To be concerned over son's lack of speech?

[HipHipHooooooray]

Don't know whether I'm being ridiculous or not... Can you tell me when your LOs started talking?

My son is 14 months old and still hardly communicates more than just shouting babble. At his 10 month check they told me his communication was below average but they weren't concerned and said he'd probably come on quickly in a few months.

He understands a lot, I can say "where is X" and he'll look and sometimes point at it but he never attempts to say it.

He can say mama and dada and sometimes tries to say dog but that's it. But he will rarely repeat it if you say it to him, has to be on his terms if that makes sense 🤣

I'm totally prepared to be told I'm expecting way too much, just worried me when the HV said he was behind.

He is 14 months. It's too early to be concerned. Just keep an eye and talk to your health visitor in a few months if you continue to be worried.

Some children will be very vocal at this age. Others will not. It's all within the realm of normal.

Does he understand what you're saying to him? Afaik that's more important than whether he's producing words because it shows the development of speech. Three of mine barely spoke a word before 18 months but were talking in sentences by the time they were two - it comes on really quickly. The only one that spoke early is now in speech therapy at age 6 so earlier isn't necessarily better than later.

Thank you.

Yes he does understand quite a lot. I can ask him to "come here please", shakes his head for "no" if he doesn't like a certain food for example, if I say where is the dog or dada or toes or something like that he will look at it and sometimes point too.

I think you're right I'm just worrying too early! Just when they said he was below average I thought something was wrong, before that I thought he was doing great so worried me.

Sounds totally normal to me. My youngest wasn’t saying anything until 18 months. He’s 3 1/2 now and is speaking in sentences, using quite complex words and just won’t shut up!!!
My first was the complete opposite so I was slightly worried. Best piece of advice I can give is to remember that all children are different and develop at different paces.

Try not to worry!

Is he walking?

Lots & lots of children don't start talking until a lot later. Most HV's are as good as useless, so pay her no heed.

He'll do it on his own sweet time! Just keep talking to him & he will gain vocabulary & learn sentence structure etc.

I know quite a few kids who didn't talk until almost 3, but then came out will full sentences. Plenty that started around 1, some just odd words, others words strung together, quickly turning into sentences.

At 6, you'd never know which was which.

Sounds absolutely fine. Very few children would have more than a handful of words at that stage.

Thank you feel much better!

Yes he's walking 🙂 phsycial stuff he just seems to pick up right away.

Up until about 2, my youngest used to just point at things she wanted or places she wanted to go and said 'there' otherwise all she said was mummy and very occasionally daddy. Then one day she seemed to just wake up with verbal diarrhoea.

I honestly think at the age, showing that they can understand simple words is more relevant than having a range of words.

Oh I almost forgot my favourite thing .. when he gives me a cuddle he sometimes tries to say "aww" 😃

Feeling stupid for panicking now when it's written down!

My little one, really didn´t say anything much until way after 18 months. She understood you fine, which is more important. Now she is a chatterbox and actually uses quite complex words like "constellations", which I find hilarious. She is 3.5.

Comprehension much more important than amount of words - my nephew didn't talk until 2 - then spoke in sentences from the off.

To echo the others, he sounds like he's doing absolutely fine. Sometimes health visitors don't seem to get how their comments can play on your mind and worry you. My 14 month old can say hiya and that's it. I thought she was doing pretty well! My eldest didn't say much till she was 2. Now I wish she was that quiet. I think they look for 20 words by the time they are 2 so there is loads of time.

All sounds normal to me. My son only said 2 or 3 words until he was 24 months.
His speech then expanded really rapidly between 2 and 2.5. He's 4 now and talks like all his friends at preschool.
Just talk to them a lot, read a lot, talk about anything and everything. It all comes with time don't worry.

DD had 5 distinguishable words at her 2yo check (Mummy, Daddy, No, Ess and baaby (she had a baby sister!). Even then they weren't overly worried. That was lowest end of normal range.

She did need SALT input for a while at Orimary school (not just her delay, but selective mutism as well which was unconnected). But is a perfectly eloquent 10yo now. You wouldn't know.

No need to worry just yet but introduce some signs makaton and check hearing

@HipHipHooooooray

Thank you feel much better!

Yes he's walking 🙂 phsycial stuff he just seems to pick up right away.

There you have it.

My two were precocious talkers but very slow at physically. They can't do everything all at once!

My dd didn't say much AT ALL at 14 months and was noticeably behind her peers. She is now 28 months and noticeably ahead of them - chats all the time in full sentences etc. I think it's too early to worry personally.

Gosh our boy is 17 months and all he says is "THAT!" pointing at snacks all the time. Or he moans and whines... He understands loads though, so I have zero concerns.