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Behaviour/development

Development at 23 months

6 replies

runikka · 22/10/2006 10:36

Hi there

Our little boy is 23 months and has recently had his two year check. THe HV is concerned as he doesn't really say anything yet and we are waiting to see a speech therapist next year. My concern is more lack of understanding. A friend popped over with her little girl aged 20 months and she was fully able to follow basic instructions such as " bring me your shoes" "where is your nose" being just some examples. Our little boy seems to have limited understanding and I am not certain he even knows which of us is mummy/daddy yet. He can say mummy and daddy but doesnt necessarily connect it to us. I just wondered is this common...he seems to be in a world of his own a lot of the time. He also shows no inclination to feed himself.On the other hand he is very stable physically and very good at mental tasks such as shape sorters.
Any advice much appreciated.
Many thanks

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KristinaM · 22/10/2006 11:10

DS1 said very little at this age.But he did understand a lot, like your friends child.If you said " Would you like to go out in the garden?" he woudl go and get his jacket shoes etc. He is only starting to chat away now in sentences and he is nearly 2 1/2.

I think that most children know who mummy and daddy are by about a year, although they cant say it. If you showed him photos of various poeple, including one of daddy, woudl he not show more interest in that one? If you said " where's daddy?" woudl he look at that photo? If I say where's daddy to my 10 month old he looks at the door or at the mobile!

I woudl be more concerned about that and not so much about the feeding. Lots of kids that age and quite content to be fed if there is someone there to do it. I assuem you mean yogurt, soup ect and that he eats fruit or sandwiches himself?

I shoudl add that I am only a mum and have no special knwoledge in this area!!

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neasels · 24/10/2006 21:33

Hi

my ds is 27 months and not talking, although he is starting to attempt sounds etc. He only started to use a spoon at 22 months and still needs help in scooping as he can't do it. He will only follow commands if he wants to and can play deaf if you know what I mean to requests! I worried soooo much when I compared him to others, who are all so much more advanced, but I don't think this helps them. I think they pick up on our anxieties and this magnifies the pressure on them. I decided when my dd was born 6 months ago, that my ds would do thing in his own time, not when a text books says and if speech still isn't there at 36 months, then I will look into it. I know he understands, he just has made his mind up on when he wants to do things and I have to say good on him! That's when I am having a good day!!!!
I am sure it's the same for your little one! Other people's opinions and questions really don't help do they!!!

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hana · 24/10/2006 21:41

I would take the referral if it was me - if by the time the appt comes up your son is talking and understanding more of what is said to him you can always cancel or turn it down, it would't hurt to see someone.
children this age really do vary enormously - but you already have concerns you've said.
will prob sort itself out with more time - as ~I've said they really do have variations with speech at this age

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Jimjams2 · 24/10/2006 22:02

Does he point with his index finger? How does he tell you if he wants something? Does he share things wiith you? Eg bring you things he likes/points to things that interest him etc?

If he does then go with the SALT appointment. If he doesn't then I would ask the GP for a referall to a paed really. Just to have everything ruled out. Overalll communicaiton is more important than speech at this age, so don't worry too much if he is communicaiting well in other ways (but maybe get hearing tested in that case).

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tweetyfish · 24/10/2006 22:03

Your DS sounds very similar to my DS at that age (he's 4 now). He didn't speak until nearly 2.5, and was ( and still is a lot of the time) off in his own world. Also didn't feed himself, but that was probably because I hated mess and used to feed him so he didn't get any practise, and probably thought "why bother when mum can do it". Could this be the case with your DS?

I would get him referred for your piece of mind, I did with ds and it was discovered that he has glue ears intermittantly, so he'd make progress and then nothing for ages, then another burst etc.

Looking back, I don't really know when it changed, but he understands so much now, and talks fine, if a little bit mumbly! I worried so much about all this, but I do think that sometimes they develop at different rates to each other

Hope that helps