for not having taken non-talking almost 2 yr old to the HV?

[PuffyPigeon]

We don't have a two year check here. Dd is almost two and can't really say any words. The only words she has that everyone can understand is yes please and mama. She has 'words' for the dogs name, her siblings names and her dad but they're all pretty similar and sound little like they're supposed to. I give her lots of opportunities to speak, like asking would you like the red or blue cup and giving her time to respond but she doesn't. However, her comprehension is fantastic. I chatter to her all day long and she understands, agrees and disagrees in the right places and is never frustrated.

As it isn't causing a problem I wasn't planning to act, figuring one day she'll just pick it up and there'll be no stopping her but my friend thinks she's 'severely delayed' and I should get her checked out. Aibu?

all my DD had no problem with being understood on a basic level...food etc. Signing wouldn't have helped her. In fact I think part of the problem was I did understand her basic needs so well without speaking.
Her frustration was wanting to talk about random things and not being understood.
Eg when she asked me to tell her about '**anes' again. Eventually worked out it was 'drains' (there'd been a blocked one in the road a couple of weeks before). Just something that had popped into her head, none around. I really couldn't understand...wouldn't know the sign for that, even if we looked it up and learnt it few other people would understand.

What did work was her describing things with words she could say/I could understand to give me clues - like animal, woods, nuts -squirrel. For drains - road, water etc.

Does your friend feel DD is delayed in other areas too?

Yes I would agree with introducing sign. I did with ds3 as after two non-talkers I thought we may as well use makaton from the beginning. He was good :) And yes, it increases number of spoken words rather than reduces (supports rather than replaces speech). I have memories of wheeling ds3 down the biscuit aisle in Sainsbury's and him aged about 14 months frantically signing 'more more more more'

My first child had hardly any words at 2 and 1/4 when his sibling was born. The HV queried this when she was visiting the baby. Before we received a referral his language ability exploded. Within 3 months he was talking in whole sentences using 3 syllable words and holding conversations in abstract terms. He has grown up to be very able and successful.

My point here is that language development is very variable and not necessarily a reflection of underlying problems or difficulties or of high ability. The trouble is because of the tendency for language to suddenly 'explode' there can appear to be huge differences in a child's ability in this area of development around the ages of 18months to 2years and this worries parents especially when comparing the child with their peers.

No harm in seeing the HV or going for a referral in case there is a problem but equally there may be nothing at all to worry about especially as she seems to understand everything. Could be just a deep thinker!

Can you teach signs without going to a special class for it? Mine waves his hands around madly in an imitation of Mr Tumble, so I think he would be up for some signing (though I'd rather he skipped straight to the speech)

This DVD will teach you loads

www.makaton.org/shop/shopping/stockDetails/Nursery-Rhymes-DVD

Thanks Saintly

I bought the makaton book of signs. It's relatively easy, you model the sign and say the word (e.g. 'Biscuit' when you are giving him a biscuit, 'cow' when you are reading a book with a cow/see a cow/singing old McDonald). The book covers most signs and the more you model, uh bigger his vocabulary will be. He will likely start to copy you and before you know it may have up to 100 signs. I used it with both of mine and it reduced frustration massively.

Kids love the DVD as well. I'm feeling quite nostalgic for makaton dave. We have the books as well, but I prefer makaton dave. Of course there's mr tumble as well / I think there are signs on the CBBC website