One question

[MrsBramStoker]

It was my husband's birthday yesterday so I feel I deserved a nice present too

Basically, have one question.

Is there anyone, anyone out there in the mumsnet universe who has/has had a child with a language delay - like 3 or 4 words at 2.5 years old, where everything worked out fine and it wasn't a sign of autism/major problem.

My twins are two and a half in Jan and are at this stage. Are with a SALT but still no huge progress.

Bloody Mary's and no garlic to all who oblige with an answer

[YDdraigGoch]

I thought it was common for twins to talk later than usual?

[BadgersBottom]

Mine didn't speak a word until 2.5 years old. Communication was by grunts only. The speech people advised us to stop reacting to the grunts. We did. He spoke. How do yours communicate at the moment OP?

[MrsBramStoker]

Thanks folks:)

Badgers by pointing and saying 'more', which is a very useful word as you can put it beside lots of things:
More bread
More juice
More singing
More DVD/CD songs
More chocolate
More tickling

But they only say 'more' or more like 'mow'

:(

[Whoknowswhocares]

Sounds like the word 'maw' is getting the desired reaction! They sound very clever and just expending their energies elsewhere. I'm no expert but I also thought twins usually started talking later
Have you tried deliberately not understanding?

[scarlettsmummy2]

My daughter was like this- I was worried sick. She understood everything but simply didn't talk. She is now nearly four and her speech and general vocabulary are brilliant. She seemed to turn a corner at three. They are all different!

[phoolani]

It ain't time to worry yet. Give it at least another 6 months. Ds was rubbish at 2.5 and the difference between him and (elder) dd at the same age was staggering. Now (8 months later) he''s just like her, i.e. talks way too much.

[YerMaw1989]

My 3 year old was like this he has a speeach impedients too though, it tends to be if he is interested aswell, i.e can say the word Pterrodactyl (type of dinosaur) but the word fish is barely intelligible because os the 'sh' in it.

Do they have dummies OP by any chance getting rid of his did bring on his speech a little bit more.

[MrsBramStoker]

Yer maw - yes, we did get rid of dummies about 6 months ago - but they have a suck at bedtime but only in the cot and spit of out when asleep?

whoknows yes, yes, have tried the not understanding loads of time but a/ they get frustrated and just cry and b. no SALT recommends this as you're meant to model good speech and positive communication (which I agree with). Thanks for advice, but I don't think they'll turn around and say 'can I have a cracker darling mother' when I pretend not to understand the original pointing

[MrsBramStoker]

Thank you so much 'yer maw' though re your daughter's story, feel really reassured by that:)

[Whoknowswhocares]

Blimey! Sorry I spoke!

[Seabird72]

My eldest didn't talk until she started pre-school at 3 and then came on in leaps and bounds - we had her ears checked at hospital and various people telling us she should be talking - also tried the not responding to the grunts but that didn't work either - she mixed with other children her own age at home through various friends bringing their children round but they just played "around each other" rather than actually together or communicating. It just seemed to be one of those things. I know I panicked about what it could mean and even now I suspect eldest is a little different to the other 2 but she's bright enough at school and although struggled for the first 12 years of life to make any decent friendships now has a good circle of friends. I think about 3 years is a common age for some children.

[blackeyedsusan]

do salt still say match plus 1? could you ask them whether they want more cracker or more cheese, say but accept whatever pointing, grunting they do? match plus one can drive you doolally pretty quickly...

sorry ds is being assessed for asd, so no reassurance there, but his speech has improved dramatically from a poor start. about 10 word at age 2.

[CrunchyFrog]

Both my DSs have had speech delay, DS2 had no words at all at 2. DS1 has ASD, but at 3.5 DS2 has massive vocabulary and no signs of autism. He still has a speech sound delay though, but some of that can be put down to learned behaviour, and some to everyone pandering because he's cute.

We're modelling. DS1 has a speech disorder, but we've only been correcting him (rather than modelling) since he was 6. At 2, modelling and positive reinforcement is key.

[MrsGrieves]

My ds1 was assessed by salt at the same age, I think had a few words only, mostly grunted. By the time we were offered group therapy a few months later his speech had improved loads, it was just a gradual thing, no waking up and reciting Shakespeare, we didn't end up going to the group. He is 6 now and fine.

[Mousefunk]

My DS is 2.8 and says a handful of words. I'm not worried at all, neither should you. I detest guidelines, I don't feel kids should be put under a pressure to stick to them at all, its ridiculous. My thinking is that they're learning the whole language to come out all at once rather than coming out with bits here and there. As long as they have some understanding of what everything is, follow instructions etc then they're absolutely doing great.

Also it is well known that Einstein didn't talk until he was four, my DS even has a tshirt 'Einstein was a late talker'

[Mousefunk]

*they're thinkers, not talkers.
My uncle didn't say a word until he was three, not one word then he just suddenly started chewing everyone's ear off.

[scarlettsmummy2]

Do they understand what you are saying? For example, follow instructions such as 'put your shoes on' or 'go and get your dolly and put her in the pram'?

[maddening]

My uncle who was in a bilingual household didn't speak till he was 3 then came out in full sentences in both languages - is now a professor of English (went to Oxbridge and Harvard (on a scholarship).

[CatherineHMumsnet]

Hi - just popping in to say we'll be moving this into behaviour/development in a mo.

[Fuzzymum1]

My best friend's son had no words other than mummy at three. Now he's as gobby as any other a normal 14 year old of average or above ability, talking normally and very social etc.

[willowthecat]

It's really hard to answer a question like this - though I note you are looking for the positive answers at this stage (don't blame you !). Autism is not diagnosed primarily by lack of verbal speech but by lack of shared/joint attention and lack of ability to communicate - speech is the icing on the cake but when thinking about autism, it's more that you are looking to see if the cake is there to start with.