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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

speech would you be concerned?

90 replies

ohdeaeyme · 13/05/2017 21:02

dd is 2.5 tomorrow and can say

herro (hello)
aye (bye)
ine (mine)
share
no
og (dog)
choochoo (train)
cheese
shus (shoes)
mama (mummy)
two
yuck
mac/ma (max)
ow
juju (for a drink whether its milk/juice/water)

she can do animal sounds
oooo for moo
aaaa for baa
monkey noise
lion noise

she has been referred for SALT but no one will really tell me how behind she is or how much i should be worried or if i should even be worried at all. HV also said she makes an unusual 'ck' sound all the time but didnt expand on this either. have 18 weeks of worry ahead :(

OP posts:
Original poster
ohdeaeyme · 13/05/2017 21:06

oh and she says 'you' for thank you and 'yeah' for yes

OP posts:
WellErrr · 13/05/2017 21:11

I wouldn't be concerned.

That's more than my son could do at that age. He's 4 now and never shuts up.

NeverEvenHeardOfAgentZigzag · 13/05/2017 21:13

Even though I can't remember how many words mine said at 2.5, I would say ro try not to worry Smile

She's only tiny and if you say she's being referred for SALT then leave any worrying to if/when they say there's a problem.

Do you talk to her a lot? Like a running commentary of what you/she's doing? That's supposed to be good for developing their vocab.

Aww, bless her, she'll soon be mithering you 24/7 before you know it.

pigsknickers · 13/05/2017 21:14

I'm absolutely no expert...but there are pretty big variations at that age still. My 32 month old DS has a huge vocabulary but his pronunciation is really off, to the point where only DP and I can really understand him, and I know others his age who've either been talking in full sentences for a year or can only manage two or three words at a time...also a three year old who is having salt for delayed speech but I'm not aware there are any major causes for concern there. I don't know what I'm trying to say really, other than I don't think milestones a very meaningful at this age. I'm sorry you're having to wait so long, you're bound to worry.

While typing this I just remembered that between the age of 2-2 and 4 months DS had a really pronounced stammer, which caused me no end of anxiety, which then disappeared almost overnight (can't quite believe I've almost completely forgotten about it, so there you go).

Sugarformyhoney · 13/05/2017 21:15

I wouldn't be concerned st this stage. Does she understand you, can she follow short instructions i.e. Go and get your shoes or point to her head, ha da eyes etc when asked? At this stage her understanding of language is more important

Sugarformyhoney · 13/05/2017 21:16

Hands not ha da Confused

wonderingagain21 · 13/05/2017 21:19

Could you afford a one off appt with a speech therapist to check if there is anything seriously wrong? If they can reassure you and give you some tips or advice you might find the 18 week wait a bit easier.

Savvyandchips · 13/05/2017 21:20

I wouldn't worry either...my little boy is 3.8 and his vocabulary increased massively on turning 3

Nowthereistwo · 13/05/2017 21:20

Can you get a hearing test? My dd had glue ear which affected her speech and language. Also we had drop-in SALT sessions who would do quick assessment - hv should be able to advise if you do.

FlossieFrog · 13/05/2017 21:21

Have a look at the talking point website if you haven't already. There's lots of helpful info on there, which I've referred to for my DD (now 4 has an ASD diagnosis and some communication difficulties). I wouldn't pay too much attention to what the HV has raised, as they aren't an expert. I've found SALT really helpful - make sure you tell them your specific concerns so they can address them. They should tell you whether it's a real concern or not. Also, it's great that you're raising this now as the earlier any issues are identified and therefore addressed the better. In my area there seems to be a keenness to try to help kids before they start school.

Having said all that, your DD is talking and making her needs known, which is great, so please try not to worry, there may not be a problem.

nocoolnamesleft · 13/05/2017 21:23

Also wondering about a hearing test?

Tainbri · 13/05/2017 21:24

Based entirely on what you've said here then I wouldn't be particularly concerned. A lot can happen in a short space of time in the young developing child and things do happen at different times. These days everything seems to be a competition! That said , a lot would also depend on other factors such as social interaction, comprehension, cognitive ability. Speech is just as much about receptive language as it is expressive. I take it you've had her hearing tested?

CherriesInTheSnow · 13/05/2017 21:25

While my DD does say a little (only a little) more than that at 20 months, it is truly not worth stressing about. Some children pick things up at different paces, it is as simple as that. I've read that they often go through big leaps athe around 2, so his could be just a round the corner.

I could be wrong, but most things I've read say that you only really need to worry if they are not making any attempts at language by this age :)

Mu123 · 13/05/2017 21:32

I wouldn't be overly worried. My 2.5 twins are a fair bit delayed, at 18-24 months for dd and 24 months for ds. Dd's words compared to ds is, well frankly shit!! Though they were 11 weeks early so a delay is expected, they are under paed consultant who said they were fine, they'll catch up.

Our paed, even with their delay said she wouldn't be concerned until the term before nursery starts.

JaxingJump · 13/05/2017 21:32

I'm not sure if this is what you want to hear but I've a 1.5 and 2.5 yr old at the moment and my 1.5yr old has the list you made comfortably. Now, I think she's particularly good as she'll all say a recognisable 'here you go mummy' and take it off mummy'. Do I think she's a bit ahead of were dc 1 and 2 were at that age.

My 2.5yr olds pronounciation is horrible but she's more the level of 'actually mummy I want to get my shoes from the car. You left them there' and 'no I don't want a drink, I want to use the sink' etc. So quite a different level and I think her peers are fairly similar.

But kids are so vastly different on these things. I would look into hearing etc. And it's possible your dc has a speech delay but all the speech delays I've come across personally got sorted out and by the time the child was 6-8, you'd never have known. So don't panic! But do take any support they are offering.

Original poster
ohdeaeyme · 13/05/2017 21:42

thank you.

there is quite a big back story of her being raised in an awful environment for the first 26 months and she has been referred to the child development centre not sure entirely why again and horrendous night terrors so im worrying this is all linked due to what has happened in her short life.

she can answer things like 'what noise does x make?' to the animals she knows or if you ask her to point various people out in pictures. she can answer questions like 'do you want food?' but wouldnt be able to answer 'are you hungry?'. she rubs her belly if she is hungry.

the hearing test will be 18 weeks too

OP posts:
Areyoufree · 13/05/2017 21:48

My daughter was talking in clear sentences pretty early - probably by about 18 months. But my son said very little that was understandable until he was nearly 3. There's such a huge developmental range, but even if there is a delay, it sounds like intervention will be there if she needs it, which is fantastic.

JaxingJump · 13/05/2017 21:53

Well OP if she had a rough start then it's not surprising at all. At least she now has you looking out for her and helping her keep up when necessary.

x2boys · 13/05/2017 22:02

Not I wouldnt worrybto much i have a seven yr old with severe autism who is nonnverbal its only in the last few months he's started attempting words there is such a wide range at two and a half does she point,wave shake her head etc? D's again is only just doing these now

Littlefish · 13/05/2017 22:03

At two and a half, I would say that yes, her speech is behind where it should be. I'm an early years teacher and while there is a wide variation at that age, if your dd was in the nursery where I work, I would be referring her as well.

I don't think you should be worried - just keep commenting on what she's doing, using her name first. e.g xxxxx eating. xxxxx walking. xxxxxx. or red car driving etc. Don't ask her questions, just model the simple language, slightly in advance of where she is now. If she says "shoes", you say "yes, red shoes".

Original poster
ohdeaeyme · 13/05/2017 22:27

JaxingJump i did try my best :(

might do as a pp and pay for a private assessmemt just so i can see where i stand. an 18 week wait with anxiety is not a good mix

OP posts:
Sugarformyhoney · 13/05/2017 22:32

If she's had a tough start it may have impacted on her development but there is loads you can do to help and if this is the case, it's likely to be a simple delay as opposed to part of a wider condition or concern x

Original poster
ohdeaeyme · 13/05/2017 23:20

i know just feel guilty

this is an example of the noise she makes that the health visitor was referring to as being unusual

OP posts:
Mu123 · 13/05/2017 23:32

Ah so has she only been with you a few months then? Could be as simple as not being communicated with. Its hard to say, just know that you oh give a shit and want the best for her

Primaryteach87 · 13/05/2017 23:35

My son is a similar age and can say 5/6 word sentences but questions are sometimes worded a bit oddly re word order. He has made rapid progress though. I'd say she is a about 3 months behind, which isn't a huge amount.

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