Probably asked a million times

[slowburner]

BUT

20mo DD can say daddy (in context and to everything else) uh oh, oops and dropped. Nothing else. Nada.

In the past prior to walking (which she did at 13mo) she said various other words but not since. yesterday a friend told me she had an obvious speech delay, her receptive language has been assessed at age +6 months, she signs a handful of words but is clearly frustrated at us not understand what she wants. We have a SaLT assessment late April due to medical history.

Am I being PFB or cause for concern? Many thanks

It's good to be aware of these things so I think you are being a good mum. However she is ahead of my ds who at 21mo has no words whatsoever.

I am not worrying (I'm not I'm not!) as he seems to understand everything, but he is behind so maybe I should. That said, he seems fine himself and maybe it will help you to know your dd isn't the only one and in fact next to mine she is positively verbose!!!

Thank you :)

Not intending to drip feed but hearing assessment showed sever glue ear in R side and either just better or just beginning in her L side with obvious scarring. Back to back ear infections for seven months. Cause or red herring?

Apologies for drip feeding, I was seriously distracted earlier. I also didn't speak until 2+, did you or your partner speak late?

Hmmm, well I don't know much about those ear problems. I do know it is possible to have scarred eardrums and still have perfectly good hearing, but if the glue ear is current that could make a difference?

I don't know when I started speaking actually, will need to ask my Mum now I'm wondering. We'll never find out if DH spoke late as his Mum doesn't remember stuff like that and isn't speaking to us properly so I ain't asking.

I have read enough to know that plenty of good talkers started late in life, and there are always the extreme ends of the spectrum of normal (as my speech therapist friend tells me). That said, late talking can indicate problems - just doesn't necessarily!

My speech therapist friend tells me I can encourage the talking to come by not understanding his unspoken communication so well and the frustration makes them try harder, but maybe I am a wuss, but I can't make myself want to do it, as if there isn't a problem it won't hurt for it to arrive when it wants, and if there is a problem that won't actually help much. So although I am sure she is right, I just don't want the tears and upset. (maybe I am storing up trouble).

In 3 years time I bet it won't matter a jot.

apparently glue ear and ear infections can definately hold up speech development, if that helps. Also, 20m is still very young - the other day I met a 3.2yo at a toddler group and her mum told me that she had only just started speaking (and had gone from 4 words overnight to sentences!) and that she was cancelling the speech therapy appointment (they were still on the waiting list from 6months previous). obviously you should attend the SALT appointment if you have one lined up, I am only wishing to bouy you up to thinking positive :) my DS is 28m now and didnt really start speaking till 23m, he has tons of words now and counts to 10 (including recognising the numbers written down), recognises the whole alphabet and most shapes. He'll still scream instead of saying 'please' alot of the time but never mind!! he likes toys and books that have buttons to press that say a word that he can repeat back, you can get some of these type things on amazon. Best of luck, hope you get the best possible outcome.

My ds (age 4 ) didn't speak or walk until after 18months, then only learnt to say "woof"! At 3 he was talking a bit but with a lot of mixed up sounds. we saw a speech therapist who said he may have had a period of deafness due to an ear infection which would set him back a bit. His speech is normal now.