My lil sister will be 5 this friday and still can't talk.

If you hadn't done it, I was going to.

 

Take her to another doctor. Also, test her. You said understands her name and "come here and go there." Is that all your family has taught her? What is her comprehension level? Does she understand things? Get a book. Ask her to point to the rabbit, dog, cat, etc. put three m&m's on one side and four on the other. Ask her which is more? Hasn't anyone figured out any more than what you're telling us? In FIVE YEARS?

 

This is what I was thinking... it seems like 5 years is an awful long time to more or less wait on her to come around, unless you're leaving out some info.

 

Don't be a hypocrite. It was funny.

 

The brother of a girl I used to date didn't start talking until age 6, when he started talking in complete sentences. (He's a successful guy now.) It is not unheard of for kids in large families (He was #4 of 7) to not talk until later. How many siblings does she have and how close are they in age? Is there anyone who seems to have a connection with her and ends up talking for her?

Definitely follow through on second opinions and look at getting some speech therapy help, but don't panic.

 

I'm shocked her pediatrician didn't raise any red flags for the last 3+ years. Seriously, your sister should have seen a specialist several years ago.

 

I've got a co-worker who's 53 yrs old. She's always said she didn't talk until she was 5 (or was it 7) and she talks just fine now.

Be forewarned: when your sister starts talking, she might start talking in all-italics, which can be very, very annoying.
 

 

he's asking for help with an important issue like this on a basketball message board!?!.........what does that tell you?

 

Actually I wanted to as well. I wanted to so badly, but then I thought I would have been given a short term ban (like a Fatty insensitivity ban)..so I left it to the elders.

 

My uncle didn't talk until he was 5, everybody thought he was mute. Turns out he is really smart.

 

It is in no way normal, she has a serious expressive language disorder, and needs to be evaluated by speech therapists. Yes, it costs money, but less than the long term resources for an adult with untreated problem. Early intervention is crucial. Letting it go is a very bad plan.

 

Same here.

And like others have suggested - treat it seriously and get a second opinion. It might not be a terrible thing, as I've heard of similar scenarios before and everything turned out alright - but you gotta do everything you can, right? You sound like a good brother.

 

I had really really bad ear infections as a kid (had tubes put in). The doctors told my parents I was probably deaf because they were so bad. Even with that I started talking at 2.

 

I didn't talk till I was damn near 6 years old.

Turns out, I just hated my family and didn't want to talk to them.

 

Take her to Texas Childerens Hospital, they have one of the best if not THE best child psychology departments in the U.S. Also, TCH has services available to families that cannot afford treatment. Good luck.

http://www.texaschildrens.org/carecenters/Psychiatry/Default.aspx

 

One of my wife’s sisters didn’t talk until she was 6 years old. Now she won’t shut up. I asked if they had her checked out and they said yes, by several different doctors. They just told them she is taking her time. She started talking right before Kindergarten. I would definetly get another doctors opinion.

 

She could be fine and will begin using full sentences out of the blue or this could be a symptom of something else.

My mother is a speech pathologist and I know that a lot of districts will provide speech pathology services to children pre-school for free. Just talk to the elementary school where she is zoned to go. They should be able to offer some kind of evaluation. If they are non-responsive, contact the district. They would much rather have a handle on the issue before your sister shows up for the first day of class this fall.

 

While not the same age- I didnt start talking til I started school. If multiple doctors say shes fine, then she just needs encouragement.

Does she have sibilings who are a little bit older but close to her age? If so, are they talkative?

 

If not the doctor should never practice again.

 

I nephew started talking after he was well over three and he ended up being a genius. He just didn't feel like talking. That being said, you need to get a second opinion because 5 is really late to start talking.