Losing words

[PetalMettle]

22mo seems to have lost some of his words. Other than "what's that" he doesn't do sentences but he seems in the last week or so to have lost various words he knew in that he won't give them when asked what something is.
Have others had this happen please?
It's coincided with a bad cough and cold and yesterday he wasn't passing water

[PetalMettle]

Can anyone help please?

[blacktiger]

My 21 month old seems to have done the same lately, though they are slowly coming back, he's now saying Mum and all gone again.
Possibly not helpful but I was pleased to come across this and see he's not the only one. That said I'm worried that he's not saying much and I'm thinking of calling my hv to discuss this.

[PetalMettle]

Since I posted this they've pretty much all come back. Had your DC been ill? It seems like they were just too much effort for mine whilst he was feeling poorly!

[Bobbybobbins]

I would keep a really close eye on this and don't be afraid to ask for support/intervention from your HV.

Not that I am saying this applies to either of your children but my eldest has gradually lost almost all his words from 24 months onwards and now at the age of 3 and a bit we are going through a diagnosis for ASD. He doesn't really speak at all now.

One test that was really useful for us was a hearing test at the hospital, to rule that out.

If they have a cold it may be temporarily blocked ears?

[PetalMettle]

That's a really good point re the ears and one I stupidly didn't think of! He seems to pretty much have them all back now and has learnt wack wack to shout at the ducks

[blacktiger]

No he's not been ill. He has learned a few new ones lately but forgot some others. I'm gonna contact hv more just for peace of mind and get a hearing test.

[ShowOfHands]

It can be totally normal and the fact they're back suggests this is the case.

When they're very busy learning new things or distracted by life changes or illness, other skills seem to disappear.

It's when they continue to disappear or don't come back that it can indicate a need for further investigation but in your case op, it's likely that he was just unwell.

[youarenotkiddingme]

My pre teen loses all his words on a regular basis

I'm glad that the words are coming back. At his age he's more likely to have stronger expressive skills (so choosing what to say and saying what he needs) than expressive in response to receptive (e.g. Responding on cue or 'performing!' In response to a question).

They tend to go through a phase of less response as they start to work out they can use language for communicating and getting what they want and getting a good response as they are 'cute' when they come out with random stuff at that age!

After an illness it's probably just too much effort!

But it's totally correct about monitoring it because losing words can be a sign of asd although this would be coupled with other behaviours too.
Also can be a sign of glue ear - blocked ears. This is more likely if the speech stopping co insides with an illness (especially a cold).

[PetalMettle]

I'm glad that the words are coming back. At his age he's more likely to have stronger expressive skills (so choosing what to say and saying what he needs) than expressive in response to receptive (e.g. Responding on cue or 'performing!' In response to a question).

I think this is a large part of it - at the moment there's a lot of "whazzat" at everything so I guess learning new words is more interesting than the old ones.
Thanks everyone and I hope other poster you get the reassurance you need

[blacktiger]

I spoke to my health visitor about this yesterday and she said not to worry and it was just that they were learning so any new things but the words are still in there. So long as he was understanding things not to worry! Reassuring to hear! And reassuring to have a good hv, I know so many get a hard time and deservedly so for some.

[PetalMettle]

That's great bt! And reassuring for me also