is it normal for 3 year old to not speak yet?

It's not normal. Speech delays aren't always caused by autism and hearing problems, they can be their very own developmental delay. Have him evaluated by a Speech Pathologist. You can contact one through your local school district. Early intervention is key. I saw that you got a lot of "don't worry....he'll catch up", but that's not always true. And if he's busy trying to 'catch up' on speech, he's missing out on other things that he's should be learning. It snowballs like crazy. Research studies have proven that early intervention in speech can drastically reduce learning disabilities later.

My daughter just turned 3. I had her evaluated through an early intervention program at 2 yrs old because she only said "mama" "dada" & "meow meow". It turned out she has Apraxia (a speech disability which prevents her from being able to work the mouth muscles into position for speech. Apraxia is an oral-motor planning disorder.

Prior to this, we taught her some sign language so she could communicate with us.

She has been in speech therapy since Oct 2006 and now says MANY words, some still unintelligible but she's made HUGE improvements! In addition, I work with her at least 5 days a week for anywhere from 10-20 mins at a time with flash cards (breaking down the sounds and getting her to copy me) and we have exercises like blowing horns and whistles to strengthen and train the oral muscles. We use toys to play while she works, just like the speech therapist does.

If in your heart you feel like something is not right, then by all means you should get your son evaluated. Your pediatrician's staff might be able to refer you to someone. Don't be afraid and don't wait too long! Kindergarten comes along sooner than you know. You should also have his hearing tested.

If he is evaluated and they determine there are no specific issues, then hey, he's a late-talker and that's okay too. :-)

Good luck, mama.

My cousin has a son that is 2 1/2 years old and really doesn't talk. He is now in speech therapy to help him to learn to communicate instead of just grunting and pointing like an infant. The therapist said to make sure that when at home my cousin makes him use words when he wants something. If he wants cracker then tell him what it is and make him atleast try to say it.

It is good to know that all is fine and that you have accepted that your child is special.

Acceptance is one but you also need to encourage him to speak -by the things already been suggested above ie, encourage him to say "crackers" if he wants some and repeating words when you read.

This is also part of early intervention. You know there is a problem, you have accepted it and now you should try to make him speak. Do not stress him too much by force but try to make him communicate. Consistency is essential.

This is important for his life later. You cannot be there for him forever. Your gift to him will be your will to make him communicate so that people around him -even if they don't accept him, will understand him.

God bless....and good luck.

My son didn't speak much at 3 either. He really started when he was in preschool. He learned to speak up for himself and to communicate with other kids. We really saw a difference during the year he was in preschool. We also discovered that he had fluid in both ears and needed his tonsils and adenoids out. He had surgery this past June. He is now 5 and just started Kinder and is talking like all the other kids.

a second Doctors opinion wouldn't hurt, they do sometimes get it wrong the first time. if they still come back with his fine than maybe its got to do with parenting. i know that when my son was 8 months, he couldn't sit up or stand up on his own, after psychotherapy i found out that i was doing to much for him. i would sit him and i would stand him up so he knew how to sit and stand but didnt get the process of how to get from one position to the other because i was doing it for him!

maybe you could be doing the same thing as me...being an over protective and observate parent. sometimes being too loving can be a negative. try and get him to say the word for the item that he wants. pick something that u know is his favorite thing and ask him to say it...one small step at a time. maybe more interaction with other kids his age might encourage him to talk and interact as part of the playing process. i hope you see improvements soon.

My son's 2 and is the same a little younger i know he has older sibling's that talk for him and because i understand everything he wants why should he talk? As you have already had him tested when you give him a drink tell him drink etc he should talk when he feels he needs to to get what he needs as he has so far!! My older son refused to write the teacher sent his book home with another student it did not sit well with my son he then decided to write his name on ALL his belonging's after that so when he saw it necessary he did so!!

If he has been tested for all of that I guess he is fine but I think that some babies learn at different stages and paces. Most babies I know speak well at the age of 3. Keep practicing with your baby and buy him those pre-school learning books from leap frog. Over-all don't stress about it.

Sorry to hear that. I was going to say have him tested for autism because that is one of the earliest signs but I see you've already done that. I would suggest try reading books to him every night when you put him to bed and try to have him repeat the words after you.

Children begin talking at different ages. If there is not hearing loss then I would just relax. I had a son that was a late talker and believe me I sometimes long for those day of silence. Continue to encourage him to talk by saying the word for items you give him and for things such as a drink or food that he may want. also letting him interact with other children may help. Seeing them talk may push him to find his own voice too.