3 1/2 year old language skills - slightly concerned after comment from nursery

[jenkel]

My dd was a late talker, only really started talking after her 2nd birthday, she was very early walking, well before her 1st birthday. I just put it down to the fact that they cant all be brilliant at everything. Never, been to worried about her language, think she is a bit lazy, she has an 18 month old sister and think she sees us reacting to her sisters grunts etc and thinks she can do the same. She can talk in quite long sentences, sometimes gets quite confused with all the words and what order they should be in, sometimes she just makes noises like her sister.

Anyway, today nursery asked if we had any concerns with her language, basically explained the above. They suggested if we are concerned to see a HV. Now I am just a tad concerned, she is the youngest in the nursery class at the moment so dont think she can be compared to some of the other children who are a year older than her. We werent initially to worried but now should I be.

I think its a waste of time going to see the HV, she is a very shy girl and I cant see her talking to the HV at all.

So think we will monitor the situation, what do you others think?

hi there jenkel - my friend has a similar situation with the younger sister talking for her she went through the hv then to a speech therapist and was held back in nursery for a year through this so started school with the younger sister but at 3 thats when our school takes them - anyway with the help of the speech therapist she is coming on great

just thought i'd drop you a line hope this help best wishes xx

jenkel - snap! DS1 is now 4yo and still a little behind the rest of the kids his age. After speaking to a few friends they all know mums with kids that are late talkers and IME just about all have been early walkers. I mean if they can get about to get something they're not going to ask you for it are they?

DS1 has been seen by speach therapist who thinks he fine just a little late and a little shy, so call him a 'reluctant talker', though playschool keep pushing for a more serious diagnosis. Thing is the kid they describe is not the boy I have a home but they think I make it up.

My kids won't talk to HV so never bother with her, she's rubbish anyway.

IME and IMHO trust your instinct. She's your child, I think you'll notice if there's anything more serious that just being a little late and or lazy!

My ds now 4 has speech difficulties which i became concerned about when he was about 2.5 - 3. The reason i went to my HV is because the speech therapist doesnt see any kids until they have had their hearing tested at least once. I needed my HV to make the referal for the hearing test and also to the speech therapist. This may be why the nursery has suggested you speak to you're HV. My ds is now able to see the speech therapist during nursery time and there's no need for a seperate apponitment then.

Ds was also an early walker, 9 months!

It might be worth seeing the HV and possibly SLT just in case. BUT she sounds OK to me. LATE talker at just after 2???? I don't think that's very late really, not to start sounding intelligible. My DD also copies her brother, who is autistic, and does grunts and uhs and I have to say "you can speak, so don't grunt" etc, but she still tries it!