Seriously, what if he never talks????

I realize this may sound like a dumb question but really....I mean, I don't know any nonverbal adults, do you? Does this mean he's going to be sheltered in my house forever even as an adult?

I'm just so scared when I think about the future for him. He's 2.5, with about 6 months of speech therapy behind him he has one word now unprompted that he uses correctly, UP. He'll say mom if I ask what my name is but never uses it just to call out to me, and he says Daaa if I point to dh and ask him what his name is. He gets out the first syllable of apple when I ask him what it is...and he kind of says hi while waving if I make him repeat it. To make it worse his sensory issues seem to be coming back, there were super under control so much so that at his annual review they eliminated OT, but now they're back, he's jumping all the time so I'm asking to have OT reinstated if possible.

But it's the talking.....do any of you worry about this too? How do you cope???

Re: Seriously, what if he never talks????

I have a 4 yo non verbal. speech for the past 2.5 years with NO PROGRESS AT ALL.

Different teachers, etc...

He whines to ask. He has pecs. He gets his own stuff in the fridge.

Mostly he takes our hand to take us to what he wants.

It's like having a toddler OVER AND OVER. Never phasing out of that phase but with not 1 word. Just sounds!

Yes, I worry he will never talk!

But he DOES communicate in other ways.

They do make devices to express needs and wants. Mostly used with older kids.

Re: Seriously, what if he never talks????

My son is 7 today and he's still non-verbal. It's hard but your little guy is only 2.5 so he's got lots of time to catch up, plus he does at least have a word or 2. Be patient, keep trying everything and whatever is re-enforcing use it. I've seen so many kids when you find there thing they love they end up jumping through hoops. My little guy is just different, nothing strikes his interest, his stims just block everything. Hope you see a dramatic change this year!

Re: Seriously, what if he never talks????

I have no experience but I have to give you these

Re: Seriously, what if he never talks????

He is young. But they have so many affordable devices. IPod touch, iPad that can communicate for him. DS goy his iPod at 2. It was a life savor for us. They have a lot of programs to help him communicate.

Re: Seriously, what if he never talks????

My son was in the exact same spot at that age. Almost exactly. He turned 4 in June, and he does NOT shut up now. He still have a severe delay and trouble with pronunciation etc but he talks..a LOT. He works towards it.

I found the beginning stages VERY very slow going. He did not get it right away, it took a bit of time. Till after 3 for sure before he suddenly at close to 3 and 1/2 had a bit of a language burst.

I knwo how your feeling, I do. It wont happen. It will come

Re: Seriously, what if he never talks????

When my DS was 2.5 it was all babble, pointing, and simple mama and dada.
We placed him in a seperation class at a school, he had new speech therapists and BAM a whole new world opened up.
He's now 4.5 and I can't shut him up! LOL

Seriously, give it time! It will come!

As for my DD. Yes, I worry tons!
She's now a little over 2, has Down Syndrome and we are *just* starting "dada" and babble. Typical for her to not talk for a while, but, I'm hoping she has the same explosion as her brother did.

Re: Seriously, what if he never talks????

I think about this too, and I worry. I mean, DS does say a few things (less than 10 I think), but mostly when asked specific things, not really together or conversational. I recently started really thinking about this and the fact that he's cute now, but he won't be forever. He can get away with a lot now and always gets a positive response, but as an older child or as an adult... I just don't know.

I so hope all of our kids talk! I pray for it everyday. Sometimes it just takes longer for it to happen. The reality of it is that they may or may not talk, but we'll deal with it as it comes, as will they. There are also other ways to communicate. DS uses some sign language, but it's tough because he has limited movement with his hands. He just got approved for a computerized communication device, so I am hoping he has success with that.

Just know that a lot of people understand exactly what you're going through. Sending you lots of I am so grateful for this board and the support it provides!

Re: Seriously, what if he never talks????

My DD has Angelman Syndrome, and barring some scientific breakthrough to treat/cure it, she will never speak. At most, she MAY have a handful of words. I went to a conference this summer, and there were plenty of older children and adults with this disorder who don't speak. They communicate in other ways, well some of them do. I too am terrified of my DD never speaking. I know it is a very real possibility for us. But our SLP never gives up on her being able to have words. I think that is important. And we never stop talking to her, and still "teaching" words as we did with our older DD. Even if she can never form the words, I want her to learn their meaning so she can at least understand the world around her. And yes, the very real possibility of her living with us forever is one we face every day.