To be a bit concerned about DS not talking yet?

[Natsku]

He's 17 months next week and he doesn't say a single word, not even mama/dada directed at us but he does babble a lot. He doesn't try to copy words either.

I wouldn't be that worried if it wasn't for the fact that his understanding seems to be behind too, there's only a couple of simple directions that he follows which may be he just follows them because he knows the routine (e.g. going to sit on the stairs to wait for me to put his shoes on when I tell him to as that's what we always do when we go outside) but if I ask him things like "give me the ball" or "pick up your hat" he has no clue, just stares blankly at me or wanders off. He does understand when I say it's time to change your nappy or it's time for a nap though as he always laughs and runs away when I say those.

Relevant info - bilingual home, he did fail a hearing check once but then passed a later one, can point to things but doesn't do it much, normal eye contact etc. and sociable (so no concerns about autism), he pretty much just communicates by screaming or grunting at me until I figure out what he wants. I did try to do baby sign language with him but he doesn't get it, doesn't try signs or seem to understand any.

My DS barely said anything until he was 2. He's now 2 years and 2 months and saying four word sentences and about 8 new words a day. he had been taking it all in and biding his time. don't worry just yetx

I agree 100% with what AndMyBirdCanSing - my ds also had receptive language problems and I wish I'd pushed for investigations sooner, as portage and other interventions would have been available if I had. My ds also didn't like my reading aloud to him, he just couldn't process what he was hearing.

It's entirely up to you and of course you may not have the same option to push for earlier screening where you are, but I felt like a lousy parent for not doing something when I had concerns, and problems with language processing is commonly co-morbid with ASD, which you say your family is affected by. It might just be a hearing problem at the root of it, but I would definitely get him checked asap rather than waiting. Not because of the no-speech (my ds babbled too), but because he doesn't understand what you say. This is major.

I echo what others have said in that the limited receptive language, poor name response and infrequent pointing does raise some red flags for ASD. Have you done the MCHAT? It’s an ASD screener that might be worth considering.

cakesandphotos

Sorry you're worried too. I was quite worried about DS not walking, he had a weird bum shuffle/crawling style where he didn't use his right leg at all which was why we were referred to the physio but he suddenly started walking at 15 months

bertie we rarely go to playground because he's scared of everything there, won't even go on the baby swing. We live in a small town so no English speaking community, just one friend who we see sometimes, it is lonely but we might move to a bigger town in the next year where there's a big community plus lots of toddler groups. This town doesn't even have a speech therapist for under school age children any more so I don't know what will happen if he does need help.

ForeverBaffled

I just looked up and did MCHAT and it came up with 8, high risk but I'm a bit unsure about the pretend play question - he'll pretend to feed his doll if I do it first but he doesn't do it of his own accord and mostly he'll just hand the spoon to me because he prefers to watch me do it rather than do it himself. And unsure about the responding to his name as he does sometimes but not most of the time. In any case it does seem to indicate further assessment. I shall call on Monday and in the meantime keep a closer track of his behaviour so in case he's responding and pointing more often than I've realised.

I think it’s worth following up too. I didn’t want to scaremonger with my last post but thought it was worth mentioning. Hope things become a bit clearer soon

Just wanted to say thank you to for the advice here, especially to talk simply and clearly to DS. No words yet but his understanding has come on leaps and bounds and he can follow some simple commands and I think he might be responding to his name more often. It helps if I have eye contact first before talking to him, then he seems to pay more attention.

I don't know whether he just hit a developmental leap or if the new way of talking to him helped but in any case I'm much less worried now. Still a bit concerned because of the lack of pointing but his appointment is next week so I'll bring it up there.

Maybe I'm in a weird social group but my dd is one of only two 17 month olds I've ever met amongst the dozens I've known who was forming sentences at that age. Including my other two children. They all evened out by 2.5 years.

Health visitor or GP. Sorry OP but that does sound a bit delayed, particularly the lack of understanding commands and instructions. Most babies should reliable speak at least 3 words with meaning by a year. My two were both doing short sentences around 14 months. It may be nothing, but you need to get ears/hearing checked and also have an assessment to make sure no speech delay. Good luck and hope all goes well.

My step grandson is coming up 4 and understands what you say but has his own babbley language that we don't understand. Gets very upset and frustrated if you can't work out what he wants. I try and teach him words and enunciate slowly and deliberately and what he repeats back is completely different. I'm worried about him but no one else seems concerned.

I'm wouldn't be worried if he was 17 months though

Different children progress differently. See a gp for a referral if you are worried op.

Gosh I'm very surprised by people suggesting seeing the GP at this age. At 19mo my Dd wasn't talking beyond the occasional mama. I spoke to the health visitor on the phone and she told me not to worry, that it at much too soon to even think about a referral. About a week later Dd started talking and she's not stopped since. She has a huge vocabulary and is ahead on eyfs. I think genuinely don't worry. And perhaps ring the HV so they can put your mind at rest.

Most babies should reliable speak at least 3 words with meaning by a year.

Most, but not all. It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a big concern if they don’t. My eldest didn’t say a word until 20 months, then barely a peep out of him until he turned two. He’s now an articulate preschooler with a wide vocabulary. He was just a more physical toddler, interested in playing more than talking. Of course, if the op has any worries, the health visitor is the best start, or doctor otherwise.