I haven't posted here much, usually just happy to read everyone else's comments, questions, brags, etc.
Lately, though, I've been having to really work my way out of a deep funk! Part of it is the fact that the twins (Simon and Jude(DS)) are now 2...26 months, in fact, and Simon is making leaps and bounds in speech development while Jude still really doesn't talk. I mean not at all. He doesn't even use signs consistently. He has a handful, maybe a dozen signs, but doesn't tend to use them without prompting. He seems to understand a lot of what we say to him, but just not much interest in mimicing sounds or using words to go along with the signs. Frustrating!
He started walking right before his birthday (12/20) and is now walking fast all over the place. I keep telling myself that he's focusing so hard on gross motor stuff that he doesn't have any energy left for the rest.

My question is: does it seem unusual that a 2-year-old with Down syndrome isn't talking at all yet? I know every child is different, but it would help me a lot to hear about just one kid out there who blossomed later and is now talking.

Thanks!

Well, I hope not... Ethan is 5 1/2 and is non-verbal. He does not sign without prompting either.

John is four years old and his brother Paul is two years old and they're neck and neck as far as language development goes. In fact, we joke that Paul is John's best speech therapist because Paul says something and we all get excited and then, since John wants the same attention, he'll say whatever Paul said. John's language is just starting to emerge and he's four years old so I wouldn't worry about Jude just yet. I've heard before that four is the average age for kids with DS to start talking. As with everything with our kids, some will do it sooner and some later.

Definitely not! Percy doesn't sign much, doesn't talk much but understands everything you say to her!!

Frustrating!!

Definitely not unusual. I think the average age for DS children to really explode with language is around 4yo.

Libby Kumin did a study a couple of years ago that found, on avarage, kids with DS start talking at 4. That is an average of course, with a very wide spectrum. I used to have a link to the report and now I can't find it. However, I did find this one http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11218101

I think you'll find that Jude is right where he should be.

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it! You know, I don't know why I let myself get so worked up. We're doing all we can to help Jude, he is surrounded by language in a busy household with lots of siblings including a twin. He will do what he will do when he is ready! My new mantra needs to be, "RELAX, already!"
Thanks again, calm and experienced mothers!

What Leah said. lol FOUR is the magic number so I hear. Austin is doing better...definitely communicates to us what he wants. But speech is very frustrating. Even with signing...he yells at us alot and we are working on not giving in to that. amy

Max is 5 1/2 years and still only uses a handful of words. It would be easier if he could talk but one day he will get there. I would not be worried about him not taking at 26 months. Just keep doing what your doing. Plus his brother will help him out so much!

At first i was scared reading this thread.. till everyone started talking about the age 4.. Emily does not talk. or sign with out prompt...well SOMETIMES.. and of course she babbles and sing songs in high and low tones.. but anyway.. she will be 4 in march... i was JUST wondering the same thing myself.. however. shes into everything like a typical and likes to be naked... lol.. ty for the thread

Jaemen doesn't talk but a few words, I'm hoping we'll get more out of him after he gets tubes but we'll see...if not I'm wishing his signing will pick up. He will be 2 in 2 weeks so it's not unusual!!! I like your new motto, I just might have to adopt it!

Robert will be three next April and we are only now seeing him make attempts with words and language of a sort. By that I mean language we understand. He said wa....and pointed to Dads watch....so we knew what he meant.
Its snowing here to day and he said snoooooo.....which meant snow.

Continue to sign to him......wait and see....it won't be long before he starts to talk especially with a brother around.

Imogen doesn't say much - just the things that really matter to her like Mummy, daddy, gag gag (her brother Charlie), bob (her brother Tom), jaffa cake, and very politely thank you! But really I have counted it recently and she has about 18 words that she says clearly enough for others to understand - she is starting to imitate more now and seems more interested and she is 3 and half. It takes time and I also get very frustrated about it at times....

It's encouraging to hear that it can explode around 4 as I know some superstar kids who already speak pretty well.

Sarah

Well Hannah is 4 1/2 and I'm still waiting for her to explode

She says bye bye if we are lucky, other than that, she doesn't hold a conversation at all

we can get her to say words to picture cards but that is it

I still get quite down about it sometimes ( I have good days and bad days about it )