Sensitive topic - slower learning children

This is a very sensitive topic and I want to preface by saying that I am not trying to offend anyone about the rate a child should learn. This is just my personal situation and purely out of love and concern for my family.

I have a nephew who is turning 3 this May. Many members of our family think that he is a little delayed in his speech. At first we just sort of brushed it off to him being a boy and being raised in a bilingual home but now that he is 3 we are getting more and more concerned. He knows his letters and numbers and fixates on certain words, but can't really form any kind of sentence or string together 2 or 3 words. He has trouble repeating words when you try to teach him and has a hard time distinguishing words. For example at halloween, whenever he saw a costume, decorations, a pumpkin or anything halloween-related he would say "trickortreat" but every time you tried to teach him the difference, he would not get it. There are a number of other reasons we feel he may need a little extra help and my question is, would you, as the mother, be hurt or insulted if one of your family members brought this up to you?

Re: Sensitive topic - slower learning children

i have actually been in this situation. it's not an easy answer for you or for the parents.. my son is autistic. well he has aspergers which is on the autistic scale.. when he was 2.5 he was acting very autistic and people noticed it before i did..i was in denial..my closest friends, my family, were trying to tell my something but i just got mad at them and didn't listen.. until one day i did and it was the best thing for my son..he was able to get early intervention and is doing so great now..(he is 8) i wouldnt' want to be in your position because i know what you want is the best for your nephew.. no advice just

Re: Sensitive topic - slower learning children

not at all, kids develop at different stages.

I'm dealing with something similar with my daughter, she understands everything perfect but has some speech delay.

I called the early intervention program and I'm waiting to hear back.

maybe his mom could look into it as well.

also, I don't think he is abnormal or slow. it happens to a lot of kids.

Re: Sensitive topic - slower learning children

I don't have any advice as I have never been in that type of situation. I can only imagine how hard it must be. Just wanted to give you some hugs!

Re: Sensitive topic - slower learning children

I can speak from experience that it is a VERY sensitive subject, one that I still deal with. Long story short (kind of), I am a pediatric speech pathologist and I was concerned for my niece. I waited until she was almost two to voice my concerns when the perfect opportunity came up and I heard my sister in law say she noticed a difference between my niece and her same age playmate. It is a very tough situation to be in as a family member, and it didn't exactly help that I was a professional to voice my concerns because I don't think my husband's family even understood what I did for a living. But now a year later almost, my niece has been diagnosed with PDD (autism spectrum disorder) and she is getting the help she needs. THAT is what is most important in the long run and I know my sil, bil, and mil are all very appreciative. An evaluation never hurts... Fm me if you need any help.