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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

Speech at 2yrs is this ok?

13 replies

OnARainbow · 20/08/2016 10:40

I have two children and both of mine were conversing well with me at around 14months old.
My OHs daughter has not long turned 2 and she doesn't say much at all. Her words consist of no, me and more and mum.
She understands commands ie where are your shoes/dolly etc etc and telling her its lunch and that so I don't think there is an issue understanding us.
I just want to know whether OH needs to be seeking any advice at any point regarding this or do we leave it a little longer? His relationship with the mum is strained at times so don't want to ruffle feathers so to speak if not needed.
My experience if this is of my own children only and I do realise all children are different but just wanted to know what others would do if anything at all now?
Thanks

OP posts:

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LHReturns · 20/08/2016 14:09

OP it is pretty similar with our DS who has just turned two. He probably has about 20 words that anyone could easily understand, and another 20 that we can understand. He doesn't speak in full sentences yet.

We have investigated this and so far all advice has been the same: check the hearing (done - perfect), if the understanding is good that is more important, normal expressive speech development is hugely varied (unlike other milestones), and while our DS probably does have speech delay it is just a label and to keep helping him.

It seems no one will get that worried until our DS is over three and still not speaking.

I wish he would talk more tho - would love to chat WITH him, rather than chat AT him, with slow careful repetition at his eye level etc etc.

If you think hearing and understanding are really good, then I think you could wait another six months...that is just one view tho. Others may advise differently.

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OnARainbow · 20/08/2016 16:25

Thank you for your reply.

OH is happy to wait it out and see what the next few months brings.
I just didn't want to be ignoring any issue that may be present.

As far as I can tell there is no issue with her hearing. But then in a few months if there is no progression that is the first thing OH and ex can get checked to rule anything out I guess.

I understand where you are coming from regarding having a chat rather than just talking to your child. Fingers crossed both will be chatting our heads off soon lol

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MiaowTheCat · 21/08/2016 11:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LHReturns · 21/08/2016 12:02

That reassures me also Miaow, thank you!

Your final paragraph especially resonates.

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DollyBarton · 21/08/2016 12:04

Sounds completely normal.

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SatsukiKusakabe · 21/08/2016 12:14

Sounds ok...my ds was talking in full sentences by 18 months, by contrast dd said very little until 2, now 2 and 7 months she is saying a lot more, but not always intelligible, and much prefers to grunt and gesture. As pp above I've started to get firmer about making her use words to ask for what she wants, encouraging her to speak rather than gesture, and that is helping. I think a lot of it comes from having her (still incredibly bloody verbal) older brother articulating every thought she has before she has it! Her speaking really started to improve with more one on one time with me when he started school, come to think of it. Does she get time without siblings around? I think this can be a huge factor as they are more concerned with goings on around them than the need to verbalise themselves.

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SatsukiKusakabe · 21/08/2016 12:19

Obviously as with all things, keep an eye on it - with my dd her understanding of what is happening in a situation, where things are, anticipating what is needed, far exceeds that of her brother (even with the age difference) so have never been concerned with her hearing etc, it is worth keeping concerns at the back of your mind and no harm discussing with HV.

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user1471421772 · 21/08/2016 17:43

If her understanding is good that is promising, although it may be worth getting a hearing check to rule that out. In my personal experience, however, I remember at 2 being desperately worried about my son's speech - could only say a handful of words, would use gestures a lot though to get across meaning and definitely wouldn't string words together. Suddenly at age 2.6 though he started speaking LOTS and in full sentences - don't know what it was, but he is now a highly intelligent 7 year old who is praised for his wide and varied vocabulary. I can tell you though that we were very concerned when he was 2, just turned out that he took slightly longer than others. I think that as he had rolled, sat and walked so early i thought he'd be on track or ahead with his speech too, but that wasn't the case until he was about 3.

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uhoh2016 · 22/08/2016 05:30

How is her hearing? My ds was similar in his lack of speech but good understanding turns out he had glue ear in both ears. The Dr described it to me that hearing for him is like listening underwater so he could understand the sounds but not clear enough for him to repeat/relay back. Grommets fixed it and his speech improved dramatically

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Shootingstar2289 · 22/08/2016 06:20

All babies and children are different. Your own children's speech sounds pretty advanced. My 13 month old is not talking.

The fact she has great understand is great. My son (now 5) was very speech delayed. He didn't say any words at all until she 3.5 to 4. and did not understand a lot. Still delayed now and has been diagnosed with Autism BUT your partners little girl might be just a little slower.

Did she or is she going to have a two year check? Is it routine where you live? It is here..

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OnARainbow · 18/08/2017 16:20

Just an update on this.
Her speech is still concerning now she has turned three. She has more words, I'd say around 30-40 and can put two or three words together 'no more mummy' 'me there'.
She hasn't got to the inquisitive stage of asking why yet. She can't or won't say the word why yet anyway.
A lot of her Communication is done by pointing and gesturing to what she wants.
Mum has enrolled her into a school nursery for September onwards and of course she'll start school in a years time. She has mentioned the lack of speech to the nursery but I don't think she's overly concerned.
DP wants to push for quicker action I guess but thinks he'll meet resistance from mum.
I'm not sure of what his next steps would be.
We live in a different area to his daughter so she isn't registered at his doctors, can he take her to his doctors?

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robotsmania · 19/08/2017 06:24

Ah just reading your update. I suppose talking with the school nursery openly and often will be the obvious route.

My dd had and still has lots of problems with speech. We had a difficult break up when she was two, and lots of disruption before and after that. I don't know your circumstances, but I think my dd's problems came as a result of all that.

It doesn't really help in trying to fix it though, but may put a new perspective on things.

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OnARainbow · 19/08/2017 10:43

I'm not sure the speech issue is directly connected to her parents splitting up. That happened when she was a baby.

I really hope the school nursery pick it up quickly and prompt mum with help.

It's so frustrating to not be able to do anything.

I try my best to encourage her to say words but she doesn't even try.
Refusing to give her something until she asks instead of pointing and grunting has no effect. She just walks away and tries with her dad and ultimately if he can't encourage her she gets it anyway.

We have limited time with her to try new ideas to encourage speech so our efforts are some what pointless.