From: char@modcomp.uucp (Charlotte Noll)
Subject: babbling speech delay in 2 1/2 year old
Organization: MODCOMP, an AEG company
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 18:08:56 GMT


Hello

This is the first time I have posted for information so please be gentle :-)
I've been reading this group for over 3 years and love it!

My 2 1/2 year old son just had his well baby checkup and everything was fine 
except the pediatrician suggested I have him evaluated for a speech delay.
He is talking, 3/4 word sentences sometimes and even sings so this really took
me by surprise.  The ped said that he couldn't understand him and that
he was still babbling.  He does babble every so often - I can sort of see
him thinking for the next word as he does it.  We understand him most of the
time and most of my friends do too - but they have similar aged children.
My son was 6 weeks premature and he is very physical - jumps tall picnic
tables with a single bound :-)  He's has had a few ear infections 
but I think he hears well enough.  I tried whispering his name
when his back was turned and he looked around to see what I wanted.

The ped gave me a referral to 'Sunrise Rehabilitation Hospital' in
Sunrise (Ft. Lauderdale) Florida (44th and Nob Hill).  They do free evaluations.
Has anyone had any experience with this place or 'free evaluations' in general.
The public school system does an evaluation but they don't start until July.
I won't do anything without several opinions but I don't want to put him and 
us thru evaluation nightmares in the process.

I've looked thru all my books and some language books at the library/bookstore
and they don't mention 'babbling' at his age.  They just say if the child
isn't understood by 3 years old that they should be evaluated.

I think we should wait a few months but then again if there is something
wrong maybe it's best to find out now so it can be corrected easier???
I don't believe in pushing my son to grow up in any way.  He still likes to 
drink from his bottle occasionally and has just started toilet training HIMSELF.

I remember some discussions a few weeks ago about language but I didn't read 
them because I thought he was doing fine.  Maybe someone saved these articles.  
I'ld appreciate it if you would send them to me if they are relevant.

I'm scheduled to talk to the hospital tomorrow to get details.
Any experiences in this area would be very helpful.

thanks
charlotte noll
uunet!modcomp!char

p.s.  I have a 'funny things they say story'.
      I got some of that play plastic food from the dollar store and 
      he was playing with it - pretending he was eating the hot dog
      and drinking the juice, etc.
      There was a stick of butter and he held it up and said
      'cookies taste better'.  I said 'what' and he repeated it.
      I understood what he said but didn't know what he meant.
      Then I remembered a commercial around christmas time where somebody 
      made cookies that didn't taste good and was asked if they were made
      with butter.  The final part of the commercial was 
      'cookies taste better with butter'.  I was rolling on the floor :-)
      My mother said I never watched regular TV programs-only the commercials
      and my son is the same way.
      Thank goodness for PBS, VCRs and Thomas the Tank Engine videos.