Feeling lost about non verbal 2 year old

[QuietBatperson15]

My son is 27 months now and doesn’t say any words. He has been referred for audiology to check his hearing (referred in April and still no appointment). His hearing seems absolutely fine to me but I know it’s not as simple as that. We are waiting for his SLT to start.

His understanding is great and he’s very interactive in other ways, but I watched a video of my older child around the same age and the difference is huge (talking away, naming colours).

Has anyone else had a child who seems fine in every other way but no speech whatsoever at this age? I can’t imagine him ever talking 😞

My son is 40 months (3.4) and still can't speak in a full sentence. Its only in the past 6 months that he's managing to do two words sentences like mummy car and he can say I'd say 100 words. His problem is that he can't pronounce certain letters of the alphabet which is what is hindering his speech. We have our initial appointment with the speech and language therapist this morning funnily enough. His understanding and ability to follow instructions is phenomenal, he just can't talk! I do not have any concerns around autism as he is not displaying any of the typical signs. He does things like exhales quickly which means hot or goes brrrr for cold rather than saying the word. He will also do things like meow instead of saying cat or choo choo for train. He also uses funny little hand gestures to symbolise words like open and shut. He communicates with us using his basic 2 word sentences , hands gestures and sounds.

My boy was non verbal at that age, I honestly thought he was going to have a really husky voice as he would growl at everyone. We got his ears tested, just to check. He got referred to an ICAN nursery for 1 term. It's a nursery where they teach them Makaton along with the words, so everyone communicates with lots of pictorial signs and a one to one SALT nursery worker. Who would follow him all day, and talk about what he was doing, and the toys he picked to play etc. Are you playing with the sand, Timmy is playing with the sand. Everything they did, was spoken. By the end of day one, he was much more confident and was even saying a few words. It was amazing. I also had to go on a course to learn makaton, so we could communicate verbally and with signs. By the end of the term he was talking. He still had SALT intervention at nursery and into Primary school. Ask if there is one close to you. As I think you have to do it before they start nursery age.

Hi OP. Is there any update we can get about your son’s speech delay. I’m currently in a very similar situation with my own son. He’s just turned 3 and has no words. Babbles a lot and understanding is very good. No signs of autism only that he sometimes he likes to line things up but it’s not all the time. Just wanted to know how your son was doing. xx

Hi there. Sorry to hear you are having the same worries, I remember it well. Yes that does sound similar to my son, understanding was definitely there and plenty of babbling! He finally copied a sound rather than a word when he was 2yrs 3 months (the sound was ow! I was showing him not to touch jaggy nettles and saying ow then he copied). Then maybe a week later he tried to say car. And very gradually built up a word here and there. He wasn’t one of those kids that starts talking in sentences. I’d referred him to speech therapy before he was 2 as know how the waiting lists are and by the time he got his appointment (2yrs and 8/9 months) they discharged him. I’ll never know what was blocking him from speaking for so long, he did have a couple of words at just turned 1 and then dropped them. But I completely understand the worry as until they do it you just can’t relax about it. My partner was much more relaxed though as he knew the understanding was there and I wish I didn’t obsess over it but it’s easier to say that on the other side. He really doesn’t shut up now. He likes to do things on his own terms so I wonder if it was a personality thing. I don’t mean that in a bad way i mean he likes to make choices, choose his clothes, food etc.

so from my experience I would maybe try sounds first, not the cow says moo but maybe reactionary sounds he might find funny (mine found the nettle thing really funny when I pretended to get stung and shout ow!) it might be worth a shot you never know. All the best to you xx

I just read my original post so it must have been not long after that he started. Sorry I also meant to come back and update a long time ago!

Aw that’s great to hear! Patiently waiting to hear my son speak to me 😭 but no pressure on him as I know it’s probably frustrating for him also. He has been copying some things I say such as uh oh, hi, even his name recently. I feel like cause it’s been so long him not speaking I just overthink. When did your son start saying words himself instead of repeating? Even though I know copying words/sounds is great improvement I just wonder when he’ll say something without me saying it first. Thank you for your reply does make feel a lot more hopeful ❤️

Omg. It could have been me who wrote this! How’s your son doing now?

How’s your daughter getting on now?

I hope all turned out well for you, I’m so sorry I hadn’t seen your reply back then.

Hey, sorry you are going through the same worries. He honestly doesn’t shut up now 🤦‍♀️. Will never know why he didn’t speak for so long but he is a wonderful healthy kid . I know it’s easier said than done but try not to stress.

Hi no worries. Honestly I can’t believe I’m writing this but we’re on the other side now 🙈 my son started to speak early last year and has come such a long way. He’s still got some catching up to do but I’m honestly so proud of how far he’s come 🥰