Callmemike:
I will try to be very brief. My son is some months shy of 4 years old. However he has not started talking. When he was almost 2 years we took him to FMC owerri for examination. The result said he was ok. Unsatisfied we went after some months. They referred us to the International Speech and Hearing Centre Enugu.

There the result was that his hearing is limited. They said we should come for a reevaluation when he is past 3 years to see if his hearing has improved or if he needs a hearing aid. But we were advised to enroll him into a school to increase his interactions. The problem with this then was his repeated bouts of illness after each two weeks in school. We tried homeschooling him for a term and half afterwards. This term we have enrolled him into a new, regular school and he has adapted just fine.

Between this period, we have visited other hospitals for evaluation and they said it is ok. That he is just a late developer.

We just went for a reevaluation and they said he does not need a hearing aid and that his hearing is very OK now. They recommended a professional speech therapist to help him pronounce words, since all he does is just babbles. He captures things fast and can act out a full cartoon movie.

So please if any info is available about a speech therapist in Owerri, it will be appreciated. Other advices are also welcome.

Mods, please help me push this to the front page. A child needs your help and i believe in your epatant care. Thank you

Callmemike:
I will try to be very brief. My son is some months shy of 4 years old. However he has not started talking. When he was almost 2 years we took him to FMC owerri for examination. The result said he was ok. Unsatisfied we went after some months. They referred us to the International Speech and Hearing Centre Enugu.

There the result was that his hearing is limited. They said we should come for a reevaluation when he is past 3 years to see if his hearing has improved or if he needs a hearing aid. But we were advised to enroll him into a school to increase his interactions. The problem with this then was his repeated bouts of illness after each two weeks in school. We tried homeschooling him for a term and half afterwards. This term we have enrolled him into a new, regular school and he has adapted just fine.

Between this period, we have visited other hospitals for evaluation and they said it is ok. That he is just a late developer.

We just went for a reevaluation and they said he does not need a hearing aid and that his hearing is very OK now. They recommended a professional speech therapist to help him pronounce words, since all he does is just babbles. He captures things fast and can act out a full cartoon movie.

So please if any info is available about a speech therapist in Owerri, it will be appreciated. Other advices are also welcome.

Mods, please help me push this to the front page. A child needs your help and i believe in your epatant care. Thank you

Callmemike:
I will try to be very brief. My son is some months shy of 4 years old. However he has not started talking. When he was almost 2 years we took him to FMC owerri for examination. The result said he was ok. Unsatisfied we went after some months. They referred us to the International Speech and Hearing Centre Enugu.

There the result was that his hearing is limited. They said we should come for a reevaluation when he is past 3 years to see if his hearing has improved or if he needs a hearing aid. But we were advised to enroll him into a school to increase his interactions. The problem with this then was his repeated bouts of illness after each two weeks in school. We tried homeschooling him for a term and half afterwards. This term we have enrolled him into a new, regular school and he has adapted just fine.

Between this period, we have visited other hospitals for evaluation and they said it is ok. That he is just a late developer.

We just went for a reevaluation and they said he does not need a hearing aid and that his hearing is very OK now. They recommended a professional speech therapist to help him pronounce words, since all he does is just babbles. He captures things fast and can act out a full cartoon movie.

So please if any info is available about a speech therapist in Owerri, it will be appreciated. Other advices are also welcome.

Mods, please help me push this to the front page. A child needs your help and i believe in your epatant care. Thank you

Beowulf:


Hi bro, You are not alone in this. I have sent you a pm request. We can exchange ideas if you would like. Gone through the comments here and most were quite helpful surprisingly and of course there are those that think that there is failing in you as a parent. My prayer for everyone is to have a child with no issues. It is a bad place to be. I can see how calm and courteous you are even in the face of provocative comments. What they don't get is that there is nothing that can be said to you that you haven't probably thought even worse to yourself concerning your boy's situation. Just do all you can as you are obviously doing just like I and other similarly situated parents are doing for our little ones and leave the rest to the good Lord.

hikmojj:
The OP said it all, I have similar case, my daughter 4years 3months is suffering the same problem! We have been to series of expertise and hospital, we get a speech therapist but to no avail. All I could tell my wife now is to be patient as she is always down with thought of different things as my little twins of 2years 2months have also followed suit. Please we need help!

ipobarecriminals:
There is one ENT hospital in Enugu can't remember the location/ address. U dnt need to entertain fear about ur lil angel situation. Since d doctors confirmed him ok,no cause for alarm least y fall into the trap of rat killers doc.Urs is to train him.He is good.Nothing do him

Inspire01:
My niece has exactly the same issue as described by the op. She is almost 4 years old now

Callmemike:
I will try to be very brief. My son is some months shy of 4 years old. However he has not started talking. When he was almost 2 years we took him to FMC owerri for examination. The result said he was ok. Unsatisfied we went after some months. They referred us to the International Speech and Hearing Centre Enugu.

There the result was that his hearing is limited. They said we should come for a reevaluation when he is past 3 years to see if his hearing has improved or if he needs a hearing aid. But we were advised to enroll him into a school to increase his interactions. The problem with this then was his repeated bouts of illness after each two weeks in school. We tried homeschooling him for a term and half afterwards. This term we have enrolled him into a new, regular school and he has adapted just fine.

Between this period, we have visited other hospitals for evaluation and they said it is ok. That he is just a late developer.

We just went for a reevaluation and they said he does not need a hearing aid and that his hearing is very OK now. They recommended a professional speech therapist to help him pronounce words, since all he does is just babbles. He captures things fast and can act out a full cartoon movie.

So please if any info is available about a speech therapist in Owerri, it will be appreciated. Other advices are also welcome.

Mods, please help me push this to the front page. A child needs your help and i believe in your epatant care. Thank you

Papyk:
The same thing happen to my son and every speech therapist we were dealing with then claimed they are professional. We were able to get the professional therapist when he was seven years and that was when he started talking little by little. He is 9years old now and he just started
a normal school. Your son may have Autism disorder. Please contact acceleration therapist in Lagos and this my son`s speech therapist in Lagos phone number 08034452460 his name is IK he is a native of imo state.

DonBobes:



Dis is not about ENT, break ENT down den u c for ursef. Dis is about speaking properly without blabbing words

swiperthefox:
My son had slow development even in crawling and walking. He wasn't doing much of talking as a 1 year old too. I enrolled him in a program that deals with developmental delay and I am going to give you the same advise they gave me. Encourage your son to speak. For example, if he wants to eat or wants something encourage him to say it in words. Say it and encourage him to say it. They also asked to stick to one language instead of multiple languages so he can caught up to one. Also get books with pictures and words and ask him what they are after you have taught him severally. Make it fun. One of you guys need to devote time to him to help him.
My son used to point and not speak but now he talks up a storm.

Helpful tips. We do these. Pictures excite him. When propped to repeat what was said he starts crying. Say he wants tea and he is told to say 'tea' he takes to crying. Well we have determined not to let him have his way until we persist much longer. You have been very helpful
I pray everything works out for you guys.

Callmemike:
I will try to be very brief. My son is some months shy of 4 years old. However he has not started talking. When he was almost 2 years we took him to FMC owerri for examination. The result said he was ok. Unsatisfied we went after some months. They referred us to the International Speech and Hearing Centre Enugu.

There the result was that his hearing is limited. They said we should come for a reevaluation when he is past 3 years to see if his hearing has improved or if he needs a hearing aid. But we were advised to enroll him into a school to increase his interactions. The problem with this then was his repeated bouts of illness after each two weeks in school. We tried homeschooling him for a term and half afterwards. This term we have enrolled him into a new, regular school and he has adapted just fine.

Between this period, we have visited other hospitals for evaluation and they said it is ok. That he is just a late developer.

We just went for a reevaluation and they said he does not need a hearing aid and that his hearing is very OK now. They recommended a professional speech therapist to help him pronounce words, since all he does is just babbles. He captures things fast and can act out a full cartoon movie.

So please if any info is available about a speech therapist in Owerri, it will be appreciated. Other advices are also welcome.

Mods, please help me push this to the front page. A child needs your help and i believe in your epatant care. Thank you

tunde2222:
Hi, don't know if my situation could be helpful. My daughter is just 3yrs and 1 month. She was having a similar problem till about 2 yrs 10 months until I noticed some things and made amendment.
1. She used to watch a lot of audio-visuals starting from about 35 days old. (we thought it would help reduce normal baby cries).
2. After a short while of watching an audio-visual, she would always act or say the words of the next scene before it gets there. Hence, she was always interacting with her friends in the TV. I can remember a particular line in Dora " Where are we going" and the answer "Apple tree". Till date if you ask my daughter "where are we going" her first answer will be apple tree until you correct her and mention where you are headed again.
My SOLUTION
I stopped her from watching audio-visuals and within a month, there was tremendous improvement. It's just about 3 months plus and she is getting better.
Though she still has a problem with socializing (It will take her at least 30 mins of staying around people before she starts playing with them.

shaybebaby:

I do not think it's autism as only the speech seems to be a source of concern. For autism to be suspect, there would need to impairment of understanding speech as well as using it to communicate as well as difficulty with social interaction alongside other behavioural issues.

Callmemike:
;

Will ask around, a third opinion will be worth the while

DanjaNinja:


Sir, your comment is extremely insensitive. Do you have any experience in this matter? How can you publicly pass judgement when you have no idea on the situation on ground. Please if you have nothing constructive to contribute, walk away. Irrelevant comments are not necessary.

This sums up the problem with Nigeria. Giving professional advise when you have no qualifications.

Callmemike:


Yes. It is a normal in some kids. It is called Einsten's syndrome.

Callmemike:
I will try to be very brief. My son is some months shy of 4 years old. However he has not started talking. When he was almost 2 years we took him to FMC owerri for examination. The result said he was ok. Unsatisfied we went after some months. They referred us to the International Speech and Hearing Centre Enugu.

There the result was that his hearing is limited. They said we should come for a reevaluation when he is past 3 years to see if his hearing has improved or if he needs a hearing aid. But we were advised to enroll him into a school to increase his interactions. The problem with this then was his repeated bouts of illness after each two weeks in school. We tried homeschooling him for a term and half afterwards. This term we have enrolled him into a new, regular school and he has adapted just fine.

Between this period, we have visited other hospitals for evaluation and they said it is ok. That he is just a late developer.

We just went for a reevaluation and they said he does not need a hearing aid and that his hearing is very OK now. They recommended a professional speech therapist to help him pronounce words, since all he does is just babbles. He captures things fast and can act out a full cartoon movie.

So please if any info is available about a speech therapist in Owerri, it will be appreciated. Other advices are also welcome.

Mods, please help me push this to the front page. A child needs your help and i believe in your epatant care. Thank you

dfrost:


Research more on it. There is a reason why it's called a spectrum. One must not necessarily possess all features of it. How many doctors can even diagnose autism in Nigeria?

dfrost:


Cool brother. One more thing:

Never race/compare your child with another's. Never never. Every child is a gift from God to the parents. Take your time and find out his gift. Good morning brother.

@all contributors on this thread ipobarecriminals, Narldon, Lomprico2, Lanrelorry, omojeesu, Mrkumareze, DSDLIVEREPORT, jashar (prayer warrior), ifyalways, Rokafela, LuckyLadolce, Pavore9 (my Kenyan paddy), Mariangeles, Inspire01, FarahAideed, maclatunji, Supreme01, lovelyncakes17, poyet, SapphirePRINCEX, Sirkelvin, DanjaNinja, talk2percy, enigma2007, makydebbie (my Ghanaian sister), aspirebig, Pathfinder121, Twaci, zaynie, Funkybabee, Derien, Cyberknight, tizzdi, Arondizuogu, LadySarah, jmichael259, Sterope, efavour, adisabarber, naughtyDiana, shaybebaby, Adaowerri111, digitsolution, Akintolao1, GrammarCheck, arosis, hikmojj, swiperthefox, yori, Beowulf, cutechioma1, Papyk, DonBobes, Madu100t, tunde2222, you guys are the real deal. Wow! I've learnt a lot between yesterday night and this morning. Kudos to you all.

shaybebaby:

For autism diagnosis, all three MUST be present even if it's not to the same degree, there has to impairment in all those areas.

Where one or more is missing, you would probably get a different diagnosis, e. g Pervasive Development Delay. I do not know much about these other forms.

But I do know from what OP describes, it's not autism even though people on the spectrum DO have difficulty with speech sometimes.

I don't need to research however, I am a mum to a child autism.

uwani:
My second son clocked 4 last year and he has the same issue as your son. I took him to the hospital and was initially diagnosed as being Autistic but after frequent visits, they referred us to a paediatrician (a professor) that checked him out and ruled out Autism but rather a slow developer. He advised that we need to encourage him and also teach him cos he had just limited vocabulary and he wasn't learning more words.

What we did differently was to encourage him to talk. If he's hungry he says 'eat', we had to teach him to say 'l want to eat instead'. It might take days for it to stick but when he grabs it, that is all. Though he is still a work in progress but there is a tremendous improvement in him.

Presently, he can read and write1-30 and A-z, identify colours and shapes. I will advice that even you try encourage him talk more. As someone suggested use flashcards, books with pictures etc.

Callmemike:
;

Will ask around, a third opinion will be worth the while

Callmemike:


Yes. Guess you are right. The doctors said the same thing

Arondizuogu:


Keep kwayet. Wetin u dey talk, imagine bringing God naa inside this matter.

Arondizuogu:


Keep kwayet. Wetin u dey talk, imagine bringing God naa inside this matter.

shaybebaby:

Still don't fret, I know how hard it is wanting so much for child and doing everything you can.

My son still struggles very much with speech, echolalia, scripting, understanding but he is starting to communicate verbally. I'd put his speech on par with a two and half year old (he's six) , but it's something and I am very grateful.

I'm saying this that progress may not be as instantaneous or as fast as you'd like but it would be made nevertheless.

shaybebaby:

OP, can I comment you for the wonderful parent that you are. I have no worries about your son, he will be fine because he's got a superhero dad in his corner.

Whilst seeking out a speech therapist there are things and techniques which they will use that you can learn and apply in the mean time.

First is to understand that speech is but one form of communication. What your child cannot verbalise at the moment, you can teach him to communicate in other ways.

1) pictures-get pictures of everyday items,(laminate them into small cards). When he wants something, for instance food, verbalise the word "food" and guide him to give you the corresponding picture before meeting his demands.

With consistency, when he is hungry, he will learn to relevant pictures to communicate his wants at the time. Whenever he does, praise his effort, verbalise the item(single words) and do lots of repetition.

Don't get disheartened if he doesn't vocalise back, just keep giving him the words he needs as simply as possible.

2)exercises to strengthen the muscles we use for speech. Blow bubbles together, get him a lollies and encourage him to lick using his tongue, or even licking his plate (gross I know but it'll get him using that tongue muscle).

3)Make it all fun enjoyable for him, if he babbles, mimic his noise exactly. Do this repeatedly whilst playing and after a while when he recognises the game you are playing, say simple words and be quiet, give him space and time to attempt to mimic you. Hopefully some of these will encourage him to atleast try to start vocalising.