To be worried

[Beenalongday]

My dd will be two in November, she's a happy lovable little thing who it's very very active. Physically she is doing well with her milestones but her speech is very poor. She says a handful of words- hi, bye, juice, shoes, dada, poo, come and gone doesn't seem at a interested in speaking or copying anything we do. My family don't seem concerned but I'm getting more and more worried

that sounds ok for a child that isn't 2 yet.

10 words by two isn't it? Seems like she is doing fine. If you are worried pop her along to a hv clinic and have a word

Speech and communication are two separate things and at this age I would be more worried if she wasn't communicating. By that I mean, pointing out things to you to look at. Making eye contact. Engaging you in a game she is playing (by passing things or offering you a turn).

Also does she understand what you are saying? For example, if you asked her to "Point to the cat" in a book, could she do so?

At two I wouldn't be worried about the speech as yet, but if she can communicate like I have mentioned I wouldn't worry just yet.

I hope this helps. I have two autistic children so quite experienced in this sort of thing!

The fact she is using words and she isn't two yet is fab. Does she use the words in context? For example "shoes" when she sees a pair of shoes? If so I'd not worry too much x

Totally agree with lookingbeyond. We were encouraged to seek a SALT referral for our 2yo with only a few words. We weren't concerned because he was always keen to communicate and used gestures and eye contact appropriately. A phone chat with SALT allayed any anxiety. Now several years later he won't bloody shut up

Yes she uses words in context. She understands most of what I said, e.g. Go an get ... and will bring it to me. She will come and grab my hand an take be to what she wants etc. But isn't good with colours or animals etc or pointing at things in a book (I do wonder if that's because she has to sit still )

And while I was typing has gone in kitchen. Smashed weetabix all over the floor. Then come an grabbed my hand shouting oh no

This is very like my daughter who was 2 in April. She only had 6 or 7 words that she used regularly at 23 months but her understanding (instructions etc) was good. Now at 26 months she can speak in sentences, in context and will give most new words a try. It all just seemed to come to her at once! Your little one sounds so similar and bet you will be surprised in the difference by Xmas.

I went through exactly what you did and I do hope you stop worrying. My son was born first and he was a VERY early talker, never did "baby talk", and was speaking in full sentences when he was 13 MONTHS. He was always talking, every second he was awake, about everything under the sun. When my daughter was born he was 2 years, 4 months. Still talking a blue streak. Because I only had my son to compare her to, I was really worried when she still was barely talking at 2. I had her hearing checked TWICE. It was obvious she was an intelligent, creative little thing, but I was worried sick that she wasn't talking like her brother. Finally, the pediatrician said to me, "Of course she's not talking! She can't get a word in edgewise!" He knew my son very well! He was right, and around 2.5 she finally started babbling away! I'm sure your little one is just fine! All children are different.

Don't worry about your DD, I have 3 dc, the oldest almost 18 and they were all very different! By the time most children reach 3 years old everything evens out with regards to speech, toilet training and sleep!! You'll find that in next few weeks/months she will start picking up more words and before you know it you won't have a minutes quiet 😂

My son was like this - slow to start but once he got going he caught up very quickly with his peers and had a good vocabulary pretty quickly. In fact, he has talked relentlessly ever since, I feel quite nostalgic for the days when I didn't have to listen to long and involved monologues about minecraft and the like

It is strange my dd was 2 in July and was already counting to ten and using long sentences I.e when is dad back?..or if someone did something she would say "I'm telling" and come and say mum and tell me what they had done. I'm not sure if it's because she has the other kids to copy but she has a massive vocabulary and is clear I can understand every word.

my niece who has just turned two is more like your dd and yes my sil is worried about it.i would get it checked out.

My 5 year old grandson didn't attempt to speak until he was 3. He said Daddy and Mummy and car...or Daddy's car, and that's about it. At 4 he talked a lot but no one could understand what he was saying. Now at 5 he talks all the time, can be understood and has a vocabulary of a child who is older.

I think your dd sounds perfectly normal.

beenalong
😂😘😂😂

@Beenalongday - ds1 was exactly the same, at 2 years old - I remember counting, and he was saying only 30-odd words at that stage - and a number of those were pretty garbled - we knew what he meant, but a stranger wouldn't have known what some of his words were.

By the time he was at school, he was fluent - it was hard to stop him talking - and he graduated in 2015 with a 2:1 in Law - a subject which requires the ability to argue a case fluently and coherently.

What I am saying, in a rather roundabout way is that I understand why you are worrying - I worried too, at this stage with ds1 - but they all develop at different paces, and being a bit slower to start talking isn't necessarily any indication of problems, nor does it mean they won't catch up and even overtake the earlier talkers.

My ds1 was the same, had a salt referral when he was almost 2 and diagnosed with moderate speech delay. Like others it seemed to come to him all at once and now at 10 you are lucky if he stops to draw breath twice a day.

He wasn't big on pointing either which didn't help my anxieties.

Thanks everyone, feel much better

I remember having the same concerns and my sister who's a teacher saying don't worry they don't start talking until after they're 2.

I have four sons.
DS1 was talking in sentences at 18 months
ds2 was very average
the DT's had to have speech therapy and go to a special needs school because of their lack of speech aged 5.

They are all adults now, they all argue, and their different rates of development has not affected them at all.

I would get your health visitor to refer to speech therapist at her two year check, if you have them in your area and are still worried? Not to worry you but if she does need any input waiting lists are very long. I have been in your position with my son. No worries about his understanding (able to follow instructions etc). However he is nearly 6 and going into his second year at a language unit after doing a year in main stream. This isn't meant to worry you, as every child is different and develops differently but get the help if you need it. It's been very difficult for us over the years with tears of frustration from him and for us. I'm sure she'll be fine, some children are late talkers. I just regret leaving it a year before agreeing to my son going to a specialist placement as I was convinced he was just a "late talker".

While not wishing to worry you my non verbal 7 yr old (he has complex needs ) has always taken my hand to take me to what he wants he will also give me cups etc if he is thirsty it may be nothing with your daughter but I would speak to your health visitor.

No need to worry about her at all. Please do not place undue emphasis on colours, numbers etc as these are not functional. Model (say) words to her, with no pressure for her to repeat them back. If she says a word e.g. You can add some one on for example if she says 'cow' you can say 'oh yes, a big cow'. Developmentally her language sounds age appropriate.

Things are probably absolutely fine. But as this is a really important age for acquiring language I would have it looked into so that, as tiredmum said, you don't lose time if help is indeed needed.

Have you noticed any reduction in efforts to speak, or any stalling in her progress? I ask because this is what alerted me to my daughter's hearing problem. Friends and family all wanted to be reassuring, which I understand and it was kindly meant, but I'm glad I followed my instinct. HV recommended an ENT referral. Grommets changed her overnight and with some SLT she gradually caught up.