not talking 19 months

[Cautlyn8795]

Just after some advise.
My 19 year old is quiet in personality, reserved, coy, shy, and quite clingy to mum.
That said he goes to soft plays and playgroups and is more than confident.
My concern is that he only regilarly says a handful of words and those nearly always have to be prompted as he will choose to make 'ah ah ah' sounds or talk threw closed mouth 'mmm mmm' he copies pitch and tone of the words i say to him but doesnt babble, doesnt say any letter sounds etc.
the handful of words he can say he says clearly! 'Hiya,hello, yeah, ta, batman!' He can pronounce all those sounds and letters
He understands absolutly everything we say to him and can point to things we name etc.
Should i be concerned? I was thinking maybe he has slight hearing difficulty!? So maybe get his ears checked??

[Ifiwasabadger]

My 2.4 year old has only two words so is classed as severely speech delayed. I've seen 4 speech therapists and an occupational therapist. They all say wait and see for another three months.

Your 19 month old seems to have quite a few words...first port of call is always to get hearing checked, well worth it.

[Cautlyn8795]

Im definately going to book him in a doctors appointment to check his ears.
Part of me thinks its just his personality and he'll talk when he wants but i do debate wether he can actually hear me properly.
His understanding is brilliant though. So i kind of think if he couldn't hear words properly how can he understand instruction etc. he doesnt watch my mouth or anything. I have to tell him to watch my mouth when im trying to get him to copy words.
I have a very loud dominating 4 year old too which i think may be impacting!?

[Cautlyn8795]

My 4 year old was speaking in sentences by now.. That said i know he was very advanced in his speech and still is.. But because of that i find it very hard to not worry about my youngest. I know he's probably not that far behind.. It probably just seems much further because of what im used to. I agree that the 4 year old dominates him alot and he probably sits back a little because of that. I just hope he picks up himself soon. I think im going to get his ears checked anyway. If his ears are clear i'll just work in it a bit more with him 1-1. My 4 year old always jumps in on story time and distracts him which i dont think helps

[NickyEds]

My ds has just turned two and has very, very few words (daddy, tickle, some animal noises). We took him to the speech and language therapy drop in clinic about 6 weeks ago and she said to wait until Easter time and if he hasn't made progress they'll do hearing tests etc. It was definitely worth going as now we're on the radar and next time she'll have her assessment from last time to measure any progress. I think 19 months is still probably too soon to worry though, a few of my friends babies were similar and have just come on in the last month or two. Ds,sadly is making no progress so far.

[captaincake]

Oh. I have a 19mo who only says "ba ba ba" to say bye bye. He does this regularly and in context. I haven't been concerned because he just seems to not be interested. If I try and get him to copy what I'm saying he just completely ignores me and does something else

[Footofthestairs]

My DS said barely anything besides babble at 2, never had mamma or anything. His first word was car just after he was 2. He was assessed for hearing (fine) and seen by speech & language when he was 2yrs 9mths (he said mummy at 2yrs 6mths - I cried!) diagnosed as a moderate speech delay, told to see how he got on at preschool and given information on how to talk to him (very simply one word to start, only increase the number of words to one more than he was ever saying at any point) and also how to play with him to encourage speech. We also bought some Sookie & Finn speech DVDs that really helped. He is now 4 and absolutely caught up with his peers and doesn't stop talking! My husband and I frequently say "do you remember when he couldn't talk!". DS has an older sister who talked young, great speech etc. Just seemed he had different strengths early on and speech was the last thing to come for him. Be positive, it will come in time. No harm in assessment though as intervention can only help not hinder.

[Frazzled2207]

Presume 19 year old is a typo...
My ds is 2y5m. Before he was 2 he said almost nothing, had maybe 5 words. Since turning 2 though and especially last 2 months he's come along loads. Simple sentences etc. Don't worry.

[NickyEds]

Footofthestairs- I find your post sooo reassuring! Ds started pre school today and I'm hoping it might make a difference.

[bruffin]

How does he develop?
My ds is one that becomes an expert overnight. 2 days before his 2nd birthday he swallowed a dictionery over night and was spout new words all day. He did have immaturity of speach when he was about 5 ie tat for cat and F and s and had a little speach therapy but his vocab was a year head and his grammar reception was that of an adult (trogg test).

[Cautlyn8795]

Thanks for all the replies it does make me feel alot more at ease. He actually learnt a new word today! So thats made me feel better too! I feel aslong as hes increasing his vocab i dont really mind how slowly it is. I defo agree the siblings have an impact! He and his older brother were both very quick physically too! Just the older brother seemed to be fast in everything. Thats said he is a very outgoing lively persoanlity. And the ounger is more sensitive and quiet. So understandable hes taking a back seat and letting his bro do all the talking for him! Im sure he'll pick up in his own time but i'll mention it to hv just so hes on the radar incase we need help later on. Thanks again

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

We didn't have a single word from DS at 20 months. Not even a hint of anything recognisable. And then he snowballed. His reception teacher has commented on his advanced language skills. Give it until 24 months.