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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think my HV was a bit unfair with regards to DDs speech?

29 replies

NewShooz · 13/12/2011 09:49

DD has just turned 2 and went for her 2year review yesterday.

She has always been a 'walker' rather than a 'talker' but I know she is behind with her speech. I told the HV she definitely can't say 50 clear words, (more like 20) with a fair few others that only I understand. She isn't really trying to string sentences together yet either, just babbling in her own language. She is however very good at communicating so she isn't frustrated about it at all.

HV has scored her at 15 months for her speech Shock AIBU in thinking this is a bit harsh? Or can most 15 month olds say 50 clear words?

OP posts:
AKMD · 13/12/2011 09:50

But she can't say 50 clear words. 20 clear words sounds alright for a 15 month old.

Beachedbabe · 13/12/2011 09:51

I wouldn't get too worried about it at this stage, My DS is 20 months and has probably only 10 clear words- no, mum, dad, out, etc! All my kids have been "walkers not talkers" and they have all caught up and are now very eloquent (and difficult to shut up!).

Original poster
NewShooz · 13/12/2011 09:53

Ohhhh silly me Blush yes, I understand what she means now! Thanks.

OP posts:
hildathebuilder · 13/12/2011 09:54

well at my last child development appointment for DS (who is 18 months) they said that 10 clear words for 18 months was fine and within normal

squeakytoy · 13/12/2011 09:55

Not sure how you think the HV was being unfair, she was being honest.

I wouldnt be worried though as many 2yo are still only babbling away rather than speaking clear words. She will catch up and there is plenty of time.

AKMD · 13/12/2011 09:55

:o Don't worry about it, she'll catch up.

Kladdkaka · 13/12/2011 09:55

I'm currently doing a degree module which covers language development. My text book says that by 24 months a typically developing child should have a vocabulary of approx 200 words, understand simple phrases, use simple pronouns correctly and be able to combine words to create their own 2 or 3 word phrases.

BelleEnd · 13/12/2011 09:55

I wouldn't worry about it. As long as she's developing and learning new words, she will come in her own time. DS2 didn't have 50 words at 2 either, but at about 25 months something clicked and he's now chatting away all the time.

whenPaschagotstuckupthechimney · 13/12/2011 09:57

Ha! My Boy is 15 months and has doggy, dad, mum and a squeal that means pussycat. 2 weeks ago he only had dad and squeal. 20 words?

TroublesomeEx · 13/12/2011 09:57

Well she recorded your DD's speech development in line with her, um, speech development, didn't she? What do you think she should have done?

DD was a talker rather than a walker.

DS was neither, but he's still in all the top sets at school.

If it does turn out your DD needs some extra support from SALT, the HV will need to have been honest in her assessment. If she doesn't, then your DD will catch up and when she's 12, what the HV wrote 11 years ago won't matter!

Don't worry about it!!!!

Original poster
NewShooz · 13/12/2011 09:57

squeaky I got a bit mixed up with it, and was thinking that she expected a 15 month old to be able to say 50 words.

OP posts:
Firawla · 13/12/2011 09:59

oh no i dunno what age mine will be scored at then he does not even have 20 clear words, tbh not even 10! maybe will come up about 12 months?!
havent heard of them putting an age on it before, but if she is behind on it then its good hv has noted it incase u want to seek help for it in future like speech & language referral atleast it has been noted? so in that sense i would see it as a good thing

ConOfScience · 13/12/2011 10:00

My dd is 15 months and says Mum. That's it.

Text book, schmext book Grin

bruffin · 13/12/2011 10:09

DS was a walker not a talker as well.
2 days before his 2nd birthday he swallowed a dictionary overnight and was spouting new words all day! He did have a few pronounciation problems and saw a SALT but his vocabulary was a year ahead at 5 and his reception was in the top 5%

witchwithallthetrimmings · 13/12/2011 10:18

i think you hv was bu tbh as there is such a big range. If you took a lot of 4 year olds who had no speech or language problems, some would have beein talking in sentences at 1, some would have only said a few words before 2.5. you would not necesarrily be able to tell which one was which.

choceyes · 13/12/2011 10:28

ConofScience - phew! I was getting worried there for a minute. My DD who is 16 months today, can only say Mama clearly. She does sometimes say dada, but then she says that to everything.

My DS who is now 3yr and 1 months, was an early talker and by 16 months, would have been saying at least 20 words if not more. By 2, he was putting 2 or 3 words together.
My friends DS who is a month older than my DS, is only now starting to put sentences together.

I woulndn't worry at this stage.

Wallace · 13/12/2011 10:49

My 12 month old ds has lots of words. But clear words...? Um not a lot!

TroublesomeEx · 13/12/2011 10:51

The thing is it's meaningless anyway. Unless it identifies a need. I never look at my DCs red book. No one else ever looks at their red book.

If she has difficulties in the hearing test at her Reception Year health screening and you get referred to the hospital, they will look at it to see if there could be a history/connection that sort of thing. But really, it's not important in the grand scheme of things.

Although I remember feeling very Xmas Angry when my HV incorrectly recorded my some irrelevant detail about my BF prowess! So I can understand you being put out by this, OP! It's just nothing to worry about. Xmas Smile

4madboys · 13/12/2011 11:03

i wouldnt worry about it, my ds4 didnt really talk at all, and then last summer at 2yrs 4mths he started and has never stopped! it all came at once.

my eldest was talking at one yr and in complete sentences at 18mths, he was big as well so often mistaken for an older child, which has its problems!

ds2 and ds3 were average i think and then ds4 a bit late, but once he got it there was no stopping him.

dd is 12mths and says mama and dada and 'bubbas' for brothers, she can aslo hiss like a snake Grin and comes up and says 'awww' or 'ahhh' when she wants a cuddle, she lets us know what she wants, am sure she will talk when she is ready :)

ladyintheradiator · 13/12/2011 11:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouOldSlag · 13/12/2011 11:24

YANBU. I think it's normal to be a bit touchy when a HV has a checklist to tick off when children vary so widely.

MY DC1 was behind on speech and it turned out he had a blocked ear. After some excellent SALT at the start of his nursery year, he is now top of the class at everything. Not a stealth boast- he really is top. I am saying this because when he turned two, loads of other kids seemed way ahead of him and I felt like I'd failed in some way.

Children develop at different paces, which is why I get a bit Hmm at the HV checklist at 24 months.

DC2 has just had a 2 year check and has about 25 words. However, the HV was worried as he didn't respond when I called him. This was because the 2 year check was in an office with filing cabinets (drawers to open) and a computer (chair to climb onto). A home visit might have been more successful.

As for the textbooks that say they should have 200 words and be talking in sentences- well, that's academic if you ask me. It comes to them all at different times and putting a target of 200 words on a 2 year old and his/her worried Mum is neither useful nor realistic in a lot of cases.

TeWiharaMeriKirihimete · 13/12/2011 11:31

DD didn't have a check at 2, it was at 2.5 - probably a good thing, because I don't remember her speaking much at 2 but 6 mths later she talked very well, and I probably would've spent 6mths panicking! I could never have told anyone exactly how many words DD had at any one point either.

However, it is always good to have a record of where they are and why just in case there are future issues.

breatheslowly · 13/12/2011 11:54

My 15 month old can't do that either and I think she is typical of her 15 month old peers.

Original poster
NewShooz · 13/12/2011 13:47

Thanks for the reassurance everyone, it's made me feel better. I can't help but worry about it sometimes, but I'm sure she'll catch up eventually. She is trying bless her Smile

youoldslag I Also agree that a home visit would be better for these checks. Ours was done in a room which looked like a Doctors room, it had a bed and everything, so I think that freaked DD out a bit and she wasn't keen on doing anything to start with, apart from clinging to me!

OP posts:
Pishtushette · 13/12/2011 13:54

I really wouldn't worry. DD was told at 18 months that her speech was at the level of a 14 month old, but even the paediatrician who informed me said it was nothing to worry about as they're all different. At around 20 months she started coming out with new words every day. I just think they do it when they're ready.

It's good to bring it up though so you can keep an eye on it, but as she is able to communicate I really don't think you need to worry.

I'm no expert of course.

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