldest DD did not really speak at all at a young age and I didn't worry because of my own experience. She started speaking at just before 3 also and when she did it was "perfectly" and in complete sentences. She was never a babbler. She is a perfectionist and she doesn't say anything if she is not sure that it won't come out of her mouth correctly. It's a bit of a shame because she won't speak Chinese because she is afraid to try.

Younger DD was a babbler and will parrot any thing we say and started "talking" at a young age. And she will laugh at herself if it sounds funny. Needless to say, her Chinese is much better than her sisters.

If your son is evaluated as "intelligent" and has no trouble understanding everything you say, it "may" be a matter of personality.

Good luck.

[swanson719]

My DW was like that Gracefuls elder DD. She didn't start talking until she was over 2, but when she did it was in complete thoughts.

[Radiance]

Yes, we speak Spanish at home, but he is exposed to both Spanish and English at the preschool. TV is usually in English....Interesting.

At the mothering forum they tell me that, just for my peace of mind, have him evaluated, if anything for hearing screening.

Most cases of speech problems due to hearing are also accompanied by multiple ear infections.
DS only had one 24 hour mild ear infection (garlic oil and not fighting the fever was enough to cure him)

I wil take the free florida evaluation.
I found some info on games to play that promote speaking but I found nothing I am not doing already on daily playing.

I think he will be ok. He just doesn't see the point on using spoken words.
I talk a lot with my face and hands..... I think that doesn't help either. He has the same 'skill'
Thanks everybody

[wincrasher]

I wouldn't worry at 16 months. He should be making noises though.

You never know when they will start talking or what they will say.

One day I was out shopping with my sister and my oldest nephew was in his car seat in the back happy as a clam. He wasn't talking besides "momma" and "dadda" occaisonally. Well we are driving along and sis swerves around a car that has pulled out in front of us. From the back seat we hear "asshole"!

I suppose he picked that up from his father.

[PrincessPerky]

Congrats on not spending money

Yes do evaluate, but also relax, Bilingual kids tend to take longer to start talking but when the do talk they speak both languages. Number one thing to find out is if he can communicate with you..do you know what he wants?

As to specific games..try teaching him simple signs (thank you, more, please. out, shoes, walk-borrow a library book or look up online, or make them up, just be consistant)
Color..name the colors you use/he asks for
Babble...you want him to do it so do it...bababababa or lalalala, pick a letter a day and use it every time you mess with your hair, or wash your hands whatever else you do in a day a lot. (speaking of washing hands, start singing a song when you do with him...any song, just sing)
Animal sounds, get a book point out the name of the animal, then make the sound, ask him to, but don't push. (feel free to name it in English and Spanish, or just one)
When you play with blocks/other toys, spend an extra second naming each toy, do it multiple ways (red block, this is a red block, I have a red block, I will put the red block on top, red block)

So long as you never stop talking he is getting the single most important element for a child to learn to talk...the TV doesn't count IMO.

My oldest two talked early, my third was average, but seemed to take so long, well now I can't shut him up, so I am not to unhappy that my 4th is taking her time

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[mom-from-missouri]

Mine all talked very early in complete sentences before they were 2 years old. (probably because I talk all the time???)

My brothers children didn't until after their 2nd and 3rd birthdays.

Different kids develop at different rates. IQ doesn't always come into play.

My nephews first word/sentence was "I'd rather not do that right now" at 27 months.

Test him but don't worry over it.

[Radiance]

I received a call from the Florida State Early steps program.
They will call me in 2-10 days to give me a date/time for appointment.

Meanwhile, he says 'No' very clearly and consistently,

He also says 'co-co' when he sees any bird.
He invented a sign for 'I am hungry" based on the sign for "more"
He says the sign for milk and bath consistently....

He uses a lot of body language, and have been told recently that I do that a lot.
well, ... Actually
I ran out of staples yesterday, instead of asking for some verbally, I showed the empty stapler to a co worker and make a munch munch sound.
He undesttood! The stapler has hungry, so he gave me some staplers and said: "and then you ask why your son uses body language instead of words!??"

He got me on that one... I talk to my son a lot! but I use lots of body language, soooooo

Anywho, waiting for that apointment.

[Radiance]

Appointment is Thursday at 3:00 PM.

He is calling me called Leh...not even close to mommy, but at least I have a name...

He calls his dad Mama....
What is up with that?

[zakity]

When one of my twins as in speech, his early "classes" were him and me doing an activity and him copying the sound I was making. We would hold him on my hip (you know, the regular parental hip carry) and I would bounce him and go "ooo, ooo, ooo" as I was bouncing him and then stop and he was expected to copy the "ooo" sound back to me and when he did, I would bounce him again. Then, I would bounce him and say "aw, aw, aw" and so on and so forth. We would work through all the vowel sounds like that.

He also had oral apraxia and some other issues. He couldn't talk because his brain wasn't processing it correctly (central processing disorder).

Also, we did some sign language and, when he got older, the manual alphabet.