2.5 yo doesn't talk at nursery

[Mumguilt]

Hello! I'm just writing a post hear to help make sense of the situation in my head! My daughter is confident and happy at home, speaks all day long (although she does struggle to string sentences together sometimes and can struggle to get words out occasionally) which I thought was normal for a 2.5 year old. I spoke to her nursery teacher recently who told me she rarely speaks at school and from what they have heard her pronuciation of words are worrying, and to think about doing a hearing test as she tends to ignore people. I've never thought shes had a problem with talking before, I have lots of children in my family and comparing her to her cousins shes pretty 'normal' in the talking sense but is so bright in other areas and has the memory of an elephant! She is a bit of a cheeky wind up and does ignore people but, usually its on purpose because she doesn't want to do what you're saying or shes trying to get your attention by teasing... I am no means the type of mum who claimes their child is the most clever child on earth (obviously I tell her she is because, confidence and all that) my husband on the other hand will always claim his daughter is the most wonderful einstein haha.. i will always take advice from teachers but this hasn't really sat right with me and has made me feel awfully guitly that she doesn't have the confidence at school to be herself, I've always been a bit reserved but when i gave birth to my daughter gained all the confidence I've always wanted and made sure in front of her I showed my most confident side, she goes to dance classes and we always went to toddler groups and because im there with her shes absolutely fine and her happy crazy self. Shes always happy and singing songs from nursery and telling me who her friends are there but when she gets there I can tell she gets so anxious, she tells me she has a good friend but i don't think shes ever even spoken to her sigh... We have a big family shes always around people and loves anything fun. Can anyone offer any advice on how I could help her to build her confidence for situations where shes not with adult members of her family?

Thank you xx

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I’m a bit confus3 from a couple of points in your message.

I am no means the type of mum who claimes their child is the most clever child on earth (obviously I tell her she is because, confidence and all that) my husband on the other hand will always claim his daughter is the most wonderful einstein haha

Speech and language isn’t always directly related to intelligence. Lots of children need Speech and Language therapy for lots of reasons.

If the nursery are concerned, which they seem to be, have they referred her for a hearing test and SLT therapy? If not, I’d book in with the GP tomorrow and ask them to refer your DD for both. She may be fine on both counts but it needs checking.

Given that she is anxious to the point of not speaking when you’re not there, it might be worth doing the M-Chat too, just to rule it out

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Sorry about the typos

[lyssie29]

You could do self referral to s&L (I think you can anyway if not phone your health visitor and they will) and just for piece of mind get it checked. My sister was told by a nursery teacher that her daughter definitely had something wrong with her hearing so she got it checked and it was 100% fine. Has she had her 2 year check up yet?