2.5 year old not talking at all!

[purpleheart12]

Hi,
My son is not saying any words just baby talk. He's very vocal and hums tunes and says eh eh, ba ba. Should I be worried? He was late walking. He was premature and on a ventilator for 1 week when he was born. He understands some commands but not others and will only do what I say if he actually wants to. What can I do to help? He's on a list for salt. Thank you.

What’s he like generally OP? Can you give a bit of a description of his play, behaviour, relationships with others, interests?

He's a very happy little boy and passed his 2 year assessment apart from the speech. Eats very well, very affectionate, plays well with others and on his own, sometimes shares. Loves music and when he gets a new toy is very interested and works it out for himself. Climbs the stairs and knows he needs to hold hands going up, can get himself undressed.

Ah how lovely he sounds cute as a button! He sounds quite physically advanced, my Dd is 2.5 and can’t get herself undressed. I would wait for the SALT but try things like Mr Tumble, read lots of simple books & ask him to point to things etc. I’m sure somebody will come along with better suggestions!

Thank you. Yes he's amazing. I just long to hear him say Mummy. I think my heart would just burst! We read so much but it's more to the room than to him as he's not really interested in books!

From an SLT, the '5 tips for helping your toddler with talking' section on here are great - www.nhsggc.org.uk/kids/healthcare-professionals/paediatric-speech-and-language-therapy/. Simple, but so effective.

I guess you've had his hearing tested?

I had to wait until my son was 6 until he managed to say "I love you" he has verbal dyspraxia and went to the Nuffield in London every fortnight until he was 5 and was put into a school with a speech and language unit.

Have a look at the Nuffield program as their are things you can try now to help him if he does have VD.

@purpleheart12 hello! If you don’t mind me asking, how did your little ones speech come on? Having a similar experience with my little one. Many thanks!