You can't understand your child??? Poor Cal has been making leaps and bounds verbally in the last few weeks, and he's really trying to communicate. But there have been several times he's trying to tell me something and I have NO idea what it is. He will say the same thing over and over, and I will try to figure it out. But it's not right, and he's growing more upset and frustrated by the minute and usually ends up crying and wailing out whatever word he was trying to say that I can't understand. I feel so awful!

How in the world do you deal with this?

With some kids it just takes a little more time than others. Try taking him by the hand and asking him to show you what he wants? Maybe if he takes you into the room where it is and then says it again it might help you with your guesses. Good Luck. I remember with mine she kept saying something over and over and finally she started laughing because I just kept saying Honey, I have no idea what yours saying. She finally took be by the hand and let me to it and said it again, when I finally figured out what she was saying she gave me this look like, ok mom, it took you long enough.

Good Luck, I hate that it's upsetting him.

This is usually the reason for the terrible twos!
I agree with BYHOPE, ask him to show you, take you to what he wants. He will get there eventually.

In the mean time you could photograph or draw items like a drink, a treat etc. then he could get the card with the diagram on and show you. Extra work but it may save you a little frustration.

Remain calm, repeat any word he tries so he can understand how to say the word properly. Talk to him and ask him questions where he can answer (open ended).

Good luck!

Have you considered sign language? I hear it's helpful and there is a good video called Signing Time that the kids really take to. It's something you can watch together. Sign the word as well as say it and together you will figure it all out. Good Luck !!!

You could look up about baby signing too.

From about the age of 6 months some research has shown that they can communicate with their carers, begin with small simple signs and progress with time. An important point is to say the words you are signing so the child picks up on the hearing too!

Siren, Hi there! I can totally relate as to what you are going through with your child. How old is your child? I am currently raising my nephew (his mother passed away last summer) who just turned 5 the end of March. He has a SEVERE speech delay. He would make noises but never started trying to talk until he was about 3. Ever since he was very small you could talk to him and he would VERY OFTEN just act like he didnt even hear you. He still does this, however his hearing has been checked and it is just fine.

Before his mother passed away he was recieving speech therapy in the home 3 days per week for about 2 years. He had started coming along nicely, the therapist even had taught him some sign language so he could communicate better, however, I live in a different state and right at this time our county is in dire need of speech therapists so he hasnt been able to have his therapy and it looks as if he will get none until he starts kindergarten in the fall.

All of us who live with him are getting to where we can "translate" what he is saying most of the time, but there are many times that we cant understand what he is saying. Other people who are not around this child much and strangers cant understand a word he is saying as his speech delay is that bad!

To top it off, this child has also had severe bahavior issues since he was very small. I'll tell ya, the things this child does is absolutely crazy and bizarre. No form of discipline works with this child, as he is a constant "repeat offender".
He too gets very aggitated and very angry when he is trying to express himself and we dont understand.

I am very frustrated with this child. He has been going to a "special needs" preschool this year, his teacher is a very highly trained and experienced working with children like him, she too is very frustrated as there is nothing that she has tried with him and she also has not been able to get through to this child and make anytype of headway with him either.

I so hate to give up on a child, but i am pretty much there with him. There just isnt anything else to try with him to get his behavior under control. His behavior has to be under control before we can really help him much with his speech. I am just at my wits end here.

I just wanted to let you know that you certainly arent alone with your frustration over understanding your child. I am so worried as this child is 5 years old and is so totally NON understandable that i worry about how he is going to talk when he is even older!

Sorry to vent on you like this! I didnt mean to go on and on, it is just so frustrating!

ValleyGurl

ValleyGirl; Have you had your nephew evaluated for Autism? If not, Severe speech delay is definately a red flag. You say his behavior is crazy and bizarre. What do you mean? Does he trantrum? If you haven't already, look into getting him evaluated by a developmental pediatrician. If it is Autism maybe he needs more than just speech therapy. He could have sensory issues going on as well and need some occupational therapy. Than could explain some of the odd behavior. Maybe the typical Special Needs class is not the appropriate place for him. If he has PDD (autism) he may need more intesive services.

Not to mention that his whole world was tipped upside down when he lost his mom. That in itself can't be easy. He is lucky to have you. Don't give up on him.

ValleyGirl; Have you had your nephew evaluated for Autism? If not, Severe speech delay is definately a red flag. You say his behavior is crazy and bizarre. What do you mean? Does he trantrum? If you haven't already, look into getting him evaluated by a developmental pediatrician. If it is Autism maybe he needs more than just speech therapy. He could have sensory issues going on as well and need some occupational therapy. Than could explain some of the odd behavior. Maybe the typical Special Needs class is not the appropriate place for him. If he has PDD (autism) he may need more intesive services.

Not to mention that his whole world was tipped upside down when he lost his mom. That in itself can't be easy. He is lucky to have you. Don't give up on him.

jeffreys mom, Thanks for your response. I have had Autism in the back of mymind for some time now. I recently did a search for info and characteristics of Autism and he certainly has quite a few of them. He has never been evaluated for Autism as far as i know. I am not really sure what his mother had done for him before she died, but i am pretty sure it wasnt much.

As far as his bizarre behavior and behavior issues....hmmmmm.....where to start. This child is always doing something bad. He will know that something is bad and he is forbidden to do it, however, even though he knows this and will acknowledge it as well as the consequences if he should do it....and he will do it anyways. He will do something bad and be reprimanded for it and as soon as you are done with him he will go and do it again. He is NEVER accountable for anything! There is always a reason or an excuse. Even while reprimanding him by talking to him his mind is off somewhere else.

He refuses to keep his hands to himself. He is always doing something to someone else. He keeps this household disrupted all the time!
He breaks things, everything!
He doesnt really throw tantrums to much but about 2 months ago just out of the blue he started whining and crying over everything! He is always whining. He will even wake up whining.

He is VERY VERY BIG for his age. He is not fat, just tall and solid. He constantly preys upon smaller children and often a child who may have a "noticeable" disability and if he has the chance will pick them to death and be mean.

For examples of bizarre behavior: All the other children were at school, so he was the only child here that day, he got a bag of cat food and for no reason just shoved it down the toilet!

He will not want to go to the bathroom so he will just pee on his bedroom floor or spit on it or even spit on his own bed. He has pooped on his bedroom floor and then covered it up with a throw rug. He has to wear a diaper to bed because he is a chronic bedwetter (every night) he will take off the diaper full of pee and shove it in somewhere in his room never to be found until i go in and move all his furniture.

He has pooped his pants and wore it around without even telling anyone and even sat at the table and ate a meal with it in his pants.

Oh how the list goes on and on and on...... I am at my wits end with this child! I just dont know how much more i can take before i ship him to the moon!!!!!!!!

ValleyGurl

P.S. All of the behaviors he is displaying, he was doing all of these things before his mother passed away!

Valleygurl, that's fine! Vent all you want. Sounds like you really have some challenges there. Especially becoming a parent all the sudden to a special needs child.

My son will be 2 in July. He's pretty typical, just going through that stage where he's starting to pick up tons of words, much of which I can translate, but a few of which I can't figure out.

I finally figured out the phrase that was the biggest problem. It sounded like "Guh buh" and I had NOOOOO idea what it was. That was the phrase that sparked this post. Well, it means "good boy" lol....... And he thinks he's on to something with it. Basically, every time he gets in trouble or is told to do something he doesn't want to do he says "Good boy! Good boy!" LOL. As if he's saying "I'll be a good boy if you don't make me (whatever)." I guess he picked that up from the way DH always says "What a good boy! It's really nice the way you listen/obey/help etc."