26 mnths-still not....

[number1mum]

Hi!
My little girl is now 26mnths and still she is not speaking.She says some words like:sit down, come , no, mama, baba,apple ..not many. She understands me a lot, almost everything i say and she does talk in her own way.She points a lot and somehow we understand each other.I am very concern and don't know what to do.She is late talker, but how late she can be...and how it woll influence her development?Any advise PLEASE???!!!

hi
my little boy is 26mths today and is not a very clear speaker. However he does say some words clearly the others are words that sound a bit like what he means but takes some interpretation. Is it possible yourDD is the same? For example for bridge my son will say doots..no idea why but it is what he says. He clearly understands what I am saying and will follow instructions etc. Personally I am not worrying until he gets to 3.

Don't forget to ask your mum / MIL whether you, DH or any siblings were late talkers (if they can remember) because developmental stages can often run in families.

She sounds quite normal really - as long as she understands and can communicate, it will come.

Friends DD hardly spoke a word until she turned 3 and then she just started chatting. Turns out mum was exactly the same when she was a child.

Didn't stop her angst and "referals to specialists" but turned out to be nothing to worry about and a pattern that seemed to follow a generation. Developmentally - she is now 4 and a bit and no different from any other child - bright, social, happy

DD's 30 months now, and it is only in the last month or so that she has suddenly started coming out with piles of words. We did reading and everything else from an early age, but still slow to talk... it will come when they are ready, and she'll surprise you with what she knows...

I sat there yesterday trying to get DD to show me the teddy bear in the picture - she couldn't see one, when I showed her, she said "No mummy, Panda!" - I have no idea how she knows what a panda is!!!

Hi Number1mum,I understand exactly how you feel my little boy has just turned 2 and doesn't say any words yet, like your DD he understands everything that we say but makes no attempt to talk.I have had his hearing tested recently and that is fine,I also spoke to my HV about a referral to a speech therapist but apparently there is a 9 month waiting list!Sorry I can't help you but just wanted you to know you are not alone in worrying.

She points! That's the main thing. Sure, she is late to get going but she does have some words. Have you had her hearing checked though? I'm not implying that she might be deaf but sometimes ear infections can cause speech delays (sorry if others have pointed this out...I am in a bit of a rush and haven't read the whole thread).

Just wanted to add that late talking in itself (ie not connected with autism or deafness) will not affect development in longer term. By the time she is four or five she will be where all the other kids are. i speak from experience. If she points with her index finger and gesticulates it is very unlikely she is autistic.