Talks A Lot but Can't Understand

[WImom]

I have a DCG that turned 2 in Aug. She started here in September. I still can't understand most of what she is saying. She does talk but I can't understand her. I can understand the word Blue, Daddy, Hi, and a few others. I usually tell her to say "help" if she needs something and she will say that but it's not really clear.

She gets very frustrated easily when she can't do something or someone has a toy she wants or took hers. She has trouble playing with other kids and is constantly taking their toys (I'm thinking because she can't talk to them to ask)

She also doesn't listen well to directions during our routines but she is two so that may be why.


I have another child also a girl that is 2 weeks younger than her and is way ahead of her with everything. I know your not suppose to compare but it has me wondering. My children were very early talkers and up until now either a child was already in speech before they came here or they were fine talking. I care for ages 2-5y so they usually start here already talking. I don't' want to wait too long so she can get help if needed but don't want to say anything if it's normal for her age.

Is this normal or should I suggest she be evaluated?

[AmyKidsCo]

It's hard to say... My grandson just turned 3 and I can't understand most of what he says, despite his being here full time for over a year. His older sister is 5 and i can't understand her most of the time either. They both have higher voices and don't enunciate. :roll eyes:

I would pick some key words and work with him on enunciation, then add a couple more words as he masters the first ones. (Not that it's helping with my grandkids, but maybe it'll work for you...)

[Kimskiddos]

I have a just turned 2yo dcb that has a few words but he mostly speaks his own language and he is definitely trying to converse. He rolls a lot of his sounds. He went on a trip to Italy with his family so we call his language Italian. The handful of real words are easy to understand. He is also not a great listener/direction follower but he is 2yo so I think that is pretty normal.

Years ago had another dcg who spoke what we called Chinese, she would have long detailed conversations to you and seemed to really know what she was saying. Once she turned about 3yo she decided she'd speak like the rest of us, no problem.

[daycarediva]

It's so hard to help with speech issues since we aren't there to see/hear. I would teach her a few basic signs, help, more, please. I would also repeat everything you THINK she is saying back to you, and what she pronounces incorrectly as well. Eg. "Baw" "ball" "Hi" "Hi! Hello DCG!"

Is she interested in singing? I have had kids really love to sing/love music and it helped with motivation.

[Unregistered]

Our Dr. says that at 2 he wants to hear approximately 50 words & the child should be starting to speak in 2 word sentences. That being said, it may not be clear. I would think you should be able to understand her though since she's been with you for 3 months. You might suggest having her evaluated, but I've had parents get very defensive at the suggestion that their child might be behind at all so I would approach the topic gently.

[Kabob]

It could be just that they are developing at a different pace.

It could be a speech delay.

It is worth keeping an eye on it and getting her an evaluation if she gets worse or isn't improving.

My ds had a speech delay due to hearing loss. When he was 2 he would babble like he was speaking Chinese. He didn't follow directions because he couldn't really hear me. If he saw me pointing and signing the direction, he would comply (as well as a 2 yo would) but if I asked him verbally without any physical cues, he wouldn't respond. He also had lost all words from his vocabulary.

It is tough to approach parents about this, but I wish I had someone help me sooner...his old doctor told me it was normal for an almost 2 yo boy to not have any words. I felt like I had no one on my side until I got him evaluated and found out about his hearing problem from a specialist. Then I switched doctors.

[k.mcmahan2010]

I have a little girl in my class who turned 2 Nov. 28. I'm having the same issue with her. Can't understand a word she says. Everything is gibberish. The last two weeks she has started saying a few words that are understandable, but probably no more than 5. I'm at a loss. I have another child who doesn't turn 2 until February, but can speak in sentences. I know you shouldn't compare but.....