2 year old not talking

SatsumaFan · 28/05/2021 21:07

20 mins of screen time 3 times a week?! How do you get anything done?!

Sounds like you're doing all the right things... Do you chat away to him during the day and whilst playing with him?

nomorespaghetti · 28/05/2021 21:09

Has he had a hearing test?

topwings · 28/05/2021 21:10

If there's no cause for concern, it'll come.

My then 2 year old had very few words when we entered lockdown - she watched A LOT of CBeebies last year while we worked from home. Now at 3, speech is perfect.

Sleeplessem · 28/05/2021 21:11

So he does have words, that’s good! I think they only get very concerned if DC has no words at 2.

Are there any other things maybe? Are you bilingual? That can sometimes delay things?

Has little one had a hearing check?

How is his understanding?

In terms of speech, one of the best things you can do is spend 5 mins or so each day with your child at his level, engaging in play with him (of his choosing) and talk through activities (i.e. yellow ball, bouncing ball etc) rather than what are you doing?. Keep it simple, lots of eye contact and smiling, be a word feeder!

Babbly · 28/05/2021 21:12

Try playing the radio if you don't like screen time. Do they have a dummy? That can really impair their speech development. Do you speak to them? Properly, in full sentences? How often do you read to them? Point to things and say "this is X, can you say X?". What about flashcards? Do you point things out and say them? Ask them to repeat them? Which songs do you sing together (try ones that relate back to something tangible, like head shoulder knees and toes or if you're happy and you know it etc)? Do you try things like "say please" or "say thank you" when you're giving them things or "say hello/goodbye" when you see people?

Lottielovescake · 28/05/2021 21:14

Do they point at things? Do they bring you toys to show you?

Hankunamatata · 28/05/2021 21:58

Have they had two year check? I'd discuss concerns with HV, they can give you a referral to speech and language (u didnt day what specialist was).

Rmka · 28/05/2021 22:25

If the child is bilingual that's very common. Or even if he listens to foreign language on TV etc. That's only a good thing.
Children with dyslexia may be late talkers, but that's not that common and doesn't affect their ability to speak in a long term. In fact they tend to be better at speaking.

Jiggyjigsaw · 28/05/2021 22:28

He's only 2, it doesn't seem abnormal to me at all. The specialist said everything is fine too, try not to worry. My daughter is 22 months and doesn't say much either, it's only in this last month that I feel she is really interested. Maybeore the problem is that you haven't seen enough toddlers that age to compare. Also, don't pay toouch attention to people telling you their kids spoke at 18 months etc, in most cases it is either a gross exaduration or a memory lapse! MIL told me my partner spoke at 9 months which is bs, he's 48 and hardly speaks now! Others have given me worried looks that she's not saying much but it is completely normal. They are forgetting the long developmental process involved. They learn when they are ready for it. If he is still not saying much at 3 then youay need to reassess the situation. What is important at this age is are they able to communicate with you, do they make themselves clear by gestures like pointing or miming actions?

Babbly · 28/05/2021 22:39

don't pay too much attention to people telling you their kids spoke at 18 months etc, in most cases it is either a gross exaduration or a memory lapse!
This is completely untrue. Most 18mo's speak a lot more than OP's child. Trying to reassure OP by purporting that everyone else is a liar or a fantasist is not only really nasty to those parents but also going to discourage parents whose children aren't hitting milestones from taking appropriate action (which it appears that OP has already done).

orangejuicer · 28/05/2021 22:44

Just to say some tv can be beneficial for speech and understanding things in context.

Skittles98 · 28/05/2021 23:18

I would speak to your HV or a different specialist if I were you. I think by age 2, not speaking 50-100 words would probably be considered a speech delay.

Most toddlers around age 2 (that I know, so just a couple) can say 300+ words and are starting to put words together.

Hope you can get a referral quickly.

Embracelife · 28/05/2021 23:18

Kids t v is fine and may help
There are some good apps too
How is his understanding and play?
How does he request things?
Do you anticipate his needs?
Let him ask by pointing at images signing or making sounds

Use some sign language to model communication

ican.org.uk/i-cans-talking-point/

Sleeplessem · 28/05/2021 23:19

Agreed with @Babbly, typically at 2 the milestone is 2 words together like ‘what’s that’ or ‘more please’ it doesn’t have to be Crystal clear but understandable. For a child to put 2 words together they have to have around 50 in their vocab, again don’t have to be clear but they need to be there. Whilst it’s lovely to reassure OP, it’s important not to downplay milestones as that could delay appropriate intervention that could be crucial for development.

That being said it’s important to understand a child’s speech in context I.e bilingual? Hearing issues? General understanding

goose1964 · 28/05/2021 23:21

My son didn't talk until he was 3 and he started with sentences. He's a graduate so late speech hasn't affected him at all. Try not to worry .

lanthanum · 28/05/2021 23:30

I didn't really talk until 3, but I was reading before I was 4. Some kids prefer to keep listening until they've got it all worked out.

I wonder if that's more the case with those who don't have siblings and don't see a lot of other children - that was probably the case for me, and obviously for yours because of covvid. As someone else said, if the child is hearing two languages, that also delays things.

If hearing is okay and comprehension of what you say is okay, and you've seen a professional who isn't worried, there's probably nothing to worry about.

SleepingStandingUp · 28/05/2021 23:34

I'd increase screen time.

Controversial but these are weird times.

Do you get CBEEBIES? Things like Yakka Dee where they do a specific word each episode, AlphaBlocks, NumberBlocks, then stiff like My First Time, the Ranger one where they're seeing other kids their age (ok so 5ish usually but) doing real world stuff

Muststopeating · 28/05/2021 23:36

HV told me that they used to do the 2 year review at 24 months, now ir is bwtween 27 & 30. One of the key reasons they moved it was because children with speech concerns at 24 months are quite often much further along at 27 months.

Inwas slightly concerned about both of mine at 2, in kess than a year they were both speaking full sentences.

Was he an early walker? I once read that children tend to focus on one or the other, so early talkers = late walkers and vice versa. No idea how scientifically correct it is but I have definitely seen anecdotal evidence in the children I've known.

Finally, i genuinely believe there is a place for TV in childrens speech development. Both of mine have learned a whole load of words/phrases/songs that we would never say from their TV time (which has been far too much over the past year).

You should however make sure that there is no background noise when you are talking to them. Also, if they have a dummy in the day then that can limit things, but I'm sure you've thought of that.

Get his hearing tested and if that's fine then I'd try not to worry and see how things play out over the next 6 months.

Soontobe60 · 28/05/2021 23:46

At that age my grandson spoke very little. He’s almost 3 and never shuts up now! It’s almost like he was saving up all his words to use at once as a surprise for us 🤣

SpeverendRooner · 28/05/2021 23:54

DS didn't say a word until he was almost two and a half. I took him to a speech and language therapy drop-in who just checked that his understanding was typical for a child of his age. They had a pile of plastic vegetables and asked him to pick up the carrot. Then, can you give it to daddy? (They were careful not to point or look at me or the toy he was holding, so he had to understand the task entirely through the words.) Once they were happy with that they just shrugged and said some of 'em don't talk until they're good and ready. Once he got started he went from nothing to taking a decent stab at full sentences in a little over a month.

It can be very stressful when your child is behind the average, but it isn't necessarily a problem. Half of them have to be later than the median time! I agree with others' suggestions of trying to get his hearing checked and seeing if you can find a speech and language team to take a look at him, but I'd do it mainly to set your mind at rest.

RainbowCrayons · 29/05/2021 04:21

As a nursery teacher I would say there is a huge range of what is normal at that age and generally they all catch up, with our without a bit of help depending on why. This year has been particularly bad especially for only children who might not have seen another child for 6 months or more (I have a 2 year old and it has been horrible).

How is you little ones understanding? If you're going out and you say 'find your shoes' do they do it without you pointing? If not (so issues with receptive and expressive language) audiology would be my first port of call. It's amazing how quickly a child given grommets or a hearing aid gets talking in some cases!

If they understand just fine they just aren't speaking then you possibly want a reeral to a speech and language therapist. Sometimes something as simple as a tongue tie can mean they don't speak as much or as clearly. And SALT can really help with speech related issues.

But honestly? No one has any idea yet how this year of isolation has impacted on children. They certainly wouldn't have got a study into it past an ethics committee pre 2020! As much as I hate the term 'unprecedented' now it really is. As long as you keep chatting to, keep loving, and get help if and when needed for your child you are really doing the best you can for them.

Laserbird16 · 29/05/2021 04:45

Normal is a wide range. Not very reassuring but true.

He does say a few things so that's good and you are doing things that will help his speech like reading, singing etc

If you want a budget hearing test stand behind him and make some ssssss or fffff sounds - low frequency. The ultimate test is to whisper 'bisssscuit?'. If he responds to that his hearing is most likely fine!

PixieDust28 · 29/05/2021 05:49

My son is 22 months and will say some things when he wants too and then not say it again.
I'm not too concerned because I know he understands.

Just this week he has said more words. Not many but he come out with some all by himself.

I continue to always talk to him, tell him what I'm doing, where I'm going etc.

He's only just two your son so don't worry too much. Flash cards are good.

It's perfectly normal at 2 years old for some children to say a few words but by about 2.5 their vocabulary should be a lot better.

homemadefries · 29/05/2021 06:02

@Asia98

My 2 year old (25 months) isnt talking. He just says dad, mum, tata (water). Took him to specialist they said everything is fine and that he just needs to see more people his age (impossible as we live abroad and schools are shut due to covid)

We do all the right things - read, sing, play games etc. He has limited screen time (20 mins/3 times a week).

Any advice or tips welcome

See another specialist.

My son wasn't talking much at 2, we paid for speech therapy once a week.

homemadefries · 29/05/2021 06:03

@Sleeplessem

So he does have words, that’s good! I think they only get very concerned if DC has no words at 2.

Are there any other things maybe? Are you bilingual? That can sometimes delay things?

Has little one had a hearing check?

How is his understanding?

In terms of speech, one of the best things you can do is spend 5 mins or so each day with your child at his level, engaging in play with him (of his choosing) and talk through activities (i.e. yellow ball, bouncing ball etc) rather than what are you doing?. Keep it simple, lots of eye contact and smiling, be a word feeder!

They should have 50 words by 2, and be putting 2/3 words together