To be worried about my (nearly) 18 month olds speech?

[TheWhoOfWhoville]

Sorry for the length, but wanted to give all of the details. Ds is 17.5 months, was a little early so corrected age is 16.5 months. He speaks very little, well below the average for 18 months which I've been told is a minimum of 20 words.

He can say mama (occasionally) and dadda, but these seem to be directed at anything and everything! Makes a noise which sounds like the name of our cat, again this isn't consistent but he's definitely does it a few times a week and says 'duff' which seems to be yes and is very consistent and his main word. He shakes his head for no, waves goodbye, points at what he wants with lots of angry 'urhhh, urhhh' noises - so there is some communication but not many if any definite words.

He understands some basic instructions eg where is your ball, clap hands, where are your feet, where are the apples, but looks at bit blank at some things I say. I find it hard to tell just how much he understands as he's such a busy and wilful little boy, he doesn't want to stop and listen or do what I ask as he seems to have a very clear idea if what he wants to be doing most of the time which he doesn't want to stop. Should probably mention that he does make eye contact, socialises well with other children and adults and will listen and concentrate when in the right mood. He also chatters quite a bit, it's just not actuall words.

Aibu to be concerned? I keep getting told that they'll all do it in their own time, he'll probably come out with full sentences, my kid was the same etc but to me this seems behind for his age and I wonder if people are trying to be kind rather than tell me straight? If there is a problem I want to do what I can to help him at home and/or get a referral, not just stick my head in the sand.

Thanks everyone. I will stop stressing over it. I think a have a few friends whose children are very advanced with their speech by the sounds of it. I know you shouldn't compare, but I suppose I have been.

He sounds perfect.

My 18mo has zero words, but some babbling now, and decent understanding. His brothers were just the same, speaking their first words at 20 and 19m respectively IIRC. They never shut up now

IME (my children and others) there is an explosion at two. Later talkers are just as fluent at 3, 4 and beyond (except where speech therapy has been involved).

People are telling the truth. My son is 20 months and does not say one single word but I am in now way concerned because he will do it in his own time.

My HV offered to refer my DS for speech therapy at his 3 year review (he wasn't yet 3 at that point). I said not. He is now 4 and although his speech was perhaps behind others, now sometimes I think that the silent years of puberty are simply to give mums a rest! Goodness me, he talks and talks and talks and has an exceptional vocabulary. If you're worried, keep an eye on it and chat to your HV. He's still only a baby though. Maybe worth sitting down and thinking what he is better than average at - his motor skills, his physical development, balance and so forth. For an average to exist, there must be an above and a below (sadly, not something Michael Gove understood as Education Secretary!!!) and at this stage in his development, nothing means forever. It's OK.

What are you worried about specifically? I assume by the mention of eye contact that autism was a concern?

I have two autistic boys (age 5 and 2) and I can tell you what have mentioned doesn't sound like them at that age. Neither spoke, my younger still doesn't but that wasn't the big issue. The lack of communication was.

My youngest doesn't wave goodbye or shake his head or point. He doesn't try and get me to see what he wants or follow instructions. He licks me, he bites me and he headbutts me which are his ways of interacting and communication. He moves my hands to what he wants me to do and doesn't often look at my face.

When looking at autism speech is the bottom of the pile for worries you would have noticed others signs as well. I can't tell you much about what is normal with regard to speech (I haven't had a normal experience!). I suggest you check in with a health visitor and if they share your concerns ask to be referred for speech therapy.

The waiting lists are long and if he doesn't need it when you get to the top you can always just turn down the appointment. If however in a few months it became clear he would benefit from extra assistance you would have a head start.

You could also try Makaton to assist with his communication, lots of colleges offer short courses. There is also the Something Special television programme.

Hi OP, my DS had very little words at 2 yrs old and I was friends with people that had children with what felt like the vocabulary of a Booker prize winner at 2. I was worried (and constantly comparing ). HV referred us for speech therapy, we had 4 sessions and advised that all building blocks were there for language he just didn't really feel the need to speak.

At 2.7, in the space of a week DS suddenly went from a few words to non stop talking (and I mean non stop!). At 4 yrs old, I can honestly say it's like having Radio 4 on all day and his vocabulary astounds us at times.

My DS was much the same at a similar age and now at 3yo is considered "very bright & articulate" by his pre-school (this is said to reassure you, not as a stealth boast!). I remember his speech really exploding in the run up to his second birthday, which is pretty common apparently. Also a lot of his early words were almost unintelligible - I remember toy cars being 'nuhnuhs' (as in 'nee naw') and radiators being 'ra-ra-das'. I would suggest seeing where he is at his second birthday - I bet he'll be fine.

It sounds about right to me! I've worked a lot with mainstream and SEN children and from what you've said he sounds fine, just a little bit slower than average perhaps.

It's another of those 'you won't be able to tell who did what, when, when they're 18' things! Once he's significantly over 2 it's easier to see if there appear to be any problems which might need some support.

He's just a baby! My ds is 4 and only just talking in full sentences and health visitor has no concerns.

Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone.

My little girl wasn't speaking at all on her second birthday. She had used about twenty words several months earlier, and then given up on them all. I knew this was something that's mentioned in connection with autism so I was terrified. Unnecessarily! Eventually and on her own terms, she started talking. I really wouldn't listen to anyone telling you what 'the norm' is, especially when he is clearly a busy child who is perfectly sociable and just focusing on other things at the moment.

Does he make animal sounds? They count as words, in case that helps ease your mind. I agree with PP though that from what you've described there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about at this stage.

At 20 months dd had 5 words (although she did sign). She did not even try to copy words. By two she spoke in full sentences and did not stop....

If you are worried about autism, then google M-chat. It is a screening (not diagnostic) questionnaire for autism.

I have a DD with severe ASD. At 18 month she had a handful of words but understood very little (e.g. "go get the ball" was too hard). She did not point, didn't communicate, no indicating yes/no (even nodding/shaking head) before 3rd birthday.

Have a look at the m-chat. You will find that hopefully reasuring.

Any concerns about his hearing? Might be worth getting a hearing test sorted.

My nephew just turned 2 within the last month and he can say a few words but not correctly. However he completely understands what is being said to him and knows objects. He just can't speak at all.

His parents are going to bring it up to the doctor and ask for tests and referrals. Before that the doctor had no concerns

Zzzzz- Eye contact, age appropriate social skills and protodeclarative pointing are reassuring for it not being an autistic spectrum issue, though.

I don't see most people are minimising things - they're saying that the speech is below average for 18 months, probably ok for 16 months corrected age and that it's reasonable to wait for 6 months by which time a language explosion should have occurred. If it hasn't then a referral should be organised.

A hearing test is always useful. And if there's a family history of severe speech difficulties I think an earlier referral would be a good idea

You are your son's best advocate. I think express concerns to your GP and hv. Continue to monitor it.

He sounds fine, please don't worry yet.

My 18 month old says bye bye, hi, beep beep, choo choo and very occasionally bubbles. He says mama to both me and his dad and that's about it. He babbles all the time but no more communication than that. I'm not worried, he's just concentrating on other things first. Try not to worry

DD1 didn't really speak, apart from the odd word, until she was three, but walked at 10 months. DD2 didn't walk until she was around 20 months, but you could have an entire conversation with her at 16-18 months, which I found quite freaky. I would monitor his progress, and have a word with the doctor/HV. DD1 clearly understood everything, but just didn't speak, apart from Mummy, cat etc.

My DD had over 50 words at 15 months - I wrote them all down very proudly in her baby book. And they were all clear. She has aspergers.

My DS is 16 months and can say dada, nana (banana), rarah (sarah), e-uh (an approximation of his sisters name). He can also say baa (does that count as a word?) and boo. And that's it. But he has absolutely no problems let us know what he wants though. He has excellent non verbal communication, where as DD's is quite poor. I would say in a lot of ways he is developing more typically than his sister.

Zzzzz - those "markers" are part of the standard questions in every single autistic assessment I've read (and I've read a lot). They're not diagnostic in isolation but still important. A dev paed I know thinks protodeclarative pointing very discriminatory. Of course there's more to it, but I suspect we're actually having a data versus anecdote discussion so I'll leave it there.

A referral now is similar to referring a non walking 16 month infant with otherwise normal neurology to a physio. Won't do any harm to be seen but probably isn't necessary given there isn't actually a delay yet.