Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
Learning Words: Limited Vocabulary In A 2-year-old | | | QUESTION | | | | Should I be concerned because my 2 year old has a limited vocabulary? — Playgroup in Stow, Ohio | | | ANSWER |
June 3, 2000 | | | Probably not, but it depends on how limited it is. As a rule of thumb, by age 2 a child should use about 50 words on his own, without being prompted; some will have many more. He should be combining words to make 2-word sentences like "baby sleep" or "me down." If he is not doing these things, then you might well want to arrange a speech and language evaluation. Talking with your son's doctor would be a good place to start.
When thinking about whether or not your son has slower-than-expected speech development, it is helpful to bear these facts in mind:
1) The range of normal is pretty wide for language development. A lot depends on your child's temperament, and how much language he's exposed to.
2) Many children - boys especially - are slow to talk. As long as they have caught up by kindergarten, they usually do just fine, with no long-term problems.
3) Most young children understand more than they can express. A child who understands well is more likely to catch up in his talking in time.
4) Slowness to talk is more concerning if there are other developmental issues at the same time. Look in particular for poor understanding of language, delays in developing strength or coordination, weak play skills, or unusual social interactions. If everything else is going along well, it is likely that your son will grow out of his slowness-to-talk. If you are concerned, consult your son's doctor.
— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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