Trouble speaking...  

Maybe she has a hearing impairment! I know one of my nieces did and my sis took her to the Dr. and they corrected it by putting tubes in her ears. I hope this is of some help!

I am wondering does the little girl spend time with other young people her age? If not, then she maybe speaking baby language like her brother. First, I would suggest her parents take her to a doctor and make sure she doesn't have any type of Hearing Loss or medical reasons to mumble words. One of my neighbors children now has a hearing aid, as she could hear people when they were looking at her and standing near her, but at a distance she couldn't hear. She use to get really angry because she thought people were talking about her and saying bad things, The distance was close enough that I could hear what people were saying, but she couldn't hear.
She maybe angry and doing it for attention and if this is the case, then her parents need to do something now to help her. Does she get special time when she gets to pick the activity?

It sounds to me like you already know the problem.....one question though....when she mumbles and grumbles,do the parents talk to her until they figure out what she wants?I had a friend with a little one like this and she didn't talk because she didn't have to,her parents did it for her....

My cousin had the same problem with her little boy. And she took him to all kinds of doctors they said he was fine. He now is 7years old and is talking up a storm.LOL You cant shut him up. Some childred are just slower thats all. Tell your friend not to worry she will be just fine.

The best person to determine if there is a problem is the peditrician. He can do a physical and then refer her to a speech therapist if appropriate. Tell your friend to have her checked and not to let it go on. It is important that the problem be solved before she enters pre-school.

my son was almost 5 years old before he started speaking well.before I could understand a few words but not a lot.
I took him to the doctor and she referred me to a speech therapist for him.but I never took him because he had to be enrolled in some kind of program first.but what I did I just
read books to him and talk normal talk and bring him around other kids that know how to speak very well.now he is talking very well now and he's in kindergarten and can read
a book.

I'm very passionate about this subject because my son couldn't talk and still has trouble talking at the age of 6. He's kicking butt academically but has trouble communicating. He was born 10 weeks early and we didn't notice a problem until about 3. By the time I found help he was 4. So many people don't know you can help through the school districts this young. And it is FREE! Every school district has an IEP/IUP program. My son went to preschool every M-W-F and worked with a speech therapist. One day a week, plus the speech therapist attended his classes with the preschool teacher and helped him in class too. Without this program, I can't tell you how far behind he could be.

They will evaluate the little girl over a few meetings. And determine if she needs help. I know the only way I found out about the IEP program was someone at the local head start told me about it. The speech therapist in our school district goes to head start for speech for the little ones there. We make too much money for head start so we were sent to a different school but it was still free--but it was more structured for students who have learning disabilities of some kind.

I'd suggest this option to the parents--as nicely as you can. It hurts when people comment on your child's disability...plus the parents have to be ready to hear she is behind in speech.

hi howard, from what i know its yes children should be speakin clearly at the age of 3 years old. i couldnt really say if there was a problem with her speech. but as you said the little boy is her brother she might well be jealous of him and thats why she wont speak up and just mumble. other users will probably give you more accurate advice

I really sense that something is wrong here, Howard. I believe that little girls develop speech before boys do,,. SO that when A little boy's vabulary at the age of 2 is just so many words and a lot of baby talk, parents are told not to worry, it will come. AND a little girl at that time is just talking.. lots of words there.. and not perfect, but talking! And already she is three!

Now I gather her brother joined the family about that time.. The question I have is, was she talking BEFORE he arrived that you know of. By your responses to others here I get the impression that mamma is defensive and saying she, herself, was late talking TOO. THat says to me that the daughter hasn't started to talk YET,( at least it is how I translate that.)

This isn't good and she may well be jealous of her brother too.. Especially if he gets positive attention and she negative attention.. but then any attention at all is better than none, so she may be prolonging this notalk phase on purpose, for attention OR there is something wrong.

Someone suggested deafness or hard of hearing.. Then how is it she understands everything she is told quite well?

Howard, do you see where I am going with all this?.. She needs to go to a pediatrician( already menioned) AND a speech therapist( also already mentioned ) and a child psychologist perhaps to study behaviour and make recommendations.

Who will decide that? Pretty tricky for YOU to get involved for sure! I wouldn't like it, especially if I was the defensive mother. Good luck with this, my friend!

my downstarirs nieghbors daughter is like that.Shes 4 and she can not talk.She understands what you say but you cant understand what she says.Her doctor said she has some kind if speech impairment,My son is also like that.Hes only 2 though.But i see kids his age all the time saying perfect sentences.He only says a couple words clearly.I dont know maybe she should get her checked out by a doctor.Im going to take my son if he doesnt improve by his next birthday.