Normal speech for 2.5 year old and when do they need speech therapy?

[Sharaluck]

I have been finding it hard to find what speech milestones a 2.5 year old should have as a minimum.

Ds only started talking after his 2nd birthday so I know his speech was delayed. I couldn't ask hv for a referral to speech therapy before as we have been moving around for the last year.

I was wondering if anyone knew what the minimum number of words a 2.5 year old should have as i think I might need to find a hv to refer him.

I've read that by 2 they should be able to say around 25 words. Then again this is based on "averages". We parents know every child develops differently. My dd is 3 in March and the last 6 months has been saying clear sentences whereas my friends 20 month old can speak really well. If your child fails to understand what you say or instructions given then I'd contact hv.

My DD is 3 next April and similar to Rachel s DD she has been saying many clear sentences for the past 6 months. Before she was 2 she just said a lot of words - no sentences. Now at 2.8 she is saying longer sentences like 'Did you get that in the second hand shop?' (she knows my shopping habits!) and 'Does the hoover wear a nappy?' I have heard boys in general talk a little later than girls.

I think his understanding is the most important thing - not what he is actually saying.

I think its a complex issue. It does no harm to get kids flagged early. My son was 3 before he said his first word and is now in the debating society- speech therapy wasn't mentioned. My DD was 3 and a half before she said her first word and needed speech therapy on and off over the years.

www.talkingpoint.org.uk/ages-and-stages

A GP can refer your DS, or health visitor. You can also ask for a hearing test, to check for glue ear or other issues.

I'm a childminder and have looked after children who could speak in full sentences at 18 months old, others who hadn't said their first word at 2.5. The 'norm' is very wide.

If you would like to find out more about how to help your DS, there's a very good book called 'it takes two to talk'. It's expensive to buy but you can get it from the library or get them to order it for you.

Speech therapy, especially with little ones, is very much about coaching the parents to help their child at home, in every day situations.

My DS2 is 2.8 & has speech therapy. I asked for him to be referred at his 2-year check, when he had only about 5 single words. He also had a hearing test then & 2 subsequent tests, each revealing glue ear. He started group speech therapy just before he turned 2 & individual speech therapy at 2.5, when he had 4 sessions (they have blocks of sessions, then a break to see if they progress). He now has 25 words, a few animal noises & a few signs.

I would definitely ask for a referral to your SALT as it can take a while to get anything actually happening. Also, push for a hearing test. Some HV clinics have SALT drop-in, so you wouldn't have to make an appointment.

In the meantime, some things to do include lots of singing & groups, and trying to encourage him to talk eg my DS had a bowl of raisins the other day, but we gave them to him 2 at a time & wouldn't let him have any more until he'd said 'more'. He soon was saying it without prompting!