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Original poster

To be worried that my child can’t talk at all?

39 replies

Difranco123 · 01/02/2019 14:05

My DS is 18 months and still has no words. Apart from “baa baa” when he wants us to sing his favourite song. I’m not even sure that counts as a word. He shows signs of understanding, will follow basic instructions (when he feels like it 😂). He’s very sociable and loves “talking” to everyone we meet, but while his little friends are saying lots of actual words he’s still yet to say anything. Should I be worried?

OP posts:
knittingdad · 01/02/2019 14:20

I think that's still well within the normal range of development.

BenjiB · 01/02/2019 14:26

I wouldn’t worry. If he’s sociable and getting you to do stuff means he’s engaging with you. I have a severely autistic son, he’s 20 and has never learned to speak. When my daughter was born she was very behind . She didn’t babble and didn’t say her first word until a month before her 3rd birthday, I wasn’t worried though as she understood everything we said. Could follow commands etc. Everything else was ok except speech.

fatpatsthong · 01/02/2019 14:28

My dd2 was like this and when she did speak she had to have speech therapy.

However, her understanding was always top notch and she clearly interacted very well with people.

It was put down to her being a twin with a very verbal sister. She was an early walker too.

If it helps, she's exceeding expectations in y4 and has all through primary so hasn't had any knock on impact.

So both normal and not worrisome I would say in my massively non professional pov

Huggybear16 · 01/02/2019 14:31

My son didn't say any real words at that age either. He learned to say a lot of words practically over night around his 2nd birthday. I wouldn't worry just now.

butterry · 01/02/2019 14:32

Has he had his hearing checked as that could affect speech

PoppyFleur · 01/02/2019 14:37

Please try not to worry, my DS had delayed speech and we needed speech therapy, this was picked up at the 2 year check and auctioned fairly quickly.

Read and talk to your child as much as possible, it really helps with comprehension. This was the advice we were given. Now, several years on, I forget he ever needed speech therapy, the chatter is non stop some days!!

I know it’s easy to say and hard to do but try not to worry. Flowers

3boysandabump · 01/02/2019 14:37

None of my older 3 were very good talkers at first. The first 2 ended up catching up by about 2.5. Ds3 had to have speech therapy as he has a phonological processing problem. I think at 18 months it's too early to tell if it's a problem or not. I'd say by age 2.5 I knew ds3 definitely needed to see a speech therapist.

Burpsandfustles · 01/02/2019 14:39

Don't worry but definalty keep taking to him, cup cup, look face, etc.

Keep talking talking talking, does he know his sippy cup, spoon etc

user1471590586 · 01/02/2019 14:41

Is he showing other delays too? If not I wouldn't worry too much. It sounds like there is a lot of non verbal communication going on and it's a good sign he can follow instructions. There's still plenty of time and as someone else has said he is still within normal developmental range.
My own son had delayed language (spoken and receptive) but was also very late at hitting other milestones. He had speech and language therapy which helped and now he's older he is being assessed for autism.

Ta1kinPeace · 01/02/2019 14:45

DD was pretty much silent till she was two
then she started talking in sentences
and has never shut up since

hellsbellsmelons · 01/02/2019 14:45

I wouldn't worry.
As I always say to my friends 'Careful what you wish for' when their DC are late doing certain things.
It will come and if it doesn't, you can tackle it then.

carmelsundae · 01/02/2019 14:46

My youngest was like this, at 18 months could say mama and hi and I was quite worried. When she got to about 22 months she just exploded with language and suddenly all the words came from nowhere. She's now 2.5 and has plenty she can say! She's still only putting about 4 words together but the amount of words she has is amazing! I wouldn't worry too much just yet!

Bumblebee39 · 01/02/2019 15:17

DC2 is 18m and the same

ChrisjenAvasarala · 01/02/2019 15:19

My oldest refused to speak. Ended up referred for speech therapy when he was 2.5 and we had one session just to meet the lady etc. Then a few days later, he had crawled under the kitchen table to grab some megablocks which had slid under and then I heard "help, I'm stuck" .... I was gobsmacked! But it just showed he could talk, he just didn't want too and only did it when he absolutely needed too!

Ta1kinPeace · 01/02/2019 15:24

With DD we got sent to hearing tests - as they were convinced she was deaf - despite me being able to mutter complex instructions and her carry them out
We got sent to sight tests - no idea why
We got sent to learning tests - again no idea why
she just had no inclination to talk till she was old enough.
(she's at University now by the way)

Original poster
Difranco123 · 01/02/2019 15:31

Thank you for all the reassurance, it’s so hard not to worry but I guess that’s part of being a parent! It’s nice to know he’s not the only 18 month old that isn’t talking, as it kind of feels like that when we’re around other families.

Chrisjen your story made me laugh! What a shock for him to come out with a full sentence like that!

He doesn’t show any other delays, he’s very active. I do read to him everyday but I usually have to chase him round with the story because he refuses to sit still!

OP posts:
MaryLouFreebush · 01/02/2019 15:33

My 18mo DS is the same. He babbles lots & is very vocal but he doesn't say any actual words. I've been a bit worried about it too. I'm just trying to talk to him all the time, lots of reading & singing, in the hope that he's taking it all in.

MaryLouFreebush · 01/02/2019 15:34

I'm the same with the reading too OP, DS doesn't really sit still & look at the book! But hopefully he is listening!

OutPinked · 01/02/2019 15:35

My DS barely said a thing until he was three. I recall a period of time where all he said was ‘I got’. The health visitor wasn’t concerned because he would follow instructions and had absolutely no other sign of any developmental delays or SEN. He is now almost nine and never shuts up Grin. Shortly after his third birthday so many words just exploded from him, he had clearly been listening and absorbing everything.

Try not to worry too much, 18 months is still very young.

Somethingsmellsnice · 01/02/2019 15:39

Mine was same. Sent to speech therapist who realised it was a hearing issue.

This was eventually sorted with grommets x 2 and the adenoid removal. Had speech therapy until 6.

LooseSeal2 · 01/02/2019 15:42

Dc3 is the same age, he does have some words, although not many, but mostly sounds. So milk, snack, sock & drink are all the ‘ck’ sound. He can say mum but doesn’t use it for me, just a random sound.

Dc1&2 had lots of words by this age, it’s hard not to compare.

Mumatoo · 01/02/2019 16:40

So you get a 2 year development heck in your area? Keep an eye on his progress and bring it up at the check. They should be able to do a referral if you need. Speech therapy is not usually done before 2/12 (I think). Getting his ears tested is a good idea though.

He might have a delay or just be talking his time. Plenty of children are slow to talk without having any speech and language Issues. There’s no harm in using some Speech and Language strategies to encourage him.

Are there any talk & play sessions at your local Children’s Centres? This can be good for learning strategies to help with speech and a fun way to encourage them.

These are tips I was given:
Talking with them and modelling good speech is the most important.
The to and fro of conversation is very important so even if he’s not saying anything leave him space to chat when you talk with him.
Try not to ask him to say words just model them to him. Eg when playing with him show him the car and use the word as few times then slowly add to it
Mum has the car. Mum is playing with the car. We’re playing cars. The car is blue. Mum has the blue car. The blue car is fast. This car is so fast.....
Try not to constantly ask questions(I struggle with this one!) If you must try and have a rule of 5, 4 modelling interactions and then on the 5th ask the question.
Building up with words. It is normal for them to start with nouns and then move on to verbs. If he starts using words keep an eye on his understanding and use of verbs and try to encourage it (when he’s ready).
Pronouciation is the last part of the speech and language puzzle so don’t worry if he doesn’t say words exactly right.
Understanding is the first part of the puzzle.

Mumatoo · 01/02/2019 16:44

MaryLou nursery rhymes and songs are brilliant. As they get familiar with them try leaving gaps for them to fill in a word.

Sorry for my massive post. We’re going through speech therapy with our son and I found the above useful but as I said not talking at 18 months doesn’t mean there’s a problem.

LoopyLou1981 · 01/02/2019 16:44

My ds was 3 before he really started speaking (he had about 10 words up until that point). He’s still behind for his age (3.5) but he’s really starting to get it now.
I didn’t believe anyone when they said he’d get there either!x

Gemmalindley · 01/02/2019 16:46

If your worried make a health visitor appointment but normally these type of silent kids shock you by having there first words as “unpredictable” or something justbas big