Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 5/7/2009

Question
Hello
My son is 27 months old. He doesn't speak, just babbles. He says some words, like shoe, bye bye, more (when he wants something more), cheese (when he gets the camera and pretends to take pictures), hello (when he pretends to talk on the phone), says ok, cool and some others I cant remember well. He's not always constant with these words, but he has said them. He can't however sustain a conversation and it seems we can't verbally and sometimes physically communicate with him. It’s like he doesn’t understand us, only when we tell him NO, he understands what that means. He does, as I said before, babble a lot and changes the tone of his voice, like if he was telling a story. When he wants something, like from the fridge, he grabs our hand and takes us there. He never obeys a command and many times doesn’t even turn to look at us when we call him. His hearing was checked and seemed ok. He's very sweet but he does get many tantrums, specially when not pleased with his desires. For ex, if he wants to play pretend to talk on the phone, and we don’t give the phone to him, he starts yelling and crying, he usually gets his way.
He loves to watch Barney and shows like that and he memorizes the dialogues and the songs and can act the whole show, knowing what comes next. He also knows the numbers up to 15 and the ABC, he can recognize any of the letters and reads them pretty well.
He has a baby sister with whom he likes to make faces at and hug every now and then. He's in a daycare and they say he interacts and participates in activities. He loves music and loves to dance. He does pretty good eye contact with us and strangers but he has become very shy with them. In my home we speak both English and Spanish and we're not sure that has something to do with this.
He plays normally with his toys, but every now and then lines up his cars and crayons, but it's not something he always does. He likes to pretend play a lot, like with a broom and things like that.
He has been seen with some psychologists but no specific diagnosis has been made and we're waiting for a psychological evaluation, which he is in a waiting list for.
Meanwhile, we are very worried and don’t know what to think or do.
Could you please help us?
Thanks  

Answer
You have listed a lot of characteristics that your son has that is consistent with a developmental delay. You need to start IMMEDIATELY with an intensive stimulation program!! Do not delay and wait for a formal evaluation. These early days are precious. Please do not wait.

If you want professional help getting started, I am always available to do consultations. I have clients all over the world. Just let me know if I can help.

Valerie Herskowitz, MA CCC-SLP
www.valerieherskowitz.com