Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Original poster

Speech - 2 year old

34 replies

happygilmore · 07/07/2012 20:41

I had a 2 year check for my DD this week, basically a strange questionnaire and a chat with the HV. Apparently DD was just in the range to be referred for SALT, although we decided to leave it for the time being and check her in 6 weeks. I'm a bit worried now I should have pushed for a referral as I know how long they can take. The reason I didn't is I don't personally think she needs extra help, but I'm worrying now that I'm wrong. Please can you have a read of this and see if she sounds OK for her age?

  • She is talking mainly single words, although has started putting 2 words together recently. (I think she may have been doing it a while ago, but her pronounciation was too difficult to understand).
  • She has started saying mine and I, but doesn't really say you or me yet
  • I've panicked today and counted Blush the number of words she says, and it was over 400. She understands loads more and can follow instructions. Most words are nouns but she's just started saying things like on, off, over, etc
  • She can point but isn't very good at following a point
  • She often misses the start or ends of words e.g. scarecrow is crow. She can't say some letters very well - L and F in particular. Some words pronounced quite differently but we're familiar with them so know what she means.
  • Her ears have been tested and are fine.

Thanks!

OP posts:
BettyandDon · 07/07/2012 20:44

She sounds similar to my 22 mo. Is it a check at 24 months or 2.5 yrs? I wouldn't worry based on what you said but I'm no expert...

EclecticShock · 07/07/2012 20:46

Doesn't sound like anything to be worried about but see a specialist if you are.

EclecticShock · 07/07/2012 20:47

Nothing can come of harm by seeing SALT, they might just agree with you and discharge.

Original poster
happygilmore · 07/07/2012 20:48

She is 2.1, it was a 2 year check. I'm not worried but wonder if I should have gone for a referral? I know a lot of children her age are talking in sentences but I've always thought she was fine as she understands everything I say and we seem to be able to communicate well.

OP posts:
Original poster
happygilmore · 07/07/2012 20:49

I know Eclectic, that's why I'm feeling bad know for not going for a referral when I was given the opportunity. I don't think there's a problem, but what if there is and I've delayed getting her help :(

OP posts:
EclecticShock · 07/07/2012 20:52

Pleas don't worry, she's still young and by the sounds is it is making progress which is great. Ask to be refered mow and have a chat with the SALT. My ds didn't say any words until 2.5 yrs old and now he's nearly three and his language is typical due to us spending more time modelling and working with him and SALT. So you're not too late :)

chocjunkie · 07/07/2012 20:52

get the referral. you can always cancel nearer to the appointment if you feel it is not needed. chances are you will have to wait several months to be seen. in most areas, SALT waiting lists are very long.

discrete · 07/07/2012 20:53

What would the referral be for? If you had not had the 2 year check, would you have felt that your dd needed help?

I cannot think of a single thing which would be critically negatively affected by waiting 6 weeks....

She sounds OK to me, but then my first was only saying one word at that age and now aged 5 is a chatterbox. DS2 is a similar age and talks in sentences so there's a wide range!

EclecticShock · 07/07/2012 20:54

If she understands and is speaking, she's probably just slightly delayed... Lots of kids are when compared to "typical milestones".

BombasticAghast · 07/07/2012 20:55

I would def go for the referral.
Can't do any harm.

There's a huge variation in what is 'normal'. My DTs were talking in 12 + word sentences at 2.1 (but still don't get I and you right all the time!)

Original poster
happygilmore · 07/07/2012 21:04

The referral would be for SALT and yes it's definitely a long waiting list here. It was based on a questionnaire where they give points for certain answers and hers were just in the "grey" area, not the black which I think is a definite referral.

If I'd not have had the check I wouldn't have any worries really, she was slow to talk, first words weren't til around 18 months I think, but her speech has exploded in the last couple of months and she seems to be learning loads of new words every day. She understands quite complex instructions and recognises colours, numbers, her name etc. I just thought she is the kind of child who wants to hear lots of words before she puts them together, but maybe I'm wrong!

OP posts:
EclecticShock · 07/07/2012 21:10

You're probably right but no harm otherwise like you said you might feel bad in future, although its unlikely IMO.

Original poster
happygilmore · 07/07/2012 21:16

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will wait til I see the HV again and then ask for a referral then if she says she still is behind (not sure how they measure it, will have to ask).

OP posts:
AblativeAbsolute · 07/07/2012 21:22

No harm in getting the referral, but she sounds fine to me. My DS2 is nearly 23 months and only started saying single words about a week ago. However, he understands everything, can point to things in pictures, knows his colours etc, and is just quite clearly 'with it', so I'm not worried at all. I think 400 words is quite a lot at just two!

neolara · 07/07/2012 21:24

My dd2 could only say about 20 words at 2 years old. She's now nearly 3 and has excellent language. I think your dd sounds absolutely fine.

EclecticShock · 07/07/2012 21:26

400 words is a decent amount at 2 :)

Original poster
happygilmore · 07/07/2012 21:27

Ablative, that's what DD was like for ages - obviously understood everything but a little slow to say words. I was surprised she says as many words as that, but it's true what everyone says, it's like a light was switched and she started saying words at a really fast rate. I think she is learning 10+ words a day, it's so fascinating to watch.

OP posts:
Original poster
happygilmore · 07/07/2012 21:28

A large % of the words are different animals, she is obsessed by them!

OP posts:
firawla · 08/07/2012 13:16

I'm surprised they want to refer her for that cos she sounds fine??

AdventuresWithVoles · 08/07/2012 13:36

She says > 400 words & you're still worried? Shock
DS said 11 words at same age & I felt like I had to push for SLT referral. HV said not to worry too much because they'd had another just over 2yo in that day who only said 7 or 8 words.

(& obviously no 2 word phrases, either).
DS now 4yo, half decent speech, still can't say C or G at start of a word, though, frustrating!

Pleasefiveminutesforme · 08/07/2012 14:39

My DS is 2.1 and has probably the same number of words as your DD. our health visitor reckoned that was good (I got the impression it was average). She said they would be looking for at least 40 words. So your DD has 10 times the expected number! What other reasons has your health visitor given for possible referral?

Original poster
happygilmore · 09/07/2012 16:23

Thanks everyone. I'm not sure what the referral would be for, basically I had to complete a questionnaire which was divided into sections, communication, problem solving, fine motor skills etc. On the communication ones she scored apparently just in the "grey" referral section, but I can't remember now what all the questions were.

It is reassuring to hear that others think she sounds OK as I do too, as I was worried I'd made a mistake in not referring her. I've also met a couple of other parents recently who've made the point that their child's speech is more developed than mine, which has made me a little paranoid too (not that I mind her being slower than others, just wondered if it meant she needed help). At the time I thought they were just being competitive, but then I wondered after seeing the HV if I'm missing something.

OP posts:
BreadAndJamForFrances · 09/07/2012 21:32

As a mum of two children who've had/are having speech therapy, I'd say accept the referral!
My children both had a huge vocabulary and could make sentences but couldn't pronounce their words/sounds properly so no-one could understand them. I couldn't get a referral (told there was no need, then HV 'lost' it Hmm ) until my son was 4. He has finally been diagnosed with a speech disorder (now 8) and has weekly NHS therapy which we are having to supplement with private therapy as it is just not enough. My DD2 is 10 and had speech problems too, but not so severe as DS....even though she did well at speech therapy, she has only just learnt to read properly, and still can't pronounce some sounds 100% acurrately. It holds them back far more than I thought it would.
So, not meaning to imply your child has a serious problem, but if I had of been offered a referral at 2 for either/both of them, I would have jumped at the chance! You can always go along and see what the speech therapist says, and if they can give your DD some input now, she hopefully will not need any in the future. Smile

Sopster · 09/07/2012 22:19

Doing this on phone so excuse crap typing! Took my ds to speech and language specialist at 2 yrs. could literally say mummy and daddy. They told me to bring him back at 2.6 yrs if still worried. He was saying a few things then so didn't go back. Had his 1st school repot today (now 5.6) and am told that he is exceeding expectations for his age in literacy and communication! Some just take a bit longer to talk.

Ozziegirly · 10/07/2012 07:42

Can I ask when you should continue to be concerned over pronuncuation? My 22 month DS says lots of words and 3-4 word sentences but says lots of things "wrong" like "hoohoom" for hummous, "parcark", "plapoo" for platypus, "bangbang" for blanket, "fafa" for fire.

On the other hand he can clearly enunciate quite odd words like "cottage cheese", "petrol tanker", "sausage" and "echidna".

Does the correct pronunciation just come with time, and hearing the words more?