two year old language development - Children's Health Message Board

ethelreda · 08-09-2002, 12:36 PM

Hope you don't mind me asking, but I have a friend (no really!) whose younger boy is just two. We spend quite a lot of time all together and I would like someone else's view on this. He doesn't talk yet, I have girl's who were early talkers, but I know that boys are often later. the thing is, he doesn't respond to speech at all. He doesn't even turn his head if you say his name. He doesn't recognize the word mommy. Basically he doesn't look at you at all if you speak. He can hear, I was pushing him on a swing a while back and singing and he got very excited and joined in. He can sing tunes. He likes toys that make a noise and chooses those buttons that give a noise. He is very independent but he does come to his mother for cuddles and he does sometimes climb on my lap. I worry about him..should I ? PS his older brother was fairly late talking but he used to watch me speak.

Nicksmom · 08-10-2002, 10:19 AM

some of the things you describe sounds like mild autism. I know because my 6year old son has it. He should be evaluated now because the earlier you get help, the better he can improve, if he has it. If you said he wans't talking yet and he's only two, I'd say don't worry about it because it isn't uncommom for boys to not talk untill they are almost 3, but what makes me wonder is the fact he doesn't turn his head if you say his name, and doesn't recognize the word mommy....but he can hear, and the fact that he doesn't like to be cuddled. Alot of autistic kids are usually into music, so the fact that he can get excited about that and nothing else can be a sign. I could be wrong and I hope so....but he should be evaluated by a child psychologist.

VAmom31 · 08-10-2002, 10:36 PM

I second that advice! It definately sounds like autism.

ethelreda · 08-17-2002, 01:10 PM

Thanks for your advice. I saw him the other day and he looked at me! first time! and he let me comfort him after he fell over. I asked your advice because he has a two year check coming up and his mother will get very angry if it is suggested anything is wrong. I wanted to be prepared. Her older child has some behaviour problems, repetitive things like emptying boxes at preschool, switching things on and off and finds things like accidents very funny and she got very angry when the preschool tried to discuss this with her. I find it hard to be supportive without annoying her.

ethelreda · 09-02-2002, 07:34 AM

He's had his two year check. He's going to have a hearing test, presumably they won't do that by speaking to him as he still ignores speech. He's started saying Dadadadadadada to himself when he's happy, still doesn't recognise his name...