22 months and not saying much

[stinkybumsmum]

I keep telling myself he'll get there and kids develop at different stages but I'm starting to get really worried. I know he understands me when I talk to him and can carry out 2 tasks at once ie youghurt pot in the bin spoon in the sink. But when I tot up how many words he can say there are not that many.

I encourage him to say new words with flashcards and showing him what we are talking about and he does try but the words don't come out as intended.

I can only count around 25 words and some of those are not that clear to people other than me. I'm thinking of bringing my HV in (which I hate having to do).

Should I be worried?

22 months is seriously young to be worrying. Some of the brightest children don't speak much until much later. Our first son was way behind in speech until about 18 months and now (at 2.9) we have been told by his pre school that he is, at a minimum, a year ahead of expectations in lanaguage.

25 words is plenty at his age and I certainly would not be concerned at all.

watching with interest as i am in same boat as you...

DD also 22 months - but has just 4 words. i did involve our HV at around 18 months but they werent really interested at that point. i think her advice was that they need 50 words by age of 2. that just isnt going to happen.

the worst thing for me is when people speak to DD and expect her to respond, say thank you etc. and the pitying look i get when i say that she doesnt really speak - like i must be doing something wrong.

does your DS make himself understood in other ways -eg can he tell you he wants a drink, snack etc ? DD is very good in this way which i think may mean that she doesnt NEED to speak as it were. we do all the repeating back, do you want your cup etc etc, giving her time to speak/respond but still nothing is forthcoming!

so i dont know if you should be worried to answer your question, i do think however that eventually they will get there. it can be very frustrating in the meantime though can't it?

I even started to teach him sign cause he got soooo frustrated at not being able to communicate. We managed the basics so far and a couple of words have come from doing sign eg please. I know the words are in there but he just can't get them out. I think that is why he got so stressed

22 months is young but i wouldn't say necessarily too young to be worried.. my ds2 is very behind in speech, which i knew well before 22 months and was worried well before that, people say oh they all catch up just leave it and see but the thing is sometimes they dont!
However, 25 words at 22 months is not a huge course for concern imo, as you said he can follow the 2 part instructions too so his understanding of language seems ok?
He should be getting a 2 yr check anyway in a couple of months, so i would see how he does between now and then? they only recommend 50 words so he is not that far off
If you dont like going to hv what about childrens centre? i find them better anyway! Most areas have something to do with speech and language in the centre, either a drop in to have them assessed and then u can either be reassured or referred on if they need it, or stay and play with an slt present, or else courses like chatter matters type things? so ask at your local cc, i think they will probably just reassure u with him having 25 words its not too bad but go and ask will put your mind at rest and also if he does end up not improving and u need to get help for him it can be good to have it on record that ur having concerns from this stage? but still i wouldnt worry too much!

Thats one of the reasons I'm not wanting the HV come in cause it will go on his 'record' plus they are really clicky at my CC. Just like they didn't belive me that the vitamin D drops gave him constipation just told me "not to be stupid and carry on with them". Haven't been back since

I think these are obsessions in people with very young children but 99% forgotten a few years later. Children develop what they are interested in and, funnily enough, it is often the children of the most attentive parents who have slow speakers, as the parents anticipate so well what their children want that there is just no huge incentive for a child to speak. I think that if they understand and have some words, they clearly have good comprehension (brain working) and the ability to copy (ears working) so it is highly unlikely that there is a problem.

Two of my friends, both of whom went to Cambridge, said none of their 3 very bright successful children really spoke until 2 years old. They are now at some of the most academically demanding schools in the country (and, guess what, they speak just fine).

larrygrylls Thank you that makes me feel alot better!!

My ds 21months doesn't say anything at all, but nods and shakes head to answer questions. He won't even copy. Hearing test fine, but still worried.
This has helped a bit, thanks.

my DS has been a late talker, I found that those toddler 'first word' book with buttons to press so he can hear the word helps him as he sees it as a game and repeats the word, therefore he knows loads of animals, numbers and so on now at 2.4! I got 2/3 of these type of books from amazon, could be worth a try for you :)

I think it might help to think whether your concerns are about pronounciation as opposed to concerns about him being non-communicative.

My eldest babbled for heaven but his words were very unclear - many people couldn't understand him at all. When he turned 4 it all started to become much clearer. He had, big teeth, big lips - dribbled a lot - was in a hurry. He still mumbles, but then so do I. If its pronounciation then please don't worry too much - and wait till nearer 3 and if still worried - approach for speech therapy.

If its a general worry about communication as a whole - then I would start pushing a lot sooner.

I wouldn't worry (I hope!) My DS is 19 months old and says ta, tata (see a theme!) and all gone. He also nods, shakes his head and follows instructions. I did mention it to the HV who told me that they only look for about 12 words at the 2 year check and not to worry! So i'm not! I suspect that I am also one of the those parents who anticipates his every need, plus he's lazy and obssessed with his physical, rather than his verbal, development!
HTH

stinkybum its not a bad thing if it goes on his record, not sure what harm could come of that? but from the other angle if you do need to try and get him slt or anything else at a later date you can at least show it has been on his record as a concern for some time?
but i know what you mean some hv make you feel like 'oh you are just worrying about nothing, stop wasting my time, dont be so ridiculous' - i had this with the same ds i mentioned above with the language delay he also had some pshyical delay, couldnt walk etc. which i went to see the hv about and she was horrible, very dismissive, really mean to my other ds and even made me cry! but i still got the referral i was after and now its going to be useful for me having that on his record as i need to push for more help for him so thats all there as 'evidence' that he needs it iyswim because otherwise people are very very happy to fob you off with "they all grow out of it"
although he may well just grow out of it and start talking! BUT if u have a gut feeling to be worried it really doesnt do any harm 2 get the concern noted

larry that is true in a lot of cases but at what point do people then start to take it seriously if there is a language delay? a lot of the time people are told, under 2 is too young dont worry. then once they get past 2 the same people will come back with "oh well some don't speak til 3" - carrying on that way if there is a real problem then leaving it and leaving it, that child may still have significant language delay when they start school which is not going to help them progress and it takes so long to get anywhere that even if you start early they still wont get help for ages by the time they wait for all the appointments to come, waiting times etc..

lots they look for 50 words and joining 2 words together, at 2 years check generally. would be surprised if some are saying 12 words. 12 words is not good for 24 months..

but as I understand it the "words" can be things like animal noises -and when they do start to gain words it can happen very quickly - the OP DC has 25 words at 22 months - no reason to think it won't be 50 at 2 - although I know loads of children that had no way 50 words at 2 - and noone thought there was a problem

my ds is also 22 months and he hadn't got anywhere near 50 words. The main thing he says is uhhhhh and points. i have quite a few friends with kids around the same age and he seems pretty average. There are a couple that are speaking in short sentances but that seems the exception rather than the norm. Also i've noticed the last couple of days we've been getting a new word each day so if he keeps this up till May 17th when he turns 2 he will have 50 words.

I know it must be a concern.

But, remember that all children reach different milestones at different stages. My bro didn't talk much till he was four. Seriously. Had speech therapist involved and everything. Turns out he was just a lazy bugger- relied on big sis to translate his mumble and point routine. Now can't get a word in edge ways!

I understand your worry. Its a shame that your HV and CC are so unhelpful, though I am not surprised. If you really do have a concern it would do no harm to approach your GP I guess.

DS had about that number of words 2 months ago. My mother had started to go on about him seeing a speech therapist! He's just turned 2 and has had a vocab explosion and chats constantly.

My ds is 21 months and hardly says a word. Prefers to whinge and whine for things instead. That said I have heard him say words like mum, dad, car. He just chooses not too. He can make animal noises tho, woof woof, miaw, moo etc. he says ack a lot meanIng the dog Jack lol. He makes a noise too that means thank you but its obvious what he means but it's a noise rather than a spoken word if that makes sense. He does take your hand tho and lead you to where he want and points and can follow instruction, like fetch me a nappy or put something in the bin. Still worries me tho but I am a natural born worrier.