4.5 year old not talking.

[Mana107]

Hi
My 4.5 years old son doesn't seem interested in speaking. He knows a lot of words but is not forming sentences or communicating. He is a very happy, affectionate smart kid. He's taking speech therapy for almost 1.5 years now. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm from India, so schooling is a big problem now that he's not speaking. I've been told by several professionals that he doesn't seem autistic but I don't know what the problem is. Please help me.

@Pinksun12
My son only says things he needs. That too only 1 syllable first part. Sentences are far away.

@Esspee
I do read to him and ask him questions like what colour is it? What is it? And he says things he knows. But doesn't reply to what do you want? We have help at home who looks after him in the day. She's an old lady who always gives him things before he asks. I've asked her not to do it but she is like that even us.

@Happinessinapeartree
He has a lot of single words which he only says when asked. From his side he only says things that he wants. Apart from them he seems not to be even trying.

@Emmelina
Yes, he is my only child. Even at school he doesn't seem to be interested in speaking or even participating in most of the activities. At home he does everything I ask him to and is also very happy doing activities at therapy.

@londongirl86
I think somebody just told in the thread that this might be selective mutism.

My brother didn’t learn to speak until 3.5. We were told at the time (approx 30 years ago now so the advice may be out of date) that it was not his learning three languages at the same time that was the problem, but rather ‘coddling’ Indian parenting techniques. My mum, also from India, was encouraged to make him more Independent i.e. stop handfeeding him and teach him how to feed himself, teach him how to toilet (if needed) and dress himself, and rather than anticipate his needs make him ask for them. He spoke within a week of my mum implementing that advice —but that only works if you are confident he isn’t asd. Depending on where you are in India the psychiatrist may not have sufficient experience diagnosing asd in children.

I've been told by 3 psychologists that he isn't autistic but he has some traits of it owing to his inability to speak or communicate. Yes we'd pamper him more and our nanny does even more. I'd trouble getting pregnant and when it happened I became over protective. But now he does most of the things himself. He's potty trained. Can drink and eat himself (only the things he likes). The thing with him is if we insist him on saying the thing he wants, he simply moves on without demanding for it. We could never force him to say things. Now at least he answers some of the questions, repeats few things.

Hi, hows your son now? when did he started talking? I am also from India and My son have same condition as he is also 4.5 years now thats why wanted to know about your progress, Thanks